Abstract: In this study, the theoretical relationship between pressure and density was investigated on cylindrical hollow fuel briquettes produced of a mixture of fibrous biomass material using a screw press without any chemical binder. The fuel briquettes were made of biomass and other waste material such as spent coffee beans, mielie husks, saw dust and coal fines under pressures of 0.878-2.2 Mega Pascals (MPa). The material was densified into briquettes of outer diameter of 100mm, inner diameter of 35mm and 50mm long. It was observed that manual screw compression action produces briquettes of relatively low density as compared to the ones made using hydraulic compression action. The pressure and density relationship was obtained in the form of power law and compare well with other cylindrical solid briquettes made using hydraulic compression action. The produced briquettes have a dry density of 989 kg/m3 and contain 26.30% fixed carbon, 39.34% volatile matter, 10.9% moisture and 10.46% ash as per dry proximate analysis. The bomb calorimeter tests have shown the briquettes yielding a gross calorific value of 18.9MJ/kg.
Abstract: Binder drainage test is widely used to set an upper
limit to the design binder content of porous asphalt. However, the
presence of high amount of fine particles in the drained binder may
affect the accuracy of the test result. This paper presents a study to
characterize the composition and particle size distribution of fine
particles accumulated in the drained binder. Fine aggregates and filler
in the drained binder were extracted using a suitable solvent. Then,
wet and dry sieve analysis was carried out to identify the actual
composition of the extracted fine aggregates and filler. From the
results, almost half of the drained binder consisted of fine aggregates
and this significantly affects the accuracy of the design binder content
of porous asphalt mix. This simple finding highlights the importance
of taking into account the presence of fine aggregates in the
calculation of drained binder.
Abstract: Properties of cement pastes with fine-ground ceramics
used as an alternative binder replacing Portland cement up to 20% of
its mass are investigated. At first, the particle size distribution of
cement and fine-ground ceramics is measured using laser analyser.
Then, the material properties are studied in the early hardening
period up to 28 days. The hydration process of studied materials is
monitored by electrical conductivity measurement using TDR
sensors. The changes of materials- structures within the hardening are
observed using pore size distribution measurement. The compressive
strength measurements are done as well. Experimental results show
that the replacement of Portland cement by fine-ground ceramics in
the amount of up to 20% by mass is acceptable solution from the
mechanical point of view. One can also assume similar physical
properties of designed materials to the reference material with only
Portland cement as binder.
Abstract: This study has applied the L16 orthogonal array of the
Taguchi method to determine the optimized polymeric
Nanocomposite asphalt binder. Three control factors are defined as
polypropylene plastomer (PP), styrene-butadiene-styrene elastomer
(SBS) and Nanoclay. Four level of concentration contents are
introduced for prepared asphalt binder samples. all samples were
prepared with 4.5% of bitumen 60/70 content. Compressive strength
tests were carried out for defining the optimized sample via
QUALITEK-4 software. SBS with 3%, PP with 5 % and Nanoclay
with 1.5% of concentrations are defined as the optimized
Nanocomposite asphalt binders. The confirmation compressive
strength and also softening point tests showed that modification of
asphalt binders with this method, improved the compressive strength
and softening points of asphalt binders up to 55%.
Abstract: This paper characterizes the effects of artificial short
term aging in the laboratory on the rheological properties of virgin
80/100 penetration grade asphalt binder. After several years in
service, asphalt mixture started to deteriorate due to aging. Aging is a
complex physico-chemical phenomenon that influences asphalt
binder rheological properties causing a deterioration in asphalt
mixture performance. To ascertain asphalt binder aging effects, the
virgin, artificially aged and extracted asphalt binder were tested via
the Rolling Thin film Oven (RTFO), Dynamic Shear Rheometer
(DSR) and Rotational Viscometer (RV). A comparative study
between laboratory and field aging conditions were also carried out.
The results showed that the specimens conditioned for 85 minutes
inside the RTFO was insufficient to simulate the actual short term
aging caused that took place in the field under Malaysian field
conditions
Abstract: One of the important factors of cracks on the asphalt
pavements is bitumen aging that associated with the loss of volatile
components and oxidation of asphalt binder. This paper is about
effect of Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) polymer on asphalt aging
In order to decrease asphalt aging effects. For this purpose samples of
base bitumen and SBS modified bitumen aged according to the
rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT) and pressure aging vessel (PAV),
respectively. Properties of each sample were evaluated using Fourier
Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, n-heptane precipitation,
viscosity test, softening point test and penetration test. FT-IR
Analysis, showed lower oxidation of SBS modified bitumen than
base bitumen, after aging.