THE SUITABILITY OF CERAMIC DUST AND SCORIA FINES AS A FILLER MATERIAL IN HOT MIX ASPHALT DESIGN

Abstract

Hot asphalt mix design is the process of determining the appropriate proportion of materials that will provide a long-lasting performance paving mixture during its service life. Filler, as a component of asphalt mixture, plays a major part in the functional properties of asphalt. Changes in the type and amount of filler may affect the properties of asphalt mix. Fillers serve to fill the voids between the coarse aggregates and improve the bond between asphalt binder and aggregate. This study aimed to examine the suitability of ceramic dust and scoria fine as filler materials in hot mix asphalt design. To produce the mixes, 5%, 7%, and 9% contents by total weight were used and typical crushed rock filler was used as a control material. Through the use of laboratory tests such as Marshall Stability, flows, and corresponding volumetric properties, as well as the indirect tensile strength (ITS) test, the study compares the suitability of asphalt mixtures. Asphalt mixes with 5% ceramic dust and scoria fine fillers had a stability of 10.40 kN and 10.20 kN, respectively, which is 5.8% and 3.9% higher than mixes with traditional crushed rock filler, which had a stability of 9.8 kN at 5.2%, 5.3%, and 5.4% optimal asphalt binder concentration, respectively. However, mixes containing 9% ceramic dust and scoria fine filler achieved lower stability with 4.9% and 5% optimum bitumen content respectively, and mixes containing 7% ceramic dust and scoria fine filler attained almost nearest stability values with 5.1% optimum bitumen content. Asphalt mixes containing 5%, 7%, and 9% content for all filler types satisfied the Marshall requirements of the specification guideline at optimum asphalt binder content. Asphalt mixtures prepared with ceramic dust and scoria fine filler performed better in terms of moisture resistance. Asphalt mixtures made with ceramic dust and scoria fine filler are less expensive than mixes with crushed rock filler. In general, the most widely used conventional fillers, including crushed rock filler, can be replaced with ceramic dust and scoria fines as filler materials.