Effects of two metal nanoparticles on performance properties of asphalt binder and stone matrix asphalt mixtures containing waste high density polyethelene

Abstract

Asphalt mixtures has a long history of usage as pavement due to its economic efficiency. Asphalt mixtures have various modes of failure as they go through various temperature profiles and loading stresses over time since they are viscoelastic materials. Three different forms of distress, including rutting, fatigue cracking, and low-temperature cracking, are frequently seen in pavements composed of HMA. Such troubles limit its service life and lead to unsatisfactory service conditions. One of the most popular additive to modify bitumens is polymers. Numerous disadvantages prevent the widespread use of polymers in asphalt concrete (AC) mixture modification for the building of roads. Research on using complimentary materials, including nanomaterials, to counteract the detrimental effects of polymers while improving the performance of the AC combination has recently drawn a lot of interest. Recent years have seen pavement specialists reach the conclusion that modifying asphalt using composite material is the best way to address the issues with binder additives and meet requirement for asphalt mixture. So, in the current research, original asphalt binder was modified using nano-CuO, nano-Al2O3, carbon nano tube (CNT) as a conductive material, and HDPE. To improve their qualities, modifications were made to the additions Nano-CuO (2%, 4% by weight of asphalt binder), Nano-Al2O3 (2%, 4% by weight of bitumen), CNT (1%), and HDPE (3%, 5%). In addition to rheological bitumen testing and storage stability tests, other physical binder tests were conducted, including ones for penetration grade, softening point, and ductility. Additionally, tests for dynamic creep, four-point beam fatigue (FPBF), indirect tensile strength (ITS), Hamburg wheel tracking (HWT) and resilient modulus (Mr) were conducted to examine the impact of compound-modified binders on the performance of stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixtures. According to the results, adding nano-CuO and nano-Al2O3 lowered the penetration grade and raised the softening point. The combination of combind modifiers has the highest performance against rutting and fatigue distress, according to the findings of MSCR and LAS tests. The addition of Nano-CuO and Nano-Al2O3, CNT, and HDPE increased the ITS, MR, rutting resistance, and fatigue characteristics of asphalt mixes, according to the findings of mixtures tests. The mixture, which included all three additions, exhibited the most favorable qualities overall.