Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Highway and Transportation Engineering (ICHITRA)

Ageing significantly influences the durability and performance of asphalt mixtures, making them vulnerable to cracking and deformation. To assess the ageing properties of asphalt mixtures, it is best to determine their binder performance. This paper offers a thorough analysis of the ageing characteristics and resistance of asphalt binders, specifically focusing on the incorporation of waste cooking oil (WCO) alongside Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP). The study employs a series of physical and rheological tests, as well as penetration, softening point, ductility, and dynamic shear test, to evaluate the degree of ageing exhibited by virgin, aged, and rejuvenated aged asphalt binders. The findings indicate that virgin asphalt binder demonstrates the highest degree of asphalt binder ageing, followed by the rejuvenated asphalt binder and aged asphalt binder, respectively. This result suggests that the additional of RAP and WCO serves to improve the asphalt binder’s ageing resistance. This is because the RAP binder is already aged, and WCO possesses an antioxidant that increases the asphalt ageing resistance. By utilising sustainable materials such as RAP and WCO in road construction materials, this research offers valuable insight into improving the longevity and performance of road construction materials by utilizing waste-derived resources in infrastructure development.

The application of waste materials and the uncertainty surrounding climate change are significant issues that highlight the need for creative reforms that will lead society toward a more sustainable future for all. The open dumping of Coal Bottom Ash (CBA) occupies a significant portion of valuable land and has a substantial consequence for the environment and humanity. To find a suitable method for handling CBA and enhancing our environments against excess contaminations, this study provides the application of CBA in Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) and the bibliometric analysis of the study’s keywords. This article also reviews the contemporary technologies of previously published articles on WMA. Based on the previous publication on CBA by Scopus, China contributed 23.1% of the Scopus publications between 2016 and 2023, followed by Malaysia (15.4%) and Belgium (3.8%). This showed that China contributed the most in terms of the countries’ total contributions. Out of all the academic disciplines, materials science, engineering, physics, and astronomy have contributed 55.6%, 24.4%, and 20.0% to Scopus publications, respectively. Therefore, additional reviews are required to confirm CBA’s continued effectiveness in WMA.

Due to rapid urbanization, pavement failure has become a concerning issue in road construction, primarily due to the increase in traffic loading and vehicle volume on roads. The aging process is one of the contributors to pavement failures, as it leads to a loss of the asphalt binder’s ability to hold surface particles together, causing microcracks. Hence, self-healing is an emerging approach that is potentially effective in repairing microcracks in asphalt pavements. The process occurs at an early stage to prevent the development of microcracks, thereby enhancing pavement durability. This study focused on using ureolytic bacteria as a potential self-healing agent in mixtures for hot, warm, and cold mix asphalt. Two methods of incorporating 1% ureolytic bacteria (by weight of the total aggregate) into the mixture were conducted: during mixing and after mixing. Marshall and indirect tensile strength tests were performed. The self-healing mechanism was evaluated by comparing and analyzing the mixture’s performance after one day and seven days of mixing. The findings show that when utilizing the ureolytic bacteria during mixing, the CMA mixtures demonstrated a high potential for self-healing, with a 24% increase in performance after seven days, followed by the WMA and HMA mixtures. This indicates that ureolytic bacteria which undergone process of Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) have significant potential as a self-healing agent in asphalt mixtures, helping to restore and strengthen roads while reducing microcracks. Consequently, these results promote a sustainable and durable infrastructure, reducing the need for road maintenance in future road applications.

Given the increasing traffic loads and challenging environmental conditions, significant attention must be devoted to modified asphalt binders using waste materials. Therefore, this study investigated the preliminary analysis of palm oil fuel ash (POFA), garnet waste and sawdust as modified asphalt binders and mixtures. The process involved thorough evaluations regarding several aspects: the chemical features of individual waste, the physical properties of individual modified asphalt binders of 0%, 3%, 6% and 9% by weight of asphalt and the mechanical characteristics of individual modified asphalt mixtures. Consequently, the topmost chemical composition is initiated in POFA is Si₂O, garnet waste is Fe₂O₃, and sawdust consists CaO. The findings showed superior stability of POFA-modified asphalt mixture proceeded along with garnet waste-modified asphalt mixture and sawdust-modified asphalt mixture. Thus, this outcome indicates a practical evaluation of the three types of waste, demonstrating good bonding and contributing to improved performance when used as a combination in asphalt modification.

