Modification of bituminous mixture using granules form of LDPE-HDPE for flexible pavement / Nur Airin Che Mohamad Zoidin

Increment in the number of vehicles and overloading of commercial vehicles and also daily temperature changes are the main reasons for pavement surface to distress. Due to rapid population, the amount of disposal plastic wastes increased and become a serious problem due to their non-biodegradability, so these plastic wastes will be used in road construction to increase the life period and serviceability of road flexible pavement. This study presents the utilization of recycle plastic waste product in granules form of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as additives to modify the bituminous mixture at wearing course. Both materials have their own characteristics and advantages, thus produced the optimum benefit when combining both products in bituminous mixture. Wearing samples were prepared using Marshall Method of Mix Design to produce the compacted mixtures and Marshall Test was carried out to determine the OBC value and its properties. The properties and performance of the modified mixture were quantified and compared with conventional mixture and JKR specification in term of air voids, stability, flow, stiffness, cantrabro loss and resistance to water. Result showed by adding 2% of LDPE-HDPE in the bituminous mixture provides better binding properties which increased the strength, durability, resistance to abrasion loss, and more water resistance. At the same time, occurrence of pavement distress will be minimized.