Advances in Civil Engineering and Building Materials — Chang, Al Bahar & Zhao (Eds) © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-64342-9 Characterization of stone matrix asphalt with cellulose and coconut fiber SS. Awanti Prof & Head, department of Civil Engg PD. A. College of Engg. Gulbarga, Karnataka, India A. Habbal, PN. Hiremath, $. Tadibidi & S.N. Hallale Former Under Graduate Students, department of Civil Engg. P.D.A. College of Engg. Gulbarga, Karnataka, India ABSTRACT: This paper reports about the experimental investigations carried out on stone matrix asphalt mixes prepared by using coconut and cellulose fibers with VG 30 grade bitumen. Experimental work includes SMA mix design, static indirect tensile strength test at different temperatures and indirect tensile fatigue test From the test results it was observed that stone matrix asphalt mix with coconut fiber shows better performance ‘than stone matrix asphalt mix with cellulose fiber. It was also observed that SMA mix with coconut fiber works cout cheaper and abundantly available, Keywords: SMA-ctf, SMA-cf, SMA mix design 1 INTRODUCTION coarse aggregates are clearly mote significant in SMA mixtures when compared with conventional mixtures LA General (Gatchalian etal 2006), SMA being a gap graded mix has more air void con- tent and requires higher concentration binder. There- fore stabilizing additives ate added in the mix to prevent drain down of the binder. Mostly cellulose fibers have been tried by various investigators in SMA mixtures to solve this drain down problem. These fibers are either costly or not readily available, As reported by Khalil et al (2006), coconut fiber con- tains certain amount of cellulose, Te cellulose has been used by many researchers in SMA mixes to pre- vent drain down of binder, Hence, an attempt has been made in the present study to utilize a naturally and abundantly available low cost material such as ‘coconut fiber. in preparation of SMA mixes. The lab- oratory investigations such as SMA Mix design by ‘Marshall Method, Draindown test, Static Indirect Ten- sile test, Tensile Strength Ratio (ISR) and Indirect Tensile Fatigue tests were conducted on SMA (For surface course) with coconut fiber and results were ‘compared with control mix containing cellulose fiber. ‘SMA consists of two parts a high concentration coarse aggregates skeleton and a high binder content mortar. The coarse aggregates skeleton provides the mixture with stone-on-stone contact, giving it strength, while the high binder content mortar adds durability. The mortar is typically composed of fine aggregate, min- eral filler, asphalt binder and a stabilizing additive ‘This stabilizing additive acts to hold the asphalt binder in the mixture during the high temperatures of produe- tion and placement, Since the Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) is a gap-graded mixture, have a better stone to stone contact which gives better strength to the mix- ture (Brown & Haddock 1997). Aggregate structure plays a significant role in the resistance of SMA to permanent deformation, This structure is dependent fon stone-on-stone contact of coarse aggregate in the mixture, which places demands on aggregates that are different from those for previous conventional mix- tures. Conventional dense-graded mixes often allows coarse aggregates to essentially “float” in a matrix of fine aggregates and asphalt binder, therefore, in ‘these conventional mixes, strength properties of coarse aggregates were less important. Evidence indicates ‘that the construction operations, particularly com- From the literature review it is observed that most of ppaction of thin layers, plus subsequent traffic loading the researchers used cellulose fibers in SMA Mix to can contribute to degradation of coarse aggregates at solve the drain down problem these fibers are patented, ‘the contact points, which can significantly alter the costly, and are not readily available. As reported by original design gradation and create uncoated aggre- Khalil et al (2006) coconut fiber contains certain gate faces. Broken binder film can also provide inlet amount of cellulose. The cellulose has been used by for water which, in presence of traffic loads, can many researchers in SMA mixes to prevent drain down aggravate stripping. Therefore, strength properties of of binder and to increase the durability and stability of 1.2 Need for present investigation 639‘the mix. In view of this there is a need to characterize the SMA mixes with coconuticoir fiber for its engi- neering properties and compate the results with SMA containing cellulose fiber. 