Traditional pavements are prone to cracking and structural deficiencies as a result of factors such as traffic loads, inadequate compaction, and poor bonding between layers. The integration of eco-sustainable techniques into pavement management systems can mitigate environmental impacts, preserve natural resources, and stimulates local economic development. Drawing inspiration from nature, self-healing mechanisms encompass in extrinsic method, that warrant further exploration. Cutting-edge research in the field of materials science focuses on innovative self-healing asphalt materials with intelligent functionalities, offering a promising avenue for constructing durable, environmentally friendly pavements while reducing maintenance costs and building upon the advancements made by previous scholars. This article outlines the advancements in self-healing research, elucidating the mechanisms involved of extrinsic modes of self-repair. The theories of surface energy, phase-field, capillary flow, and molecular diffusion provide insights into the mechanisms. Underlying asphalt self-healing from different perspectives. Extrinsic strategies for self-healing, such as thermal-induced and rejuvenator-induced healing, have been suggested to enhance the recovery of cracked areas, fatigue fractures, and overall material strength. Key insights for future research on the development of new self-healing asphalt materials are underscored.

The depletion of natural resources necessitates a significant shift in our approach, particularly in valuing waste products to decrease landfill usage and raw material dependence. The urgency to find alternatives that reduce natural resource exploitation, energy consumption, and carbon emissions is clear. While much research has focused on substituting coarse aggregates with construction waste, there is a lack of studies on replacing fine aggregates with waste materials. This study explores using precast concrete waste (PCW) as a fine aggregate replacement in asphalt mixes for flexible pavements. PCW was tested in various proportions (0%, 25%, and 50%) to assess its physical and mechanical properties and its viability as a substitute for fine aggregates. The experimental procedures included aggregate gradation, Marshall testing, indirect tensile strength tests, resilience modulus tests, and dynamic creep tests. The findings show that a 25% inclusion of PCW yielded optimal results, with tensile strength ratio (TSR), dynamic creep modulus (DCM), and slope at steady state (SSS) values of 0.90, 79.81 MPa, and 0.251, respectively. Consequently, the study concludes that PCW can replace up to 25% of fine aggregates in asphalt mixes for flexible pavements effectively.

It is prevalent nowadays to incorporate rubber or polymer into the asphalt binder as an additive to produce better asphalt mixtures, resulting in more durable, resilient, and high-performance road surfaces. Incorporating rubber or any additive materials in asphalt mixtures undoubtedly affects the production and construction processes in several ways, such as by increasing the production and construction temperature. Higher rubberised asphalt mixing production temperatures increase energy consumption and harmful gas emissions. In order to reduce the adverse effect of rubberised modified asphalt, warm mix asphalt (WMA) technology was introduced as an alternative asphalt production method to lower the asphalt mix production plant and construction at the job site. Although there are several WMA additive options in the market, the use of waste cooking oil (WCO) as a WMA additive is widely explored as a response to waste management issues and to reuse the waste materials in asphalt construction to reduce the asphalt production temperature. This study aims to assess the performance of rubberised WMA using WCO as an additive. The samples were tested for resilient modulus, creep test, moisture susceptibility and Cantabro loss. The results showed that the combination of rubberised asphalt and WCO in WMA is possible to improve moisture damage and asphalt durability. Overall, it can be concluded that the performance of rubberised warm mix asphalt using WCO additive was comparable with conventional hot mix asphalt.

Investigating the failure pattern and mechanism of shale is significant for shale gas exploration. Shale specimens with horizontal bedding planes are tested under indirection tensile stress, and a high-speed camera monitor is synchronously conducted for digital image correlation (DIC) calculation. The results show that, the shale specimens may fail at loading points or other weak points, leading to a planar curve on the front surface. Different loading rates and bedding planes contribute to torque and bending moment on the cross-section, resulting in a torsional space fracture surface. Finally, a 3D numerical model was established to reappear the failure morphologies. The fracture mechanics are revealed from the energy conversion perspective. The study can provide some references for the study of the three-dimensional fracture model and mechanism of rock in geotechnical engineering.

