Engineering Characterization of Bituminous Mix Using Chitin Modified Bitumen

Abstract

This present research was carried out to study the impact of Chitin(Ch) modified bitumen on bituminous mixes. Bitumen of grade VG-30 was selected as base binder for modification and 2.5% of Chitin (by weight of base bitumen) was used as additive for modification. Aggregate gradation Bituminous Concrete (BC) 2 was selected and natural aggregate (Granite) was used for the research. Basic properties like penetration, softening, ductility, viscosity was found for both base binder and modified binder and it was observed that modified bitumen had shown better results compared with conventional bitumen(VG-30). Marshall test was carried out for both bitumen and volumetric properties were determined at Optimum Binder Content(OBC). The results shown increase in stability value of Ch modified bitumen compared to base bitumen. Using OBC, Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) and Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) were determined, results shown that the Ch modified bitumen can help in enhancing the tensile strength property to avoid early attainment of tensile crack. Additionally, it was found that the Ch modified bitumen found to help in improving the moisture damage properties of base bituminous mixes with improvement in the tensile strength ratio.