Investigation of the Performance of the Ecofriendly Fiber-Reinforced Asphalt Mixture as a Sustainable Pavement Material

Jiayu Wu,Haitao Tian,Tengbin Huang,Bowen Guan,Jingyi Liu,Tao Ren,Chengcheng Liu,Jianan Liu

doi:10.1155/2019/6361032

Jiayu Wu, Haitao Tian + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6361032

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Abstract

This article presents a study to evaluate the performance of the ecofriendly calcium sulfate whisker fiber- (CSWF-) reinforced asphalt mixture as a sustainable pavement material. Asphalt mixtures containing 0.2 wt.%, 0.4 wt.%, 0.6 wt.%, and 0.8 wt.% of the CSWF were designed by the Marshall method. Asphalt mixtures without fiber were also prepared as control samples. The Marshall test, wheel-tracking test, low-temperature bending test, water sensitivity test, and fatigue test were conducted to evaluate the performance of the CSWF asphalt mixture. And the mechanism of fiber reinforcement was discussed. The results showed that the CSWF could improve the high-temperature stability and low-temperature crack resistance of the asphalt mixture. Water stability of asphalt mixtures in the presence of the CSWF was also improved. When the CSWF content was 0.4 wt.% of the total mixture, the performance of the asphalt mixture is the best. Compared with the conventional asphalt mixture, the CSWF asphalt mixture not only utilized power plant waste effectively to preserve ecosystems but also improved the performance of the pavement, which is suggested to be used in sustainable pavement construction and rehabilitation.

Highlights

Pavement plays a significant role in the transportation network affecting economic and social development of the country
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Analyses. e microstructures of the calcium sulfate whisker fiber (CSWF) and calcium sulfate whisker fiber- (CSWF-)reinforced asphalt mixture were examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM)
Marshall specimens of the CSWF-reinforced asphalt mixture and Marshall specimens of the control asphalt mixture were tested for Marshall stability every 24 h after 48 h of immersion in sodium sulfate solution. e effect of water sensitivity of the CSWF-reinforced asphalt mixture under sulfate attack was studied, and the feasibility of using the CSWF-reinforced asphalt mixture in the sulfate environment was discussed. ree parallel samples were used in this test

Summary

Introduction

Pavement plays a significant role in the transportation network affecting economic and social development of the country. Xing et al studied the effect and mechanism of the calcium carbonate whisker on the asphalt binder and found that the addition of the calcium carbonate whisker can improve the softening point of asphalt and decrease its penetration and ductility [24] From these researches, it is found that, due to the high strength, large specific surface area, and high-temperature resistance, the CSWF can improve the performance of the matrix material effectively. In China, the deposit of flue gas desulfurization gypsum is up to billions of tons and amounts up to more than 50 million tons per year [25] To utilize this power plant waste effectively and improve the performance of the pavement, the utilization of the CSWF in the asphalt mixture as a sustainable pavement material in the asphalt pavement may be a promising way. Penetration (25°C, 100 g, 5 s) Softening point Ductility (15°C, 5 cm/min) Wax content Specific gravity Flash point

10.1 ASTM D113-99

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion