Rice Husk Ash Modified Asphalt: A Sustainable Alternative Binder to Petroleum Asphalt: Fid-Bau Portal

Rice Husk Ash Modified Asphalt: A Sustainable Alternative Binder to Petroleum Asphalt

Bhavinlal, K. / Venudharan, Veena

Rice Husk Ash (RHA), a largely available agro-industrial bio-waste is utilized in many applications, especially in civil engineering due to its innate favourable properties including high silica content, large specific surface area, and better temperature stability. Several researchers highlighted its beneficial role in the improvement of soil stability and enhancing cement concrete compressive strength. Aside from the inclusion of RHA in soil and cement, limited studies have been conducted on the suitability of RHA as an asphalt modifier. Asphalt modification is an effective technique to improve the quality and performance of conventional asphalt that is exposed to heavy traffic and extreme climatic conditions. Moreover, it aids in the conservation of resources and reduces the carbon footprint by minimizing the usage of asphalt for pavement construction. In that direction, RHA modification on asphalt not only reduces asphalt consumption but also effectively utilizes RHA together, promoting sustainable pavement construction practices. Therefore, this research aims to develop RHA Modified Asphalt (RMA) and conduct a detailed comparative analysis with virgin asphalt. Specifically, investigates how RHA inclusion in low-viscosity grade asphalt could enhance the consistency and temperature susceptibility in line with that of high-viscosity grade asphalt. Moreover, a micro-level study is carried out wherein the FTIR analysis on binders is performed to understand the RHA’s influence on the asphalt’s chemistry. Overall, it is anticipated that the RHA modification of asphalt would enhance the performance characteristics of low-viscosity grade asphalt making it a sustainable alternative to high-viscosity grade asphalt and advancing the state-of-the-art bio-modification of asphalt.