IDL - International Digital Library Of

Technology & Research

Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Technology And Research-2017

Indirect Tensile Strength of Modified Bitumen

Mixture
Satyanarayana Bale, Head Of Department Of Civil Engineering

Ramachandra College of Engineering, Eluru, A.P-534007.India

Abstract: - The performance of flexible pavements depends on bituminous mixture and external
factors such as traffic loading and weather conditions. Bitumen mixture is elastic, viscoelastic
and plastic material where rate of traffic loading and weather conditions plays very significant
role on its behavior .Conventional bitumen mixture is unable bear the present traffic volume and
environmental conditions by considering this an attempt has been made to study the indirect
tensile strength of modified bitumen mixture using cellulose fiber as a modifier. Higher tensile
strength resist the cracks, fatigue and rutting which are common failure in the flexible
pavements. For preparation of bituminous concrete mixture (BC) gradation has been taken as per
MORTH (table no: 500-18) specification. Bitumen content is optimized at 5% and cellulose
binder content has been varied such as 1%, 3% and 5% of total mix. Conducted different types of
tests such as penetration, ductility, softening point and indirect tensile strength . It has been
observed that the behavior of asphalt cement after adding the modifier differ from percentage to
another, At 5% an ideal improvement to the fatigue and rutting resistance properties of the
asphalt cement in terms of indirect tensile strength as compared with 1%,2% of modifier and
conventional bitumen . The addition of 5% Cellulose is found more significant.

I. INTRODUCTION
Bituminous mixture is a composite material consists of bitumen (binder), coarse aggregates, fine
aggregates and filler and suitability of these materials according to their availability and
specification should be thoroughly examined before undertaking any design methodology.
Different pavement design methods need various types of desirable properties of materials.
Therefore it is very necessary to determine engineering properties of materials that are used in
pavement construction. The present study was related to improving the tensile strength of
bituminous mixes for resisting the fatigue and rutting potential. Different kinds of basic
aggregates tests has been conducted like aggregate impact test, Los Angeles abrasion test,
aggregates crushing test, stripping of aggregates and specific gravity . In the same manner basic
bituminous tests also conducted such as penetration test, softening point test and ductility test.

IDL - International Digital Library 1|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017

IDL - International Digital Library Of
Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Technology And Research-2017

II. OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The main objective of this research is to study the influence of Cellulose fiber (C) on fatigue
resistance of asphalt mixtures, and to compare them with the conventional bitumen mixture in
order to understand fatigue mechanism with the aim of preventing fatigue cracking in asphalt
pavement. Therefore to achieve the main aim of the study, the following tasks were performed.
a) To study the basic properties of aggregates.
b) To study the basic properties of conventional bitumen
c) To study the basic properties of modified bitumen using cellulose fiber with varying the
fiber content i.e. 1%, 3 % and 5% and comparing the results with conventional bitumen
mixture in terms of increasing pavement fatigue life.
d) To study the tensile strength of conventional bitumen and modified bitumen with varying
fiber content i.e. 1 %, 3 % and 5% by using indirect tensile strength method and
comparing the results in terms of increasing the pavement fatigue life

III. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS

This chapter describes the experimental works carried out on the materials, bitumen and
bituminous mixes.

Aggregates

For preparation of bituminous concrete mixes (BC) grade-1 the sizes of combined aggregates are
chosen according to MORTH guidelines. Quantity of varies sizes of aggregates and physical
properties of aggregates are given in Table 1 and Table 2 respectively. A particular type of
binder and fiber in required quantities were mixes as per Marshall Procedure (preparation of
specimen for IDT test is same as Marshall Specimen).

Table 1:- Quantity of aggregates for BC (MORTH)

Sieve % Wt. of aggregates

Size passing
26.5 100 0
26.5 19 1.22 14.7
19 13.2 21.11 253.3
13.2 9.5 11.85 142.2
9.5 4.75 23.62 283.5
4.75 2.36 7.92 95.0

IDL - International Digital Library 2|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017

IDL - International Digital Library Of
Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Technology And Research-2017

2.36 1.18 10.48 125.8
1.18 0.6 6.00 72.0
0.6 0.3 5.96 71.5
0.3 0.15 4.48 53.8
0.15 0.075 3.42 41.0
Passing of 0.075 47.3

Table 2:- Physical Properties of aggregates

S.No Test Name Standard Results Accepted Limit
1 Impact Value (%) IS:2386 (P-IV) 21 30 % Max
2 Los Angeles abrasion IS:2386 (P-IV) 25 30 % Max
value (%)
3 Crushing Test (%) IS:2386 (P-IV) 23 30 % Max
4 Stripping of bitumen IS:6241 97 95 % Min
aggregates (%)
5 Specific gravity IS:2386 (P-III) 2.65 2.5-3.2
6 Flakiness index (%) IS:2386 (P-I) 20 30 % Max
7 Elongation index (%) IS:2386 (P-I) 23 30 % Max
8 Water absorption (%) IS:2386 (P-III) 0.1 2 % Max

Binder and Modifier

For this study 60/70 grade of bitumen as a binder and cellulose fiber as a modifier are used to
prepare mix. Properties of bitumen and modified bitumen are given below.

