Abstract
Physical properties of different fibers (mineral, cellulose, or carbon fiber) and their stabilizing and reinforcing effects on asphalt mortar performance were studied. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the effect of fiber’s microstructure on asphalt mortar’s performance. Laboratory tests of mesh-basket draindown and oven heating were designed and performed to evaluate the fibers’ asphalt absorption and thermostability. A cone penetration test was used to study the flow resistance of fiber-modified asphalt mortar. Results showed that fiber can form a three-dimensional network structure in asphalt, and this network can be retained at high temperature. This network of fibers favors the formation of a thick coating of mastic without asphalt draining down. Cellulose fiber possessed a greater effect on asphalt absorption and stabilization than did the other fibers (mineral and carbon fiber). A dynamic shear rheometer was used to evaluate their rheological properties and rut resistance. Results indicated that fiber can effectively improve the rut and flow resistance of asphalt mortar. However, the bending beam rheometer results demonstrated that the addition of fiber had negative effects on the creep stiffness and creep rate of asphalt mortar.
Highlights
Asphalt has been widely used for road pavement construction for centuries (Zhang et al 2009; Wang et al 2012)
Thermal test results showed that the cellulose fiber was the most susceptible to coagulation, and it shrank noticeably at high temperature, while the other fibers showed no apparent change
The color of mineral fiber did not undergo any noticeable change. These results suggested that the cellulose fiber had the lowest thermostability, and the mineral fiber had the highest thermostability
Summary
Asphalt has been widely used for road pavement construction for centuries (Zhang et al 2009; Wang et al 2012). Because of its adhesive properties, asphalt has been primarily used as a binder for aggregate particles in asphalt– concrete (AC) mixture, a composite material used for constructing flexible highway pavements. Different additives have been used to alter the phase composition and improve the engineering properties of asphalt matrix (Ahmedzade 2013). These additives primarily include organic polymers that have been extensively studied (Hao 2001; Cao and Ji 2011). Fiber–asphalt mixture shows a slight increase in the optimum asphalt binder content compared with the pure asphalt mixture In this way, adding fibers to asphalt is very similar to the addition of very fine aggregates. The mechanism of how fibers modify asphalt is complicated, yet the impact upon pavement performance is profound (Hassan et al 2005)
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