Evaluation of the effects of waste glass in asphalt concrete using the Marshall test

Abstract

The study investigates the use of waste glass as filler in asphalt concrete. Waste glass constitutes a significant proportion of the waste generated in both developed and developing countries. Successful utilization of the waste glass in asphalt will reduce the problem faced by environmental agencies at ensuring safe disposal of the non-biodegradable waste and may improve the asphalt properties. In the study, a waste glass in form of a filler was introduced into the asphalt mix at 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, 16%, 18% and 20% of the total mix. The asphalt concrete samples with and without waste glass as filler were subjected to the Marshall test to determine the stability, flow, air voids, void in mix aggregate and void filled with bitumen. The Marshall test results show that stability increases when increasing glass filler up to 18%, although the values were lower than of the asphalt concrete without waste glass. This implies improved resistance to fatigue for higher waste glass content. Also, the flow increases with increasing glass filler, which implies the resistance to permanent deformation which did not improve. Generally, the introduction of waste glass in the asphalt concrete is environmentally friendly, and it will aid the sustainable management of waste glass.