Comparative Study of Asphalt Concrete Using Sand and Stone Dust

Abstract

Heavy national investment of each fiscal budget by Government of Nepal in roadway transportation sector attract significant number of roadway traffic. The rapid booming traffic growth induces higher axle load on roadway pavement resulting premature pavement distress which is prime concern for transportation experts. So, to achieve the stable, durable, intact and flexible pavement resisting and retarding distresses detail study of traffic growth pattern and paving materials i.e. mixture of aggregates, fillers and binder is essential. This study is concentrated towards study of paving materials mainly fine aggregates since many studies and researches have findings that fines plays vital role in strength, performance, and distress characteristic. Hence, here literature review, laboratory test and data analysis of paving material collected from Tikabhairab quarry site, Lalitpur, Nepal and sand of Balkhu Khola are used to prepare three different type of mixes having fines as natural sand, crushed stone dust and their mixture is done to know the pavement performance characteristic based on Marshall Testing Method under standard of Standard Specification of Road & Bridge Works 2073, Department of Roads, Nepal. Based on laboratory test result & Marshall Curves, it can be concluded that for AC surface coarse having 19mm nominal aggregate size with 50mm layer thickness entirely crushed stone dust is preferred as fine than mixture of natural sand & crushed stone dust whereas natural sand is strongly rejected.