Global Advanced Research Journal of Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ISSN: 2315-5124) September 2015 Vol. 4(5), pp 086-091

Copyright © 2015 Global Advanced Research Journals   

Original Research Articles

Fatigue Life extension in HMA Concretes through the inclusion of Candle Wax as modifier for heavy trafficked Pavement

Enwuso A. Igwe
 

Department of Civil Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, P.M.B 5080, 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

(Tel: +2348037077751; Email: igwe2002@yahoo.

Accepted 06 September 2015

Abstract 

Highway flexible pavements, probably the largest infrastructural components in many developed nations today are a complex system having multiple layers made up of different materials. However, this very large infrastructural component during use suffer many drawbacks resulting from different adverse conditions such as irregular traffic loading, and varying environmental conditions like temperature, moisture and oxidation rates. Therefore, a realistic prediction of the long-term service life of flexible pavements is one of the most challenging tasks for pavement engineers in Highway Engineering. Generally, there are two main types of distresses that impede the performance of flexible pavement – fatigue cracking and rutting deformations. The former generally associated with stiffness and horizontal tensile strains at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer was the focus of the present study since it is the most significant factor controlling pavement life. In this study hot mix asphalt concretes were prepared and modified at optimum asphalt content using non bituminous modifier – candle wax. The results obtained revealed that the candle wax modified asphalt concrete produced pavements with extended pavement life for all loading frequencies considered for the given traffic category. Overall the addition of candle wax produced pavement having average stiffness increase of 8%, average strain reduction of 27% and average fatigue extension of 171%. 

Keywords: Fatigue Life, Extension, Candle Wax, HMA Concretes, Heavy Traffic