Global Advanced Research Journal of Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ISSN: 2315-5124) September 2015 Vol. 4(5), pp 098-104

Copyright © 2015 Global Advanced Research Journals   

Original Research Articles

Influence of Candle Wax on Stiffness Property (E*) of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Concrete: Light Traffic Case Study

Enwuso A. Igwe

Department of Civil Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, P.M.B 5080, 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

(Tel: +2348037077751; Email: igwe2002@yahoo.
 

Accepted 06 September 2015

Abstract 

Characterization of material property is fundamental in the Mechanistic-Empirical design of flexible pavement. One of such key material property is the stiffness of the pavement which influences tensile strain levels and also necessary for either the determination or prediction of fatigue cracking synonymous with pavement life. It is on this basis, that the present study explored techniques that will improve the performance of flexible road pavement by modifying its stiffness; in particular dynamic modulus, E* using candle wax. The results of the study revealed that the introduction of candle wax into the asphalt concrete mixture produced positive significant changes in the stiffness of the concrete. Results showed that the dynamic modulus increased from 60,638.48 PSI to 65,903.37 PSI at 0.1Hz; 84,834.77 PSI to 91,903.88 PSI at 1Hz; 107,625.86 to 116,594.12 at 5Hz; 122,74.06 PSI to 132,571.25 PSI at 10Hz and 157,266.77 PSI to 170,371.57 PSI at 25Hz. However, threshold candle wax content to attain maximum stiffness corresponded to 15% by weight of the asphalt at optimum at the loading frequencies investigated; that means further addition of candle wax resulted in reduction in the value of modulus. Also Candle Wax influence on the modulus of the asphalt concrete showed similar patterns irrespective of loading frequency.

Keywords: Candle Wax, Modifier, Dynamic Modulus and Asphalt Concrete