Shell GTL Saraphalt is a bituminous performance enhancer introduced by Shell MDS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. This product is a versatile additive polymerised from natural gas that undergoes Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. This study evaluates the effect of Shell GTL Saraphalt in bituminous mixture to understand its properties and performance from the binder properties to the compacted samples. The samples were prepared according to Malaysian Public Works Specification for flexible pavement AC14. For this study, the 2% additive was added into the sample using wet method. The base binder used to prepare the samples was 60/70 PEN. Several key tests were conducted to investigate the physical and rheological properties of the bitumen. For the compacted samples, investigation was conducted on their resilient modulus, dynamic creep, moisture susceptibility and rutting. The findings show that by adding 2% Shell GTL Saraphalt into bitumen 60/70 PEN, it generally, reduces the viscosity of the bitumen at temperature ranging 110 ℃ to 130 ℃, thereby improves its workability during mixing and compacting. Further investigation also shows that adding Shell GTL Saraphalt additive enhance the hardness of the bitumen properties and reduce the permanent deformation by approximately 20%. For compacted samples, Shell GTL Saraphalt mixture exhibit stiffer properties, better creep resistance, and higher resistance towards permanent deformation. One clear advantage of using Shell GTL Saraphalt is that the mixture has superior resistance towards moisture damage based on the result of tensile strength ratio and rut depth result. Moisture susceptibility tests are crucial in determine the mixture performance particularly for a tropical climate country like Malaysia which experience heavy rainfall and hot tropical climate. This makes Shell GTL Saraphalt additive a suitable option for Malaysian road conditions.

Road development in Nigeria and other developing countries often stimulates linear settlement growth due to enhanced accessibility and economic potential. However, these communities typically violate road right-of-way (ROW) regulations, particularly near highways, resulting in prolonged exposure to traffic noise for inhabitants, potentially endangering their health. This study evaluates traffic noise levels along the 72-km Zaria-Kaduna Highway in Nigeria to World Health Organization (WHO) regulations and assesses inhabitants’ views of the noise's influence on health. Using SEW 2310 Noise Level Meters, vehicular noise measurements were collected in three settlements at 15, 30, and 45 m from the highway median, representing the ROW. Additionally, a questionnaire was administered on the perception of noise disturbances on encroached highway setbacks. The study found that the average minimum traffic noise at a 45-m ROW surpasses the WHO's moderate noise level guideline. Furthermore, noise levels at 15 and 30 m from the median are approximately 90 and 70 decibels, respectively, which WHO classifies as detrimental to health. Interestingly, people reported comparatively low levels of irritation from high traffic noise. Consequently, such high traffic noise levels imply that residents living in the highway setbacks are highly and unknowingly vulnerable to the long-term health consequences of prolonged exposure to above-normal noise levels, among other traffic-related externalities. Thus, it is recommended that the government enforce restrictions to prohibit communities from encroaching on road setbacks and educate the dwellers on the health risks associated with exposure to high levels of traffic noise.

This study examined the factors that influence risky-riding behaviours among riders who worked in the food delivery services in Klang Valley. The expanded theory of planned behaviour was utilised as the foundation, and this study introduced two new constructs: conformity tendency and traffic environment to suit the study context. This study employed 211 food delivery riders to test the hypotheses, and a structural equation modelling approach based on the parameter estimation of partial least squares (PLS-SEM) method was used to evaluate the data. The PLS-SEM model was employed to estimate the proposed model. Based on the PLS-SEM estimation, the proposed model can explain about 67.6% and 69.0% of the factors that lead to food delivery riders’ behaviour intention and risk riding behaviour. The PLS-SEM results showed that the attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and traffic environment have a statistically significant influence on the intention of food delivery riders related to risk riding. In addition, the behaviour intention has significant effects on risk-riding behaviour among food delivery riders in Klang Valley. Also, another analysis, a multi-group analysis, was carried out to find out any discrepancies in patterns between riders who were below 30 years old and their counterpart of riders above 30 years old. Based on these findings, a strategy that sought to lower risky riding behaviours and accidents among food delivery riders in Malaysia can be outlined.

