Investigation of the combined effect of Nano copper oxide and polypropylene fibers in asphalt mixtures to prevent rutting

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor , Faculty of Engineering Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman , Kerman,Iran.

2 M.Sc. in Highway Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

3 Professor Assistant, Department of Civil and mining Engineering, University of Gonabad

10.22091/cer.2025.11451.1582

Abstract

Rutting is one of the most common failures in asphalt pavements, typically caused by inadequate compaction, loss of materials, or insufficient shear resistance of the asphalt mixture. In this study, the effect of combining nano-copper oxide and polypropylene fibers on improving the resistance of asphalt mixtures to rutting was investigated. First, the optimal percentage of nano-copper oxide was determined using resilient modulus and dynamic creep tests. The results showed that adding 2% nano-copper oxide increased the resilient modulus of the asphalt mixture by up to 50%. Subsequently, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% polypropylene fibers were added to the asphalt mixture containing 2% nano-copper oxide. The results indicated that adding 0.3% polypropylene fibers improved the Marshall stability of the asphalt mixture by up to 5.2%. However, increasing the fiber content beyond 0.3% negatively impacted the Marshall stability due to reduced adhesion between the bitumen and aggregate. Additionally, the addition of polypropylene fibers decreased the Marshall flow of the asphalt mixture. Nano-copper oxide alone also increased the flow of the mixture. Overall, the combination of 2% nano-copper oxide and 0.3% polypropylene fibers increased the resistance of the asphalt mixture by up to 8.1% and created a balance between flow and stiffness. These results suggest that the simultaneous use of these two additives can be an effective solution for enhancing the performance of asphalt mixtures against rutting and improving mechanical resistance.

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Civil Infrastructure Researches

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 February 2025

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