Mix Design and Volumetric Performance of Laterite-Based Bituminous Concrete Modified with Waste Polythene and Quarry Dust: A Comparative Study with Granite Aggregate
Abstract
The scarcity and rising cost of granite have intensified the search for locally available alternative coarse aggregates for hot-mix asphalt production in developing regions. This study evaluated the mix-design and volumetric performance of bituminous concrete produced with laterite rock as a partial replacement for granite, modified with a dual blend of waste polythene (PE) and quarry dust (QD) at proportions of 0-10% each. Marshall specimens were prepared for the heavy-traffic category (75 compaction blows) in accordance with ASTM D1559/D6927, and stability, flow, bulk density, air-void content and voids in mineral aggregate were determined for unmodified gravel, unmodified laterite, and PE-QD modified laterite mixes. Results showed that Marshall stability of the laterite mix rose from 21,980 N to a peak of 29,655 N at 2% PE-2% QD, a value that exceeded the granite control (24,690 N) by about 20%. Flow decreased from 8.66 mm to an optimum of 8.14 mm, air voids reduced from 5.82% to 4.02%, bulk density increased from 2,285 kg/m3 to 2,345 kg/m3, and VMA dropped from 19.46% to 14.65%, all of which fell within the Asphalt Institute (1997) allowable limits for heavy traffic. Beyond the 2% PE- 2% QD optimum, all volumetric indices deteriorated progressively, confirming an inverse relationship between excess modifier content and packing efficiency. Benchmarking against independently published Scopus-indexed studies on plastic- and dust-modified asphalt mixtures corroborated the 2% optimum polythene dosage reported in comparable investigations. The study demonstrates that a hybrid PE-QD treatment can convert a substandard laterite aggregate into a mix design that is volumetrically superior to conventional granite-based bituminous concrete, offering a cost-effective and waste-valorising pathway for flexible pavement construction.
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