Table 3:- Results of Penetration Test

Test Name Fiber Name 0% 1% 3% 5% Standard

Penetration at 250C (mm) Cellulose fiber (C) 63 46 40 32 IS:1203

Table 4:- Results of Softening Point Test

Test Name Fiber Name 0% 1% 3% 5% Standard

Softening point 0C Cellulose fiber (C) 49 52 57 61 IS:1205

Table 5:- Results of Ductility Test

IDL - International Digital Library 3|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017

IDL - International Digital Library Of
Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Technology And Research-2017

Test Name Fiber Name 0% 1% 3% 5% Standard

Ductility (cm) Cellulose fiber (C) 80 26 20 12 IS:1208

Indirect Tensile Strength Test (IDT)

This experiment has been conducted according to standards of ASTM D6931-07. The IDT
strength of bituminous mixtures is performed by loading a cylindrical specimen across its
vertical diametral plane at a specified rate of deformation and test temperature. The peak load at
failure is recorded and used to calculate the IDT strength of the specimen.IDT strength values are
helpful to estimated the resistance against fatigue and rutting. IDT strength results for varies
concentration of fiber and increased IDT strength due addition of fiber are shown in table 5 and
table 6 respectively. The following equation is used for calculating the indirect tensile strength of
specimen.
2000 x P
ST =
xDxT
Where
ST == Indirect Tensile Strength, KPa
P = Maximum Load, N
t = Specimen height before testing, mm
D = Specimen Diameter, mm
Table 6:- Results of IDT Strength Test

S.No % of Cellulose fiber IDT strength

(N/MM2)
1 0% 0.92
2 1% 1.03
3 2% 1.17
4 3% 1.40

1.4
1.2
1
I
0.8
D
T
0.6
0.4
0.2
IDL - International
0 Digital Library 4|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017

0% 1% 3% 5%
% of Cellulose fiber
IDL - International Digital Library Of
Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Technology And Research-2017

Fig 1: IDT strength v/s

0% of fiber
S.No % of Cellulose fiber % of increased IDT strength
1 1% 13%
2 3% 27%
3 5% 52%

Table 7:- Increased IDT strength due to addition of fiber

IV. CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results and experimental investigations the following conclusions have come.
Basic bituminous tests i.e. softening point, penetration and ductility have been increasing with
increased percentage of cellulose fiber which is desired requirement to resist the fatigue and
rutting.
Indirect tensile strength which is represents potential capacity of resisting the fatigue, cracks and
rutting also increasing with the increased percentage of cellulose fiber. From the above results
5% of cellulose fiber shows more significant this reduces fatigue and rutting up to 52%
subsequently it increases the flexible pavements serviceability and life time.
V. SCOPE

Different types of fibers like alumina magnesium silicate, glass fiber, asbestos polyester,
polypropylene, paper sludge and crumb rubber can also be added as a bitumen modifier in place
of cellulose fiber. Add more than 5% of cellulose fiber and study the above properties.
VI. REFERENCES

[1] Standard Test Method for Indirect Tensile (IDT) Strength of Bituminous Mixtures as per
ASTM D6931-07
[2] Farag Khodary Moalla Hamed (2014), Evaluation of Fatigue Resistance for Modified
Asphalt Concrete Mixtures Based on Dissipated Energy Concept.
[3] Indirect tensile strength characteristics school of engineering, Cochin University of science
and technology.

[4] MORTH Recommendations.

IDL - International Digital Library 5|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017

IDL - International Digital Library Of
Technology & Research
Volume 1, Issue 5, May 2017 Available at: www.dbpublications.org

International e-Journal For Technology And Research-2017

[5] Debashish Kara (2012), A Laboratory Study of Bituminous Mixes Using A Natural Fibre

[6] AASHTO designation. (2000). lab book, to perform penetration test on given bitumen
sample, pp.49.

[7] Ali Akbar yousefi, (2009). polymer-modified bitumen from the wastes of petrochemical
plants, Iranian polymer journal, volume 18 number 3, pp. 209.

[8] American association of state highway and transportation officials (AASHTO). April (2000)

[9] AASHTO provisional standards, edition.american association of state highway and

transportation officials. Washington, d.c.

[10] ASTM (1998). ASTM d5-97, (1998). Standard test method for penetration of bituminous
materials, annual book of ASTM standards, volume 04.03, American society for testing and
materials, Philadelphia 19103-1187.

[11] Bradley j. putman, (2011). Effects of fiber finish on the performance of asphalt binders and
mastics, volume 2011, article id- 172634, pp.11.

[12] Brown, e.r., kandhal, p.s., lee, d.y. and lee, k.w. (1996). Significance of tests for highway
materials, journal of materials in civil engineering, vol.8, no.1, pp. 26-40

[13] uraksengoz, ali topal and girayisikyakar, (2009) .Morphology and image analysis of
polymer modified bitumens, elsevier construction and building materials -23, pp.1987.

[14] C. d. Johnston, (2000). Fiber-reinforced cements and concretes (Google ebook)

vol.2000. taylor & francis, pp. 372.

IDL - International Digital Library 6|P a g e Copyright@IDL-2017