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NSU Aces CEE 470 Term Paper
NSU Aces CEE 470 Term Paper
NSU Aces CEE 470 Term Paper
The purpose of this study is to provide information’s related to the methods of application, benefits
and developments of one of the most innovative technology of 21st century i.e. the ‘Plastic
Roadway’. In order to make the report detail enough to understand the overall concept of this
significant research, we gathered information’s from more than 8 research journals-conference
papers and few literature reviews. The name of the Authors and publications along with the journal
titles are also provided. The goal is to help the future engineers to understand the technology so
that they can make the further development and use in practical life. We also have provided a
revolutionary idea synchronized by one of the famous consultancy and construction firm, ‘Volker
Wessels’, which may change the overall construction methodology of roads and highways. We
have collected information’s from valid websites through internet. Considering the originality of
the data’s, we have excluded ‘Wikipedia’ from our source of information’s.
I
Table of Contents
Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ I
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Historical Timeline Preview of Plastic Recycling ........................................................... 1
1.3 First Approach to Plastic Roadway .................................................................................. 2
Chapter 2: Plastic ............................................................................................................................ 3
2.1 Types of Plastic ..................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Plastic Used in Road Construction ....................................................................................... 6
Chapter 3: Methodology ................................................................................................................. 7
3.1 Tests Conducted on Samples ................................................................................................ 7
3.1.1 Tests for Aggregate ........................................................................................................ 7
3.1.2 Tests for Bitumen ........................................................................................................... 7
3.2 Process of Sample Preparation.............................................................................................. 8
Chapter 4: Results Discussion ...................................................................................................... 10
4.1 Aggregate Impact Value - Test Results .............................................................................. 10
4.2 Aggregate Crushing Value – Test Results .......................................................................... 10
4.3 Specific Gravity – Test Results........................................................................................... 11
4.4 Water Absorption – Test Results ........................................................................................ 11
4.5 Los Angeles Abrasion Test Results .................................................................................... 11
4.6 Softening Point – Test Results ............................................................................................ 12
4.7 Penetration Test Results...................................................................................................... 13
4.8 Ductility Test Results .......................................................................................................... 13
4.9 Marshal Stability Test Results ............................................................................................ 14
Chapter 5: Conclusion................................................................................................................... 15
5.1 Effects of Using Plastic in Roadway .................................................................................. 15
5.2 Effects on Materials ............................................................................................................ 15
5.3 Effects on Environment ...................................................................................................... 15
Chapter 6: Future Approach.......................................................................................................... 16
6.1 Volker Wessels – Plastic Roadway..................................................................................... 16
References ..................................................................................................................................... 17
Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... i
II
Appendix A .................................................................................................................................. i
Appendix B ................................................................................................................................. ii
Appendix B-1 .......................................................................................................................... ii
Appendix B-2 ......................................................................................................................... iii
III
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background
Plastic is considered to be the most harmful material that pollutes the environment. Due to its
resistive property against deterioration, it can be found widely throughout the globe as waste. With
the increasing number of population, the manufacture of plastic materials is also increasing day by
day. We can often see plastic bags floating around our city (Dhaka), bottles and other daily used
accessories are thrown away here and there. Even if we try to burn down the mountain of waste
plastic, toxic gas will be released resulting severe air pollution. But at the same time we cannot
simply stop using plastic because of its numerous good qualities. What we can do is recycle. For
the past decades, human has tried many ways of recycling plastic like making polyester string,
interior show-piece, useful household things and etc. But none of them were able to reduce the
amount of waste plastic as the ‘Plastic Roadway’ technology. Although this is very new and not
yet replaced the conventional methods of constructing roads, many engineers and firms are
convinced to apply it in further constructions.
Year Data
1980’s Major cities of USA started curbside collection (e.g. see Appendix A) program.
1986 Rhode Island became the first state in the history of recycling to mandate
recycling, including some plastic bottles and containers.
1997 1. America Recycles Day was founded by the National Recycling Coalition to
encourage Americans to recycle more every day.
2. The company ‘Preserve’ started making polypropylene toothbrushes.
1
1.3 First Approach to Plastic Roadway
As the history says, “Necessity is the mother of invention”, the appearance of this technology was
done by the Khan Brothers, Mr. K. Ahmed Khan and Mr. K. Rasool Khan. In 1996 the use of
plastic was banned in overall India [2]. The Khan Brothers used to manufacture plastic bags
through their ‘K K Polyflex’ company [3]. Due to this extreme decision, they had to close their
production. Around 100 employees were depended on them [2]. So they had to come up with a
new idea. They figured out that plastic and bitumen are same type of petroleum material and both
are non-bio-degradable [3]. They were planning on reducing the harmful effects of plastic [10]. So
they initially developed the idea of filling potholes with the mixture of bitumen, plastic and
aggregates to see its workability [2]. By 1997-98, they filled 200 to 300 potholes at Jayanagar area,
near the Raja Rajeshwari choultry for their experiment [2]. Their method was very successful and
following the idea they further opened the company ‘K K Plastic Waste Management Ltd.’ and
laid around 1400 km of roadways in Bengaluru [2][3].
