UTILIZATION OF SHREDDED WASTE PLASTIC BAGS AND WASTE SUGAR CANE ASH IN BITUMEN AND BITUMINOUS MIX FOR IMPROVED ROAD PERFORMANCE

Abstract

With the expansion of road network in Kenya, care should be taken to construct road pavement that will last their designed life if not to outlive it. Bitumen is a major component in road construction material providing its ability to sustain traffic road. Bituminous paved road fail or get damaged if it is no longer able to sustain traffic or other environmental loading. They fail through poor road maintenance, pot-hole development, overloading among other factors. Convectional bitumen can be modified using waste sugar cane ash (WSCA) and shredded waste plastic bags (SWPB) to improve its mechanical properties as well as solving the disposal issue.The main objective of this study is to understand the fundamental behaviour of modified bitumen, evaluate its mechanical property, and determine optimum mix proportion of the waste to modify bitumen.The modified bitumen and aggregates used in this study were taken through the standard tests to ascertain their suitability in road construction. Marshall Stability test was conducted to determine bitumen optimum content, stability and flow on the modeled briquette. The results gotten from the modified bitumen and aggregates were within the recommended standard specifications. The optimum bitumen content is 5.4% and a stability of 12600N. Penetration index (ranges 61-68) and softening point (51.3 – 57.8). The aggregates strength (20.6%), water absorption (0.69%) and weathering (2%).The modified bitumen has the ability to withstand high temperature, heavy load and this will minimize the development of rutting and cracking of the wearing course reducing seepage through the pavement surface. It is recommended that the convectional bitumen commonly used in Kenya 80/100 should be modified using WSCA and SWPB to make it a better binder for road construction.