Investigating the impacts of carbon nano-tube on asphalt and asphalt concrete mixtures

Abstract

The Failures of flexible pavements as a huge concern to the roads authorities and users have now became a common scenario across the globe. Researchers and academicians have been evaluating the distresses and looking for the remedy to improve the functional properties of asphalt and asphalt concrete. Various different materials have been used for the mentioned purpose, which have contributed some or not enough. This comprehensive study finds out the optimum amount and impacts of carbon nano-tubes (CNTs), while used in combination with asphalt and asphalt. The investigations were conducted in several categories to determine the pavement characteristics such as resistance to bonding and disintegration (in presence of water) by tensile strength and retained stability tests, which were performed on bituminous mixtures. Penetration, Softening point, RTFO, DSR and BBR were performed on bitumen to determine CNTs contribution on rutting, fatigue and low temperature cracking. Experimental results have shown that the addition of CNTs has improved both classic (penetration degree and softening point) and performance(fatigue parameter, rutting factor and low-temperature cracking) properties of asphalt as compared to the standard bitumen.

The Failures of flexible pavements as a huge concern to the roads authorities and users have now became a common scenario across the globe. Researchers and academicians have been evaluating the distresses and looking for the remedy to improve the functional properties of asphalt and asphalt concrete. Various different materials have been used for the mentioned purpose, which have contributed some or not enough. This comprehensive study finds out the optimum amount and impacts of carbon nano-tubes (CNTs), while used in combination with asphalt and asphalt. The investigations were conducted in several categories to determine the pavement characteristics such as resistance to bonding and disintegration (in presence of water) by tensile strength and retained stability tests, which were performed on bituminous mixtures. Penetration, Softening point, RTFO, DSR and BBR were performed on bitumen to determine CNTs contribution on rutting, fatigue and low temperature cracking. Experimental results have shown that the addition of CNTs has improved both classic (penetration degree and softening point) and performance(fatigue parameter, rutting factor and low-temperature cracking) properties of asphalt as compared to the standard bitumen.