13 Objectives of present study + To determine optimum bitumen content for stone ‘matrix asphalt (SMA) by using Marshall method of mix design. To evaluate the static indirect tensile strength for stone matrix asphalt mix with coir fiber and cellu- lose fiber at different temperatures. + To determine the moisture susceptibility of SMA mix with coir and cellulose fiber by conducting tensile strength ratio (TSR) test. To determine the fatigue life of SMA with coir fiber and cellulose fibers by conducting Indirect Tensile Fatigue test. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ‘Kumar, Chandra & Bose (2004) tried to use an indige- ‘ous fiber in SMA Mix by taking low viscosity binder coated jute fiber instead ofthe traditionally used fibers and compared the result with the imported cellulose fiber, using 60/70 grade bitumen and found opti- ‘mum fiber percentage as 0.3% of the mixture. Jute fiber showed equivalent results to imported patented fibers as indicated by Marshall Stability test, perma- nent deformation test and fatigue life test. Aging index of the mix prepared with jute fiber showed better result than patented fiber Muniandy & Huat (2006) used Cellulose oil palm fiber (COPF) and found fiber-modified binder showed improved theological properties when cellulose fibers were preblended in PG 64-22 binder with fiber propor- tions of0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0% by weight of aggregates. It showed that the PG64-22 binder can be ‘modified and raised to PG70-22 grade, The Cellulose oil palm fiber (COPF) was found to improve the dia- ‘metrical fatigue performance of SMA deign mix. The fatigue life increased to @ maximum ata fiber content of about 0.6%, whilst the tensile stress and stiffness also showed a similar trend in performance. The ini- tial strains of the mix were lowest at a fiber content 0f 0.6%. Coconut fibers have been used in this study as a stabilizing additive in place of conventional Cellulose fibers in SMA mixes. The Optimum Binder Content (OBC) of the SMA mixes, based on the Marshall test results taking 3% air voids as the main crite- rion are observed to increase with increase in stiffness of binder. It is also observed from the above stud- des that only marginal incorporation of 0.3% coconut fiber leads to substantial improvement in engineering properties of laboratory based mix samples. However, these studies given above ate only preliminary and these need to be substantiated by lying of experimental ‘tracks (Suchismita, Panda & Chattaraj 2010). 3. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION 3.1 Materials 1. Crushed basalt type of coarse aggregates 13 mm and down, 2. Crushed basalt type of fine aggregate 2.36 mm and down, 3. Basalt stone dust as mineral filler. 4, VG 30 grade bitumen as binder. 5S. Cellulose and Coconut fibers as stabilizers. 3.2. Physical properties of ageregate ‘Various physical tests namely abrasion test, aggre gate impact test, shape test as combined index, water absorption test, specific gravity test of coarse, fine ‘aggregate and mineral filler and polished stone value tests have been conducted in order to determine the physical properties of the aggregates. Test results obtained were 20.77%, 16.08%, 29.07%, 0.92%, 2.78, 2.57, 2.33 and 72% respectively. These results fulfill the requirements as per IRC: SP: 79 (2008), 3.3 Physical properties of bitumen ‘Various physical tests were conducted on VG 30 grade bitumen namely Absolute viscosity at 60°C, Kinematic viscosity at 135°C, Flash point, Solubility in trichloroethylene, Penetration at 25°C (100 g, 5, 0.1mm), Softening point and Tests on residue from thin film oven test such as Viscosity ratio at 60°C and ductility at 25°C. Test results obtained were 2600 Poises, 370 cSt, 67.33 dmm, 47°C, 220°C, 99.5%, 3.0 ‘and 65 om. These results fulfill the requirements as per 18 73: 2006. 3.4 Physical properties of fibers Fibers are used as stabilizer in SMA Mix, Fibers help to increase the strength and stability and decrease the drain down in SMA Mix, There are different types of fibers are used in SMA Mix like cellulose fiber, poly- ‘mer fiber, mineral fiber, natural fibers, In the present investigations two types of fibers such as coconut fiber (natural fiber) and cellulose fiber were used as stabi- lizer in SMA mix. Physical properties namely length, diameter and specific gravity of coconut fibers were 3 to 8mm, 0.2 to 0.6mm and 1.0 respectively. Similarly for cellulose fibers these values were 1100 1m, 45 jem and less than 1.0 respectively. 