A Study on Properties of Stone Mix Asphlat by Using Cellulose as Fiber and Copper Slag as Partial Replacement to Aggregates

Generally, Aggregates are used in addition with bitumen throughout the world in construction & maintenance of flexible pavements. Aggregates with uniform, close, well, or dense perform well with normal bitumen in heavily trafficked roads when designed and executed properly and also commonly used in paving industry. But it is not always possible to arrange dense aggregates available at the site positions. In such situations, bituminous mix known as stone matrix asphalt (SMA) that is basically consisting of gap graded aggregate, can be attempted. SMA (stone matrix asphalt or stone mastic asphalt) was originally developed in European and German countries as impervious or highly durable wearing surface for bridge decks. But today, it is pavement surface of choice. It consists of two parts, a coarse aggregate and a binder rich mortar. It is made by a mixture of crushed coarse and fine aggregates, stabilizer such as fibers or polymers, mineral filler, cement. In present study, an attempt has been made to study the properties of SMA mixes with cellulose fiber and Copper slag in partial replacement of stone aggregates as coarse and fine aggregate grades. This research project was done to check the usage of Copper slag in SMA mixture by conducting Marshall test in the laboratory in which stability value and flow values was examined along with other properties of mixtures. Here IRC -SP-79 specification, aggregate gradation is taken for stone matrix asphalt. Binder used is 60/70 penetration grade bitumen. Binder content is varied as 4%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, and 7% by weight of aggregates and fiber used is optimum fiber content at 0.3% by weight of aggregate. Maximum stability value is obtained for copper slag as coarse aggregate i.e. 17.77 KN at 5.5% bitumen content when compare to stone as coarse aggregate. SMA Mix with Copper slag material shows less flow value in comparison with stone aggregate. The air voids with Copper slag shows more value than stone aggregate. Copper slag shows optimum binder content of 5.5% whereas SMA Mix with only stone aggregates gives optimum binder content of 5%.