Figure 1.1: Mr. K. Ahmed Khan (right) and Mr. K. Rasool Khan (left)
2
Chapter 2: Plastic
5 PP 1. Polypropylene
2. Can withstand higher temperature.
3. Plastic diapers, Tupperware, margarine containers, yogurt boxes,
syrup bottles, prescription bottles and stadium cups.
3
4. Recycled PP is used to make ice scrapers, rakes & battery cables.
6 PS 1. Polystyrene
2. Mainly Styrofoam but disposable coffee cups, plastic food boxes,
plastic cutlery and packing foams are also made.
3. Recycled PS is used to make insulation, license plate frames &
rulers.
4
Figure 2.3: SPI Code 2 - HDPE [5]
5
Figure 2.7: SPI Code 6 - PS [5]
6
Chapter 3: Methodology
Specific Gravity and Water Absorption Test IS: 2386 (Part 3) 1963
Step 2: Collected plastics should be cut into small pieces of 2.36 mm and 4.75 mm specification
using shredding machine [6].
8
Step 3: The aggregate mix is heated up to 1650 C and transferred to mixing chamber [6].
Step 4: Similarly the bitumen is to be heated up to 1600 C [6].
Step 5: Shredded plastic is to be added with the mixture and mix up to 30 to 45 seconds. Within
this time, the plastic will get coated over the aggregate by bitumen and a glassy surface will appear
[6].
11
Los Angeles Test Results
14.00%
12.00%
10.00%
8.00%
6.00%
4.00%
2.00%
0.00%
0 5 10 15 20
12
4.7 Penetration Test Results
The penetration test gives us the idea about how hard or soft the bitumen is. Higher value means
too soft and lower value means too hard. The permissible range is 20 – 225 mm as per IRC
recommendation. From the graph, we can see the use of plastic coating is in the range.
13
Ductility Test Results
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 5 10 15 20
14
Chapter 5: Conclusion
Overall, the use of plastic waste in road construction made it an economically benefitted and
maintenance free construction method.
15
Chapter 6: Future Approach
16
References
17
Appendices
Appendix A
Curbside Collection
Curbside collection is a service to collect household trashes and recycle them. Basically in urban
and suburban areas, this type of facility can be found.
There are few rules and regulations provided by the collecting authority for the proper management
of waste products. In maximum cases, we can see placement of different types of containers with
indication of containing materials. By this system, they can easily sort out different materials and
avoid blending.
i
Appendix B
Appendix B-1
IS: 2386-1963
‘IS’ stands for ‘Indian Standard’ provided by the ‘Bureau of Indian Standards’. According to their
specification, these tests should be performed on aggregates:
Part I: Particle Size & Shape
Part II: Estimation of Deleterious Materials and Organic Impurities.
Part III: Specific Gravity, Density, Voids, Absorption and Bulking.
Part IV: Mechanical Properties.
Part V: Soundness
Part VI: Measuring Mortar Making Properties of Fine Aggregate.
Part VII: Alkali Aggregate Reactivity.
Part VIII: Petrographic Examination.
See reference [7].
For this study, scientists used Part (I, III, IV).
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Appendix B-2
IS: 120(3-8)-1978
According to their specification, these tests should be performed on Bitumen:
IS: 1201-1978 Sampling
IS: 1202-1978 Determination of Specific Gravity
IS: 1203-1978 Determination of Penetration
IS: 1204-1978 Determination of Residue of Specified Penetration
IS: 1205-1978 Determination of Softening Point
IS: 1206-1978 Determination of Viscosity
IS: 1207-1978 Determination of Equiviscous Temperature
IS: 1208-1978 Determination of Ductility
IS: 1209-1978 Determination of Flash Point and Fire Point
IS: 1210-1978 Float Test
IS: 1211-1978 Determination of Water Content (Dean and Stark Method)
IS: 1212-1978 Determination of Loss on Heating
IS: 1213-1978 Distillation Test
IS: 1215-1978 Determination of Matter Insoluble in Toluene
IS: 1216-1978 Determination of Solubility in Carbon Di-Sulphide or Tri-Chloroethylene
IS: 1217-1978 Determination of Mineral Matter (Ash)
IS: 1218-1978 Determination of Phenols
IS: 1219-1978 Determination of Naphthalene
IS: 1220-1978 Determination of Volatile Matter Content
See Reference [8]
For this study, scientists used ‘IS: 1203-1978’; ‘IS: 1205-1978’ and ‘IS: 1208-1978’ tests.
iii