Sustainable pavement technologies - performance of high RAP in WMA surface mixture containing nano glass fibers

Abstract

• WMA reduces viscosity thereby toxic emissions and energy utilization. • Bailey gradation deems packing characteristics and utilizes realistic site conditions. • Nano Glass Fibers enhances properties of higher RAP replaced pavements. Pavement engineer is facing challenging task for curtailing the energy consumption, natural resources, and emissions without a compromise in pavement performance characteristics. Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology is one among the solution and has attained a great recognition in pavement construction. In this article base binder was modified with a wax compound (Sasobit) to reduce the overall energy consumption and toxic emissions during pavement construction. Bituminous Concrete mixture was prepared with varying packing characteristics, using Bailey’s method of gradation. It was observed that 3% sasobit dosage when blended to the base binder showed the better results in comparison to the other dosages. A comparative study on volumetric properties, mix stiffness, moisture susceptibility, and rutting characteristics were performed. Mix combinations were prepared with conventional and modified binders with different proportions of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and containing Nano glass fibers. A Higher percentage of RAP up to 80% and with 5% rejuvenator as vegetable oil was used in the study. The results obtained showed that 70% RAP mix displayed a drastic increment in the performance properties by almost 25% when compared to the conventional mix. Additional reinforcement in the form of Nano Glass Fibers was utilized to enhance the properties of RAP mixes. The performance properties of the 70% RAP mixes was observed to have an additional increment by almost 15% with the addition of 0.3% Nano glass fibers thereby laying a path for sustainable pavement technologies in the pavement construction industry.