Evaluation of Jute Fibre as a Reinforcing Material in Stone Mastic Asphalt Used for Rural Roads
摘要
The impetus of the current study arises from the scarcity of commercial pelletized cellulose fibre, motivating an investigation into economically practical alternative materials for the construction of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) utilized as the wearing course of flexible pavement. Consequently, the research tries to assess the viability of applying locally abundant wastes like Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Pond Ash (PA) as alternative fillers. Additionally, jute fibres use as a reinforcing agent by employing a combination of Marshall mix design, Drain-Down tests, and Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) tests. Findings revealed that introducing 0.3% jute fibre into the 4% RHA-enriched SMA resulted in a higher Tensile strength ratio (TSR) value and lower optimum bitumen content as well as lower drain-down of binder materials, could potentially serve as a promising wearing course for low-volume rural roads.