3.5 SMA mix design ‘The SMA mixture was designed using AASHTO MP8 and AASHTO P41, The mix design consists of deter- mination of voids in the coarse aggregate (VCA pac) in accordance with ASTM C 29 using the equation 1 Preparation of twelve Marshall samples with three trail bitumen contents namely 6, 6.5 and 7%, Three samples from cach trail bitumen content shall be compacted ‘with $0 blows on each side and used to determine the 640‘volumetric properties of Marshall samples. The fourth sample shall be used to determine theoretical maxi- rum specific gravity (Gym) according to ASTM D 2041. The bulk specific gravity (Gn) ofthe specimens were determined as per AASHTO T 166. Using Gyo and Gry the percent ar Voids (V,), Voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) and voids in the coarse aggregate, mix (VCAqa) Were calculated using Equations 2, 3 and 4 as shown below VCApre = [(Gea Yu — 1 Gea Yu]*100 a) V.= 100*(1-Gea/Gau) @ YMA = 100- {(Gou/Gu)*Ps] @) VCAnix = 100- [(Gni/Gea)*Pea] @ Where, VCApxc = Voids in the coarse aggregate in the dry rodded condition, Ge, = Bulk specific gravity of the coarse aggregate, ¥u = Unit weight of water (998 kg/m"), Y%=Unit weight of coarse aggregate fraction in dry rodded aggregate in kg/m’ Ps = Percent of aggregate in mixture Pea = percent of coarse aggregate in the total mixture ‘The optimum bitumen content was determined cor responding to the design air void content of 4%, The fiber content used was 0.3% by weight of total mix for both types of fibers. The remaining mix properties determined were checked to meet the requirements as per IRC: SP: 79-2008. Test results are shown in Table 1 3.1. Drain down test The Schellenberg Drain down test was selected to determine the efficiency of the Coir and Cellulose fibers as stabilizer used to prevent drain down of the binder and mineral fille. In this test method a sam- ple of the SMA mixture to be tested was prepared in the laboratory. The sample was placed in a beaker, which is weighed. The sample along with the beaker is placed in the oven for one hour a a prescribed teper- ature of 170° 1°C. Atthe end of one hour, the beaker containing the sample is taken out from the oven and immediately emptied the beaker without any shaking or vibration, Re-weight the beaker to nearest 0.1 gm to determine the amount of draindown that occurred and calculate the percent of binder draindown using equation 5. Binder draindown % = 100x (C-A)/(B-A) 6 Where, A=Empty weight of the beaker B = Weight of the beaker after placing the mix. C=Emply the beaker without any shaking after one hour and weighed ‘Test results are shown in Table I 641 Table 1, Results of SMA mix design Reult of SMA mix Requirements Sl. Micdesign RemitefSMAmix rine No parameters SMA SMA-cf SP-79-2008 1 optimm = 60S S8min tien 2 %Airvoide 40 40 3 VMA% 2631 17min 4 VCA.min 3775 Less than VADRC 5 won ~ 6 010 OSmax 7 8675. 85min 3.5.2. Tensile strength ratio (TSR) test Resistance to moisture damage of SMA mixes was determined by adopting AASHTO: 1-283. Under this ‘method, one set of Marshall Specimens with 6 to 8% average air voids were immersed (conditioned) in a ‘water bath at 60°C for a period of 24 hours. The sam- ples were then removed from the water bath and kept fat a temperature of 25°C for a period of 24 houts. The samples were then removed from the water bath and kept at a temperature of 25°C for a period of 2 hours. Other set of samples (unconditioned) were kept at a temperature of 25°C for a period of 2 hours. These specimens were placed in to the indirect tensile strength test assembly by loading along the axis of the specimen, with the two faces being restrained from the ‘movement, The entire assembly was then mounted on the conventional Marshall testing apparatus and the load at failure was recorded. The TSR, which is a measure of water sensitivity calculated using the equation 6. TSR = [Average tensile strength of conditioned samplelAverage tensile strength of unconditioned sample] 100 © Test results are shown in Table 1 SMA-ctf: SMA with coconut fiber, SMA-cf SMA with cellulose fiber3.6 STATIC INDIRECT TENSILE TEST The static indirect tensile test was cartied out as per ASTM: D-4123-1995 (15) to study the behav- for of paving mixes at different temperatures. The split tensile strength of asphalt mixes was determined by applying a compressive load to Marshall speci- amen along the vertical diametzical plane, through two-curved steel strips 12.5 mm wide with the same inside curvature as that of the Marshall specimens. A nearly uniform tensile stress is developed normal to the direction of the applied load and along the same vertical plane causing the specimen to fil by splitting along the vertical diameter. Indirect tensile strength of specimen is calculated as shown in equation 6