Volume 17, No. 2, 2023
Received: 2022/07/24, Accepted: 2023/02/08
Authors:
Saad Khan; Hamza Marjan;
Abstract:
Disposal of waste polythene bags (WPB) is the major problems as it causes pollution. Pavement over time get deteriorated by vehicular traffic that mostly results in rutting and other distress. This research is based on the performance evaluation of hot mix asphalt (HMA) modified with Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). Aggregates NHA gradation B, Bitumen grade 60/70 and waste polythene bags from the dump yards of Islamabad (Pakistan) were used in this study. Penetration, ductility and softening point tests were carried out of virgin bitumen and bitumen with different contents of polythene bags (LDPE) flakes i.e. 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% to figure out optimum modifier content. Marshall testing was performed for determination of optimum bitumen content OBC. Using OBC and incorporating LDPE contents as a replacement for OBC, HMA samples were tested for performance evaluation, including rutting resistance and moisture susceptibility and compared with the performance of conventional HMA. It was observed that 4% of LDPE as a replacement for OBC in the HMA can be used as optimum modifier content and yielded better performance results than conventional mix. Rutting resistance was improved 20.86% and tensile strength ratio TSR for moisture susceptibility evaluation was above the specified limit of 80%.
Keywords:
: waste polythene bags (WPB) utilization ; low-cost bitumen modifier; performance evaluation; performance improvement; cost comparison; sustainable environment.