ELSAN: Pioneer in R&D for sustainable asphalt and bituminous mixtures

18 October, 2024

ELSAN: Pioneer in R&D for sustainable asphalt
and bituminous mixtures

Elsan’s trajectory in innovation spans decades. During this time, OHLA’s subsidiary specialized in asphalt has developed pioneering bituminous mixtures and sustainable road surfaces through its quality control and R&D laboratory, accredited by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda.

We show you some of them:

Ecosurf Project

Study for the development of bituminous mixtures incorporating 30% recycled material.

Study of milled materials and new binders allowing the design of discontinuous bituminous mixtures (BBTM) with 30 percent recycled material, as well as their extension in wearing courses with the same functional and durability characteristics as conventional mixtures, without the contribution of recycled material.

Laboratory designs have been carried out, and the characteristics of the mixtures and the most suitable systems for their manufacture have been verified.

As a test, a 1.5 km stretch has been constructed, allowing a satisfactory comparison between the two mixtures BBTM11B 45/80 REJUV 30R and its conventional pattern BBTM11B 45/80-65.

Siderar Project

This type of pavement includes steel slag, recycled material whose use reduces manufacturing costs and environmental impact.

Design of bituminous mixtures for base and intermediate layers with siderurgical sand in its fine fraction. This initiative aims to achieve a lower cost of raw materials due to the recycling and use of siderurgical sand. The achievements derived from this innovation include:

Reduction of raw material costs.
Promotion of the circular economy through the use of recycled materials.
Contribution to new sustainable materials that reduce environmental and social impact.
Contribution to economic development around waste, its reuse, recycling, and valorization in accordance with EU sustainable development recommendations.

Elsansono Project

Design of bituminous mixtures for urban pavements capable of reducing road noise. True to Elsan's sustainable spirit, these mixtures incorporate end-of-life tires (ELT).

Design of bituminous mixtures for urban pavements capable of reducing road noise. They are entirely made from siderurgical aggregates and with a content of voids that allow dissipation of sound waves. Out-of-use tires (NFU) have also been incorporated, providing greater sound-reducing characteristics to the pavement, contributing, in turn, to the circular economy and environmental protection. This sound-reducing asphalt, where the combination of a larger granulometry with a higher void content and the incorporation of pre-treated rubber powder reduces the high decibels produced by traffic generated by the interaction between tire and pavement.

Various mixtures have been designed, such as PA11 and AUTL8, although the one implemented in Via Júlia, Barcelona, is the SMA11 35/50 100SIDE NFU. Low-temperature mixture production (<150ºC) further enhances the sustainability of the mixture.

Elsanverde Project

A 100% sustainable pavement whose manufacturing can be done at low temperatures. It consists of steel aggregate and includes up to 20% recovered asphalt.

Design and manufacture of AC type bituminous mixtures, using entirely siderurgical aggregate, with the incorporation of RA rates up to 20%. There is also the possibility of manufacturing at low temperatures. This innovation will:

Reduce costs of raw materials, both aggregates and binders, as well as fuels.
Promote the circular economy through the use of recycled materials.
Contribute to new sustainable materials that reduce environmental and social impact.
Economic development around waste, its reuse, recycling, and valorization following EU sustainable development recommendations.

Note: This project is currently in development.

Proyecto Ecosurf

Estudio para el desarrollo de mezclas bituminosas que incorporan un 30% de material reciclado.

Estudio de materiales fresados y nuevos ligantes que permiten diseñar mezclas bituminosas discontinuas tipo BBTM con material reciclado en tasas del 30 por ciento, así como su extensión en las capas de rodadura con las mismas características funcionales y de durabilidad que una mezcla convencional, sin la aportación de material reciclado.

Se han realizado diseños de laboratorio y se han comprobado las características de las mezclas y los sistemas más adecuados para su fabricación.

A modo de prueba, se ha realizado un tramo de 1,5 km que ha permitido comparar, con un resultado satisfactorio, las dos mezclas BBTM11B 45/80 REJUV 30R y su patron convencional BBTM11B 45/80-65.