The purpose of this study is to investigate and summarize scientific information on the various factors that encourage negative driving behaviour among commercial transport drivers in Nigeria. Given the rising demand for commercial transportation services and the challenging working conditions faced by drivers in Nigeria, understanding the underlying incentives of negative driving behavior among commercial transport drivers is deemed critical for ensuring road safety, improving transportation efficiency, and lowering the socioeconomic costs associated with road accidents. To achieve the aim of this study, a systematic review was performed, and the following databases were searched: Scopus (Elsevier), Science Direct (Elsevier), Web of Science (Social Sciences Index), and PubMed and Google Scholar searches were conducted simultaneously. The review synthesized empirical evidence from a range of studies published within the past decade. The search strategy employed a combination of keywords to ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant literature. The review identified several key factors influencing negative driving behavior among commercial drivers in Nigeria, including age, lifestyle choices, occupational pressures, enforcement officers’ attitudes, drivers’ experience, and level of education. Younger drivers, alcohol and drug consumption, high demand for services, and negative interactions with law enforcement officers were associated with increased likelihood of negative driving behavior. This review will consolidate existing knowledge on the factors influencing negative driving behavior among commercial transport drivers in Nigeria. The findings will provide evidence-based insights that can inform policy decisions, regulatory frameworks, and interventions to improve road safety, enhance transportation efficiency, and minimize accidents within the commercial transport sector in Nigeria.

The prime objective of public transportation is to mitigate the traffic congestion on the road, as it has the ability to cater to a higher number of passengers, which results in a benefit to the environment, since the transportation sector contributes most to air pollution. Efficient and reliable public transportation is desired by many countries, especially those that are facing issues of traffic congestion due to an over-reliance on private vehicles and dense populations in urban areas. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present an overview of previous studies that have assessed the service quality of public transportation using subjective, objective, and integrated perspectives. Drawing upon a thorough review of existing literature, this study emphasizes key findings and methodologies adapted in evaluating service quality across these perspectives. The subjective approach involves riders’ perceptions, while the objective approach involves the real performance of public transportation, which focuses on the operational attributes. Additionally, the integration between these two approaches provides a more holistic understanding of service quality for which a limited amount of research has been carried out to undertake this study. By exploring the strengths, limitations, and synergies of these different approaches, this paper is able to enhance our understanding of service quality dynamics in public transportation and inform future research directions and policy interventions aimed at improving overall passenger satisfaction and system performance. In addition, accuracy in findings based on this approach is elevated when it comes to a plan for enhancement to elevate the existing service quality.

This paper discusses traffic flow dynamics, including free flow speed, speed drop threshold speed, and free and congested traffic conditions, in the Keffi-Abuja motorway, Masaka City, Nigeria. It seeks to generate insights for congestion management infrastructure optimization, and environmental impact assessment. Data was collected using a vehicle-speed recoding camera, in weekdays of January to February and August 2023, to capture the speed and volume. Free flow speed, speed drop, threshold speed was calculated to be around 51 km/h, 12–20 km/h, 30–39 km/h respectively. This threshold speed was used to estimate congestion periods as 7:01 AM–10:00 AM, 12:01 AM–1:00 PM. in January and February, as well as 7:01 AM–8:00 AM, 10:01 AM–11:00 AM, 12:01PM to 3:00PM for August. These results illustrated specific time periods with high probability of traffic congestion, associated with commuter patterns and increasing congestion on this road. The speed reduction index method validates the traffic states observed in January, February and August analysis. Such a finding shall lead to congestion management strategies, such as adjustments to the traffic signals and alternative transportation modes, which could reduce congestion. The study, while providing an analytical framework regarding traffic flow dynamics and congestion patterns, acknowledges limitations in terms of generalizability due to the exclusion of non-recurring conditions, driver behavior, and emerging technologies. This research contributes valuable insights into traffic flow dynamics and congestion management, infrastructure optimization, and environmental sustainability.

Kuala Lumpur aimed to enhance its public transportation system to increase convenience and accessibility, particularly within the public train network. Understanding pedestrian mobility became critical for developing effective transportation policies, improving user satisfaction, and encouraging the transition to public transport to reduce private vehicle use. This study investigated walking speeds on rail terminal staircases by gender during peak and non-peak hours. The Semi-Automatic Video Analyzer (SAVA) was used for data analysis, with footage recorded at the Masjid Jamek LRT Station. Malaysians were identified by their slower walking speeds—59 m per minute on average compared to Singaporeans, who reached 74 m per minute, despite sharing similar equatorial climates. Data obtained through SAVA were validated using statistical analysis via SPSS software, revealing that gender and peak times influenced walking speeds.

