Quarry Dust as a filler material in bituminous concrete: Sustainable construction

Abstract

Construction of highway involves huge outlay of investment. A precise engineering design may save considerable investment; as well as enhance the performance of highway in service. Two things are major considerations in this regard: Pavement design and mix design. This paper emphasizes on the mix design considerations. Right mixtures of ingredients for bituminous mix would result in a mix which is adequately strong, durable and resistive to fatigue and permanent deformation and at the same time environment friendly and economical. In order to achieve this, we have to try different proportions of material combinations through a number of tests on the mix and identify the mix with satisfies the requirements. For a given aggregate gradation the optimum bitumen content is estimated by satisfying a number of mix design parameters. Fillers play an important role in engineering properties of bituminous paving mixes. Conventionally cement and lime are used as fillers. An attempt has been made in this investigation to assess the influence of non-conventional and cheaper filler such as quarry dust in bitumen paving mixes. It has been observed as a result of this project that bituminous mixes with these non-conventional fillers result in satisfactory Marshall Properties though requiring a bit higher bitumen content, thus substantiating the need for its use. The fillers used in this investigation are likely to partly solve the solid waste disposal of the environment and Sustainable construction.