Evaluation of Draindown Characteristics of OGFC Mixes with Natural Fibers from Waste Pineapple Leaves
摘要
India ranks sixth among pineapple-producing countries, with a growth of 1.851 million tons of pineapple cultivation in 108,000 hectares. Pineapple harvesting generates massive agro-waste, including peels, leaves, and residual fruit. The residue from pineapple is burned or thrown, which causes landfill issues and air pollution via greenhouse gas emissions. The leftover pineapple leaves may be used to produce natural fibers. These waste-derived pineapple fibers (PAF) may be used in bituminous mixes, particularly open-graded friction courses (OGFCs), to control the binder draindown. The loss of binder and mastic from a bituminous mix during manufacture and transport is called draindown, resulting in reduced life and performance of the mix. This study examines the impact of PAF as a stabilizer on the draindown properties of OGFC mixes, considering four fiber lengths (3, 6, 9, and 12 mm), three dosages (0.15, 0.30, and 0.45%), three binder contents (5.5, 6.0, and 6.5%), two binder types (unmodified and polymer-modified), and three draindown periods (1, 2, and 3 h). Aside from standard draindown testing, mesh basket draindown and cone penetration experiments were performed on fiber-added asphalt binder (FAB) to assess absorption capacity and shear stress resistance. To see the impact of binder absorption on fiber, dry and binder-coated PAF were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The statistical investigation revealed 9 mm long PAF at 0.45% dosages as optimum for OGFC mixtures. Using agro-waste PAF as stabilizers in OGFC mixes benefits the environment while also enhancing profitability for pineapple producers.