Reliable prediction of the initial tunnel support and surrounding rock stresses is essential for tunnel construction to ensure structural stability, sustainable operation, improve safety and reduce maintenance costs. However, due to big data, the prediction of work is difficult to conduct using traditional means. Therefore, a backpropagation (BP) neural network method adopted in the study to enhance the prediction process for predicting the initial support and surrounding rock stresses caused by Yangjiashan mega-section tunnel construction. The BP neural network is a type of artificial neural network that uses a supervised learning algorithm to train the network. In order to determine the best model, this study adopted the five different BP neural network methods. For each gradient descent method, each network was trained by using 912 sets of measured data (a total of 5472 data) to analyse the differences between the predicted and true values of stresses and use to analyse the distribution of prediction errors. A comprehensive evaluation of the five training methods was carried out based on the analysis of a multi-objective optimisation problem. The results show that, in order from best to worst: trainscg > traingdx > traingrp > traingda > traingdm. Trainscg reported prediction accuracy of 93.8%. Hence, the BP neural network by trainscg is used in the subsequent project to predict the initial support and surrounding rock stresses generated by the subsequent tunnel excavation. To sum up, the BP neural network can be effectively used to predict the initial support and surrounding rock stresses arising from the subsequent tunnel excavation.

Underground trains generate waves that could propagate through various materials, including ground, water and structures. These waves can cause disruptions to both humans and buildings, however, the effects on the ground, tunnel and building stability are questionable. The lack of detailed examination of this phenomenon in existing research raises concerns about potential structural damage and lawsuits. The objective of this study is to deepen the understanding of this phenomenon and its implications after tunnel construction and the train movement. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of train movement within shallow underground tunnels on the surrounding soil and structures, at before, during and after the tunnels pass beneath buildings in densely packed cities. A tunnel-soil-building and train movement model was developed by using PLAXIS 3D software. The basic model of tunnel-ground was firstly simulated to validate the initial work and were compared to an existing case study. Once validated, the plastic-dynamic model of tunnel-ground-building with train movement for the current study was simulated. From the simulation, the basic model show reliability of the model and obtained less than 5% difference in the transverse surface settlement. In the extension of work, the train movement at three different locations of: before the building, under the building and after the building, shown waves of the train does affect the ground settlements and the integrity of building foundation. This study enhances understanding of ground behaviour and building raft foundation due to train movement in shallow tunnels, which important for future design and construction practices.

Tunnel liner cracks significantly threaten structural stability and public safety, necessitating robust inspection and maintenance strategies. A structural health assessment based on tunnel inspection is performed to detect, identify, measure, and assess the severity of such a defect. For this reason, twin highway tunnels were considered, and liner cracks stretching over the vertical wall and roof arch were identified and measured by visual inspection. Then, NDT methods were employed on sound and cracked (cracks greater than 3 mm in width) parts of concrete. Moreover, a significant comparison was made to discern the quality of concrete between cracked and uncracked portions of the tunnel liner. Our findings indicate that cracked areas exhibit significantly lower compressive strength, as the UCS of the cracked liner was measured to be less than 69 N/mm² and altered ultrasonic properties, suggesting deteriorating structural health. These discrepancies highlight the importance of targeted maintenance strategies to prevent deterioration and potential failure. Furthermore, statistical analysis was performed b/w sound and cracked concrete liner. Finally, specific and targeted repair measures such as surface sealing, epoxy injection, and grouting were recommended based on the severity and characteristics of the observed cracks. These measures could be implemented depending on the need and nature of the cracks. Overall, this research contributes to the field of civil engineering by providing a detailed assessment of tunnel liner defects and reinforcing the role of NDT in effectively managing tunnel infrastructure. The results serve as a valuable reference for enhancing tunnel operation safety protocols and maintenance practices.

Ensuring the structural integrity of highway tunnel linings is essential for their long-term safety and functionality. This research focuses on improving assessment methods by combining Rebound Hammer tests with Modal Analysis through the use of Finite Element (FE) modelling on concrete tunnel lining. The Rebound Hammer test was performed on five tunnel panel sections to estimate their compressive strength, while Modal Analysis was used to explore the dynamic properties of the tunnel lining, where both results will be verified through the use of FE model simulation. Modal Analysis identified a dominant mode frequency of 29.2 Hz, indicating a reliable dynamic response in the structure. The findings were further validated through FE Model Analysis, where the simulated modal frequency of 32.98 Hz from the compressive strength of 70 MPa obtained from rebound hammer results closely matched the actual measurements. This study demonstrates that integrating these methods provides a more thorough structural health assessment, enabling precise identification of potential defects and informing maintenance strategies. Additionally, the successful use of these techniques highlights the potential of employing accelerometers for similar infrastructure assessments, offering a solid foundation for future studies in structural monitoring.