1. Introduction
Plastic is everywhere in today’s lifestyle and its disposal is a great problem. It is a non-biodegradable product due to which these materials pose environmental pollution and problems like breast cancer, reproductive problems in humans and animals and genital abnormalities [2] .
If a ban is put on the use of plastics on emotional grounds, the real cost would be much higher, the inconvenience much more, the chances of damage or contamination much greater… Hence the question is not “plastics vs no plastics” but it is more concerned with the judicious use and re-use of plastic-waste.
Both the issues when taken together lead to a single solution that we can use this waste plastic in Flexible Pavements in such a manner that it gets coated over the surface of aggregate by heating (140˚C - 160˚C) because plastics like PE, PS, PP used in PET Bottles, disposal glasses, handbags, covers of various appliances etc. soften up to 160˚C. The experiments conducted in the laboratory depict fruitful results can substantially increase the stability and durability of roads plus, making it a very effective step towards eco-friendliness compared to conventional and traditional techniques of flexible pavements construction.
1.1. Literature Review
Since many years the utilization of plastic in flexible pavements has been done to increase the stability, durability of roads and reduce the cost of construction of roads by replacing some percentage of bitumen with that of the waste plastic. The LDPE can only be used in this technique as it gets softened at the desired temperature i.e., 160˚C and coated over the aggregates. There is no modification in the plant is required because plastic is mixed at the same time when aggregates are poured into Hot Mix Plant for 30 - 50 secs, hence no fuel consumption takes place. There is a consistent research still going on to attain the optimality and many have stated to use the plastic in road construction [8] .
Prof. C.E.G Justo states that addition of 8% percent by weight of processed plastic is desirable in saving 0.4% bitumen by weight of mix [4] .
Dr. R. Vasudevan has also stated that use of waste plastic in bitumen increase the binding property as compared to the conventional bitumen [3] . It improves the properties of bitumen resulting in increase in Softening Point and decrease in Penetration value thus improving the durability [6] .
1.2. Objectives of the Study
Basic intention is to efficiently utilize the waste plastic in constructive way so that it can be beneficial to society. Main objectives of current project work are:
1) To identify the optimum proportion of waste plastic to be added in the bitumen mix for getting the required strength.
2) To compare the experimented results with the conventional pavement details and perform the economic analysis.
3) To prepare statistical model for optimum utilisation of plastic waste.
1.3. Experimental Programme
1.3.1. Materials and Its Physical Properties
Bitumen-VG-30 penetration grade bitumen was used for the present study. Table 1 shows the test results and permissible limits of the tests carried out to check the physical properties of bitumen.
Aggregates: 20 mm, 10 mm, 6 mm and stone dust were used for the present study whose sieve analysis is shown in Table 2.
Table 3 shows the test results and permissible limits of the tests carried out to check the physical properties of aggregates.
Aggregate Gradation DBM-II (50 - 75 Mm Thickness): Grading of the aggregates is done in the DBM layer as shown in Figure 1.
1.3.2. Process [7]
DRY PROCESS (Lab test-D.B.M II Grade)
1) Plastic wastes are cleaned and dried (For ex: disposed carry bags, glasses etc) with a thickness of 60 microns is shredded into small pieces (2.36 mm - 4.75 mm size).
2) Aggregate are weighed as shown in Figure 2 and are heated to 160˚C in a pan.
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Table 1. Physical properties of bitumen as IS 73:1992 [1] .
3) Shredded plastic as shown in Figure 3 is added to the hot mix. The plastic gets softened and coated over the surface of the aggregate in 30 - 60 seconds as shown in Figure 4.
4) Hot Bitumen (heated up to a maximum of 160˚C) is added immediately and the contents are mixed thoroughly.
5) As the plastics are heated to a maximum temperature of 165˚C, there is no evolution of any gas as shown in the above Table 4. When heated above 270˚C, the plastics get decomposed and above 750˚C they get burnt and produce harmful noxious gases.
6) The moulds are preheated as shown in Figure 5 and then the mix is poured in the preheated moulds as shown in Figure 6.
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Figure 4. Adding shredded plastic to aggregates.
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Table 4. Characteristics of waste plastic [9] .
7) The moulds are marked as shown in Figure 7 and kept for 24 hours in air and weighed.
