Innovative Investigation on Flexible Pavement Using Bitumen Blended with Waste Plastic

In this research, an attempt was made to analyse the modified bitumen of grade 60/70 with polythene carry bags as waste plastics in two phases. In first phase, optimum bitumen volume was found as 5.5% by varying its volume from 4 to 6% at the rate of 0.5%. In second phase, several experiments were conducted on optimized bitumen volume with waste plastics at the volume of 0, 3, 6, 9,12 and 15%. Tests such as penetration test, softening point, ductility, flash and fire test, viscosity, specific gravity and Marshall’s stability test were also carried out to ascertain the stability value, flow value. From second phase, Optimum volume of waste plastics blended with bitumen was found as 12% by considering its stability value, higher strength, lower flow value and more air gaps. Nevertheless, ANOVA analysis was also revealed that the optimal amount of waste plastics to be added is 12%. From the cost analysis, about 2600 kg of bitumen of worth 76 thousand rupees was saved for 1 km DBM road construction. This indicates that bitumen can be saved up to 12% with the help of plastic waste which would directly help to save the average cost of road construction.