Mechanical properties of cellulose-fibre reinforced bituminous mix under various loading rates

Abstract

This research aims to observe the effect of applying cellulose fibre to the mechanical properties of bituminous mixtures when subjected to various loading speeds that simulate various traffic situations with fibre dosages of 0.3 – 0.5% of mix weight. The semi-circular bending (SCB) test was employed in this project, where the specimens were subjected to loading speeds of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mm/min. The incorporation of cellulose was reported to enhance the tensile strength of the specimens up to 43.75% at the lowest loading rate and 13.75% at the highest rate, while the critical strain energy was elevated to 24.54% at the lowest rate and 38.2% at the highest rate, signifying better resistance against loading. Meanwhile, the flexibility index (FI) of modified specimens showed a mixed trend compared to the control mix, 30.43% higher at the lowest rate and 28.9% lower at the highest rate. To sum up, the incorporation of cellulose fibre into the bituminous mixture can enhance its strength and resistance against various loading rates, and the fibre dosage of 0.3% is recommended to give the best outcome.