8) Then the prepared moulds as shown in Figure 8 are poured in water and weight of SSD (saturated surface dry sample) is taken.
9) Then after SSD weight, samples are kept in 60˚C hot water bath and then tested for Marshall Stability and Flow value just after taking out from water bath as shown in Figure 9.
The results and analysis mentioned below are attained by considering D.B.M Grade IIratio of aggregates and VG-30 grade Bitumen whose minimum value of bitumen that should be taken according to I.S code is 4.25%.
Firstly, conventional moulds are tested at 4.25%, 4.5%, 4.75% and the optimum solution is obtained at 4.5% as shown in Table 5.
Thus taking optimum reading into consideration and varying % of Plastic in Bitumen (4.50%) at 0%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, the results are as follows:
Conventional moulds are tested at 4.25%, 4.5%, 4.75% and the optimum solution is obtained at 4.5%. Therefore the characteristic values of the specimens at 4.5% bitumen content are shown in Table 6.
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Figure 9. Performing marshal stability test.
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Table 5. Characteristic values at different bitumen contents.
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Table 6. Characteristic values of the specimens at 4.5% bitumen content.
1.4. Data Collection
Characteristics Curves Based on Experiments Conducted in Lab for D.B.M II Grade (4.5% Net Content of Bitumen and Plastic)
1) Figure 10 shows the plot between % plastic in bitumen and Stability (KN).
2) Figure 11 shows the bar graph between % Air Voids (Va) and % of plastic in bitumen.
3) Figure 12 shows the bar graph between Bulk Density (gm/cc) and % Plastic in bitumen.
4) Figure 13 shows the plot between Flow value (mm) and % of Bitumen Content.
5) Figure 14 shows the plot between % Voids filled with Bitumen (VFB) and % plastic content.
1.5. Analysis
1.5.1. Economic Analysis per Km of Flexible Pavement (Dbm)
A huge quantity of plastic waste has been used as modifying agents. However, the high cost of these polymers compared to bitumen means that the amount of polymer needed to improve pavement performance should be as small as possible. This major restriction could be avoided by using waste materials like plastics. From an environmental and economic standpoint, the use of waste plastic as a bitumen-modifying agent may contribute to solving a waste disposal problem and to improving the quality of road pavements. Table 7 shows the economic analysis of pavement and the total savings due to use of plastic waste.
1.5.2. SPSS Analysis
SPSS model is used for the optimum utilisation of plastic waste. One way Annova test is carried out keeping the plastic content as independent variable and stability, air voids, bulk density, flow value and VFB as dependent variables. Figure 15 shows the analysis sheet to input the variables.
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Figure 10. % Plastic in bitumen and stability (KN).
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Figure 11. % Air Voids (Va) and % of plastic.
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Figure 12. Bulk density (gm/cc) and % plastic in bitumen.
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Figure 13. Flow value (mm) and % of bitumen content.
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Figure 14. % Voids filled with bitumen (VFB) and % plastic content.
a) Figure 16 shows the SPSS window carrying out one way annova test, keeping plastic content as independent factor and air voids in dependent list.
b) Figure 17 shows the SPSS window carrying out one way annova test, keeping plastic content as factor and stability in dependent list.
c) Figure 18 shows the SPSS window carrying out one way annova test, keeping plastic content as factor and flow in dependent list.
d) Figure 19 shows the SPSS window carrying out one way annova test, keeping plastic content as factor and VFB in dependent list.
e) Figure 20 shows the SPSS window carrying out one way annova test, keeping plastic content as factor and VMA in dependent list.
2. Results and Discussion
1) Utilisation of waste plastic improves the binding property of mix.
2) The optimum result of waste plastic came out to be 8% from the experiments conducted.
3) The properties of bitumen such as penetration, softening point improved with the addition of the waste fibre.
4) Plastic roads can also be constructed in the areas having high temperatures (50˚C).
5) Waste plastic in roads increases the stability value and durability to a great extent.
6) This technique is very eco-friendly as it uses the waste plastic which is being disposed in oceans, landfills etc.
7) Replacement of bitumen with plastic reduces the cost of construction significantly.
8) When durability and stability of roads will improve, then its future maintenance cost will be saved too.