Location
Chamberlain Student Center
Document Type
Poster
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Event Website
https://research.rowan.edu/rowan-research-days-2024.html
Start Date
26-3-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
26-3-2024 3:00 PM
Abstract
Use of waste plastics in asphalt mixtures suffers from a serious problem of significant variability with global sources; preventing proper guidelines for field applications. The aim of this study is to address the variability in source of waste plastic and its impact on asphalt mixture design. The study was designed to provide a selection criterion to evaluate the suitability of waste polyethylene (PE) for asphalt pavements. PE obtained from five sources was used as a replacement for asphalt binder. Dry mixing of plastics with asphalt and aggregate was performed at the dosage levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%. The changes in asphalt mixture volumetrics were correlated to plastic properties such as density(ρ), viscosity (η), melting point (Tm), and Degree of Crystallinity (Xc), apart from source. Construction Densification Index and Traffic Densification Index were also calculated for the workability of PE mixtures. From the calorimeter analysis, the thermal characteristics concluded that even though five PEs irrespective of sources could be categorized as PE, the plastics differed significantly in terms of melting enthalpies with varied Xc and η. The volumetric analysis of plastic modified mixtures conveyed that PE with Xc (65%) and η (>5594 Pa.sec at 165°C) resulted in reduced workability of the mixtures. Such plastics were identified to have filler tendency rather than a binding material in the asphalt mixtures. Finally, PE with Xc value of 65.56% at a dosage of 6% is found to be optimum for designing PE modified mixture, irrespective of source. Overall, the study recommends to address PE in terms of core properties such as Xc and η rather than source or supplier to reduce variability and better understand its suitability in asphalt mixtures.
Included in
Use of Waste Plastics in Asphalt Mixes: Addressing the Variability of Source
Chamberlain Student Center
Use of waste plastics in asphalt mixtures suffers from a serious problem of significant variability with global sources; preventing proper guidelines for field applications. The aim of this study is to address the variability in source of waste plastic and its impact on asphalt mixture design. The study was designed to provide a selection criterion to evaluate the suitability of waste polyethylene (PE) for asphalt pavements. PE obtained from five sources was used as a replacement for asphalt binder. Dry mixing of plastics with asphalt and aggregate was performed at the dosage levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%. The changes in asphalt mixture volumetrics were correlated to plastic properties such as density(ρ), viscosity (η), melting point (Tm), and Degree of Crystallinity (Xc), apart from source. Construction Densification Index and Traffic Densification Index were also calculated for the workability of PE mixtures. From the calorimeter analysis, the thermal characteristics concluded that even though five PEs irrespective of sources could be categorized as PE, the plastics differed significantly in terms of melting enthalpies with varied Xc and η. The volumetric analysis of plastic modified mixtures conveyed that PE with Xc (65%) and η (>5594 Pa.sec at 165°C) resulted in reduced workability of the mixtures. Such plastics were identified to have filler tendency rather than a binding material in the asphalt mixtures. Finally, PE with Xc value of 65.56% at a dosage of 6% is found to be optimum for designing PE modified mixture, irrespective of source. Overall, the study recommends to address PE in terms of core properties such as Xc and η rather than source or supplier to reduce variability and better understand its suitability in asphalt mixtures.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/grad_student_symposium/2024/mar26/10
Comments
Dr. Anil Kumar Baditha is a Post-Doctoral Associate and Venkatsushanth Revelli is a Graduate Assistant in the Center for Research and Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering under Dr. Yusuf Mehta.