Effects of Fibers in Dense Graded and Gap Graded Asphalt Concrete

Franher Daniel Cantu, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Copyright 2023 The Author. All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

As a part of efforts to understand the interactions between fibers and particles in compliant binder such as asphalt. This investigated the compressive behaviors of fiber reinforced asphalt concrete with different aggregate gradation, such as gap graded and dense graded. There have been multiple studies attempting to understand the impact of fibers on particle reinforced composites, however, only few of those focused on the fiber-particle interactions. A comprehensive literature review on the current state of the art of fiber reinforced asphalt concrete and fiber-particle interactions was conducted. Then a series of compression tests were conducted using various size steel fibers and polyvinyl alcohol fibers for dense graded and gap graded (stone matrix) asphalt concrete. The results show that adding fibers increases air voids and correspondingly reduces the compressive strength and stiffness but increases the pre- and post-cracking energy. These behaviors were observed in both dense and gap graded asphalt mixtures