Mechanical properties of modified hot mix asphalt containing polyethylene terephthalate fibers as binder additive and carbonized wood particles as fine aggregate replacement

This study is aimed at evaluating the mechanical properties of modified hot mix asphalt (HMA) containing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and carbonized wood particles (CWPs) using physical properties, the Marshall properties, indirect tensile strength (ITS), retained Marshall stability (RMS), and water absorption. PET was added at 5%, 10%, and 15% by the weight of the binder. CWPs of 10 gr, 20 gr, 30 gr, and 40 gr were utilized to replace 6%, 12%, 18%, and 24% of the weight of fine aggregates in HMA specimen respectively. The findings of this modification showed that the inclusion of PET significantly enhanced Marshall properties, ITS, and RMS, while the physical properties of modified HMAs were significantly improved with increased CWPs. The results clearly showed that a maximum of 18% of the weight of fine aggregates can be replaced by CWPs at PET contents of 5% and 10%, to comply with a standard mix design.