Performance analysis and prediction of asphalt pavement containing municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash aggregate based on MEPDG

Municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) bottom ash (BA) is the main product of municipal solid waste after being burned. MSWI bottom ash aggregate (BAA) which is made from processed BA can be used in road engineering due to its strength and gradation. And it can be provide more choices for road engineering aggregates and relieve the demands for natural aggregates in road engineering construction. In order to verify the difference between BA asphalt pavement and ordinary asphalt pavement in engineering practice, the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) was used to analyze and predict the road performance of BA asphalt pavement, such as rutting, fatigue cracking, temperature cracking, and pavement smoothness. The results showed that the incorporation of MSWI BA had a great impact on the rutting depth of the pavement, but was less affected by temperature changes and had little effect on the fatigue cracking and smoothness of the pavement. Overall, MSWI BA did not degrade the long-term performance of asphalt pavements and is suitable for replacing part of the natural aggregates for road construction.