Effect of Natural Fiber on the Engineering Properties of Dense Grade Bituminous Mixes with Coal Ash

Abstract

Coal-based thermal power plants have been a key source of power generation in India. The prime waste products of a coal thermal power plant are fly ash and bottom ash. Heavy dumping of these waste products causes fatal environment pollution to air, water, and land, besides impairing human health. This study aims to find the best way to use ash, namely bottom ash as a fine aggregate and fly ash as a mineral filler, in combination with natural fibre (such as sisal fibre) to improve the engineering features of bituminous paving mixtures. For the sake of national interest, these waste materials, which are readily available and numerous, can be used economically for bituminous pavement, so conserving the nation's natural aggregate resources. Natural aggregate will be used as coarse aggregates, bottom ash will be used as fine aggregates, fly ash will be used as a filler, and sisal fibre will be used as an additive in this study. MORTH (2013) will be used to determine the proportion of aggregate in dense graded bituminous macadam (DBM) grading, with a nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) of 26.5 mm. Slow setting emulsion (SS1) coated sisal fibre will be added to the mix in various percentages of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1% by weight, with different length variants such as 5mm, 10mm, 15mm, and 20mm. During the research, specimens will be made with two types of paving bitumen, VG30 and VG10, with the trials with the best Marshall properties being considered for further investigation. A complete analysis using Marshall test findings will be used to evaluate the marshal properties, ideal binder content, and optimum fibre content, including the optimum fibre length. To deliver the pavement's performance, various performance tests will be undertaken, including moisture susceptibility test, indirect tensile strength (ITS), creep test, and tensile strength ratio of bitumen mixes. With coal ash as fine aggregate and filler, stabilised with natural sisal fibre appropriately coated with SS-1 emulsion in advance, it is envisaged that the outcome would show satisfactory, but also significantly improved technical qualities. By combining non-conventional aggregates such as coal ash and natural fibre, a novel method of bituminous pavement construction may be discovered. Coal ash dumping, which is a major cause of concern for everyone due to its disposal and environmental damage, can be reused in a cost-effective manner by substituting natural resources such as sand and stone dust.