Mechanical Performance of Asphalt Mixtures Reinforced with Polypropylene Fibers

ismael A. Muhammed; Abdullah M. Rashed; Sherzad Waisy Khalid; Bakhtiyar Q. Khawaja Al Harki

doi:10.65542/djei.v2i2.55

Authors

Ismael A. Mohammed Highway and Bridge Departments, Technical College of Engineering, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok 42001, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3115-8233
Abdullah M. Rashed Department of Highway and Bridge, Technical College of Engineering, Duhok Polytechnic University, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Sherzad Waisy Khalid Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Bakhtiyar Q. Khawaja Al Harki Department of Surveying, Akre Technical Institute, Akre University for Applied Sciences, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6571-865X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65542/djei.v2i2.55

Keywords:

Plastic fiber, Reinforcement asphalt mixtures, Fiber length, Performance tests, Marshall Stability

Abstract

Plastic waste is a new environmental threat and potential resource at the same time. The use of plastic waste polymer polypropylene fibers in asphalt mixtures is a good eco-solution that increases the pavement's lifetime. With traffic rising, forcing the needs in classic asphalt for improved durability. The study aimed to investigate the reinforcement characteristics of plastic fibers of four different lengths in cm (FL1, FL2, FL3, and FL4), represented by 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm, added to virgin asphalt mixtures (0.3% by total mix). Results by Marshall stability, Marshall stiffness, indirect tensile strength (ITS), moisture susceptibility (TSR), and deformation strength testing were quantified. The results showed that the stability of Marshall increased until the FL3 length, with FL1 and FL2 showing 23% and 10% enhancement, respectively, followed by a marginal decrease to FL4 as plastic fiber was introduced. Additionally, the moisture resistance improved with the fiber length, and the TSR values were significantly higher than that of the virgin mix. Regarding rutting resistance, fiber reinforcements greatly lowered deformation, most especially when fiber lengths were shorter. Generally, durability, moisture damage resistance, and rutting resistance are enhanced on a scale of 1–2 cm fiber length, hence being the most convenient quality for asphalt mixtures. In this research, the optimum length of PP fiber was specified to improve mechanical properties, and plastic waste was reused as a resource for sustainable road construction, both in accordance with SDG 9 and SDG 12 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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