Journal Published Online: 16 December 2024
Volume 53, Issue 1

Evaluation of Open-Graded Friction Course Mixes with Agro-Waste–Derived Natural Fibers

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

As an agrarian economy, India produces the second-largest amount of agricultural waste globally. The practices of indiscriminately disposing of this waste in open lands or burning it in agricultural fields give rise to significant environmental and health concerns. With an increasing need for sustainable road construction materials and practices, engineers are continuously looking for the use of agricultural and plantation-based resources, particularly natural fibers. In order to address problems like binder draindown and raveling associated with high binder content and low fine content, this study focuses on the open-graded friction course (OGFC), which incorporates fibers. Under the investigation on the potential applications of natural fibers, including banana fiber (BNF), sisal fiber (SIF), pineapple fiber (PNF), sunn hemp fiber (SHF), and cellulose fiber (CLF), the study assesses various mix design parameters across 12 combinations, including bulk density, air voids, stone-on-stone contact, binder draindown, and abrasion loss (aged and unaged) at different binder contents, fiber lengths, and dosages. Results indicate an optimum binder content of 6.0 % for all fiber-reinforced OGFC mixes. Grey relational analysis and indirect tensile strength (ITS) tests further validate the improved performance of these mixes, showcasing reduced draindown, and abrasion loss, and enhanced ITS with the incorporation of natural fibers. The comprehensive evaluation of mix design properties ranks BNF as the top-performing, followed by PNF, SIF, and SHF, as indicated by the grey relational grade. This research emphasizes the potential of using agricultural waste for sustainable infrastructure development and promoting eco-friendly practices in the construction industry.

Author Information

Sharma, Ashish
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India
Choudhary, Rajan
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India
Kumar, Ankush
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India
Biswapriya Dash, Saswat
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India
Pages: 20
Price: $25.00
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Stock #: JTE20240090
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20240090