Evaluation of Recycled Tire Fibers as Reinforcement in Different Types of Asphalt Mixtures

Addition of fibers as reinforcement in asphalt mixtures has several benefits. In open graded mixtures such as permeable friction course (PFC) and stone mastic asphalt (SMA) addition of fibers is required to control drain down of asphalt binder during the laying and compaction process. According to the literature, addition of fibers to asphalt mixtures also results in improvement of mechanical properties of the mixture and consequently the life of the pavement. Various types of fibers are commonly used in asphalt mixtures. These include synthetic fibers, mineral fibers and cellulose fibers typically manufactured using various recycled material. The latter are commonly used in asphalt mixtures. Tire fibers are a waste byproduct of scrap tire treatment process, typically disposed in land fills. This paper presents results from a study to investigate the use of tire fibers in lieu of cellulose fibers. The overall objective of this study was to conduct a laboratory test program to examine the utility of by-product tire fibers in hot mix asphalt (HMA) for paving purposes. The test program included: two types of tire fibers (long and short), one cellulose fiber for comparison, and no fiber in control specimens; three different types of HMA mixtures (SMA, PFC, and coarse matrix-high binder); and five test methods (asphalt draindown, indirect tension test, dynamic modulus test, Hamburg test, and overlay tester) Researchers examined the availability of by-product tire fibers and found them to be readily obtainable in various parts of the United States. Laboratory test results indicate that recycled tire fibers can provide essentially the same or better benefits as cellulose fibers. These findings could open a new and significant market for these waste fibers and reduced demand on landfills.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Chowdhury, Arif
  • Bhasin, Amit
  • Button, Joe W
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Binder content; Binders; Dynamic modulus of elasticity; Friction course; Hot mix asphalt; Landfills; Recycled materials; Stone matrix asphalt; Tires
• Uncontrolled Terms: Asphalt treated permeable base; Indirect tension test
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements; Vehicles and Equipment; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01044202
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-1679
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 21 2007 12:46PM