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INTEGRATION OF RECYCLED INDUSTRIAL WASTES INTO PAVEMENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
By
ASHISH TRIPATHY ASUTOSH
A MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECT (MRP) PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES WITH A CONCENTRATION IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
2016
© 2016 ASHISH TRIPATHY ASUTOSH
To MOM & DAD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. 5
LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 8
ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………9
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 10
Sustainability and its need in transportation ........................................................... 11
LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................. 15
Pavement and it’s types ......................................................................................... 15
Sustainability concepts and material considerations ............................................. 17
Transportation engineering .............................................................................. 17
Durable and sustainable road construction ............................................................. 18
Pavement design faults and possible solutions ................................................ 18
Recycled asphalt pavement ............................................................................ 18
Use of treated PVC........................................................................................... 19
Industrial waste as virgin material ........................................................................... 20
Fly ash .............................................................................................................. 21
Impact of applying ash in preliminary road design ............................................ 21
Scrap tires ........................................................................................................ 22 WSDOT results on use of recycling of scrap tires ............................................ 23
Potential use of glass ....................................................................................... 24
Strength characteristics of glass in pavement design ....................................... 25 World pollution by plastics ................................................................................ 26
Plastics & Bitumen ........................................................................................... 28
Advantage of bitumen plastic mixtures in road construction ............................ 29
Engineered Cementitious Composition .................................................................. 31
Cement ............................................................................................................ 31
Use of ECC ..................................................................................................... 32
Sustainable rating systems for roadway ................................................................ 34
Green Roads ......................................................................................................... 34
Advantage of Green roads in sustainable road infrastructure ......................... 34
INVEST-(FWA) ...................................................................................................... 35
GREEN LITES........................................................................................................ 36
Others types of rating systems ............................................................................... 36
METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................................... 38
Purpose of Research.............................................................................................. 38
Methodology........................................................................................................... 38
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.......................................................................................................... 39
RECYCLED SCRAP TIRES………………………………………………………………….39 Embodied energy and carbon footprint ……………………………………………….39
Recyclability of scrap tires ...................................................................................... 40
Cost analysis .......................................................................................................... 41
RECYCLED GLASS……….…………………………………………………………………. 47 Embodied energy and carbon footprint ................................................................. 47
Recyclability of scrap tires ...................................................................................... 48
Cost analysis .......................................................................................................... 50
RECYCLED PLASTIC.…….………………………………………………………………….53 Embodied energy and carbon footprint ................................................................. 54
Recyclability of scrap tires ...................................................................................... 55
Cost analysis .......................................................................................................... 58
CONCLUSION………..…….………………………………………………………………….60 Current challenges in adopting application of alternate materials in pavement design and construction .......................................................................................... 61
RESOURCES………...…….………………………………………………………………….66 CITATIONS…………..…….…………………………………………………………………. 72 LIST OF FIGURE REFFERENCE…….…………..…….………………………………………………………..78
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure.1 –Flexible pavement 15
Figure.2 –Rigid Pavement 16
Figure.3 –Recycling rates of municipal wastes 21
Figure.4– Engineering properties of tire bales 23
Figure.5 – Compressive strength of waste glass concrete mixes 25
Figure 6 – Fresh densities of waste glass concrete mixes 25
Figure 7 – Engineering properties of recycled glass 26
Figure 8 – Different routes for plastic waste management 29
Figure 9 – Results of SDBC Mix for Varying Percentages of LDPE 30 Figure 10 - Comparison of ECC material performance in uniaxial tension 31
Figure 11 – Design Chart for ECC and Concrete overlay thickness 33
Figure 12 – Framework of LCA 35 Figure 13– Difference in carbon dioxide equivalent between asphalt & recycled tire 41
Figure 14 – Section of pavement using scrap tires 42
Figure 15 – System of recycling tires 46 Figure 16– Recycling GHG Benefits Attributable to Energy Savings compared to landfilling 48 Figure 17– Difference in process energy (Mil Btu) between virgin & recycled materials
49
Figure 18– Difference in transportation energy (Mil Btu) between virgin & recycled materials 50
Figure 19– Mix design of rigid pavement for 8000 psi 52
Figure 20– Price Difference in using replacing waste glass with sand 53 Figure 21– Difference in process energy in greenhouse gas emissions of virgin plastics and recycled plastics 55 Figure 22– Difference in process energy of virgin plastics and recycled plastics 56
Figure 23– Flow chart of a plastic waste management process 57 Figure 24– Energy Savings per Short Ton of Recycled Material compared to landfilling 59
Figure 25– Solar roadways 64
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to extend much gratitude to my committee members for their insightful
input and direction for which this thesis would not be possible. Most especially my chair, Dr.
Nawari, and my co-chair Professor Chini, whose expertise and passion for the topic have
been most inspiring. Also, to those who made my time at this pristine university such a
great experience especially Dr. Michael Kung, Professor Ruth Steiner and my fellow
graduates.
Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends who supported me through this entire
journey constantly.
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Abstract of the Master’s Research Project Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Architectural Studies with a Concentration in Sustainable Design
INTEGRATION OF RECYCLED INDUSTRIAL WASTES INTO PAVEMENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR A
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
By
Ashish Tripathy Asutosh
July 2016
Chair:- Nawari O. Nawari Co-chair:- Abdol R Chini Major: Master of Science in Architectural Studies with a Concentration in Sustainable Design
Transportation Infrastructure has remained the key element for the economic and social
development of a country. Especially in developing countries, the demand for new roads
and maintenance of existing roads are very high as they depend on the overall
development. This call for transforming the methods the roads are being laid. Recent
studies have shown light in the background of making our transportation system greener
and sustainable, which can be a fast track to achieving the goals of saving the planet from
further critical conditions. One of the effective ways of addressing this issue is by the
substitution or replacement of pavements layers using alternate materials which are not
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extracted from nature. Many experiments have been done in finding various alternate
materials in road construction specifically using recycled wastes. The purpose of this study
is to analyze the environmental significances and prove the use of alternate chosen
materials such as waste plastics in road construction. This is addressed by comparing
various parameters such global warming potential, carbon footprint, cost and other different
environmental impact factors. The results from this comparison can prove the use of these
materials in pavement construction and its respective constraints in using on a large scale.
This will bring in revised pavement design and construction in a more efficient, economical
and sustainable manner.
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INTRODUCTION
With 7 billion people on the planet and another 1 billion expected, mankind and other living
organisms are suffering from a man-made disaster known as global warming: the need for
taking strong actions has not been more serious and will not be in next century. The health
and wealth of Mother Nature depend on these times where people must change their tracks
and their way of living their lifestyle.
Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The concept of needs, in particular, the essential needs of the world's poor, to which
overriding priority should be given; and
The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on
the environment's ability to meet present and future needs."(The Brundtland
Commission) report Our Common Future (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987).
The world is running short of natural resources and over-exploitation of these has created a
manmade disaster which we commonly know as global warming and climate change.
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Excessive burning of fossil fuel and natural resources has brought us to a position where
the planet is under maximum stress. This is the reason why sustainable development
practices are at the pinnacle of our responsibilities. The topic of sustainable development is
a concept which encompasses many factors like sustaining biodiversity, social
sustainability, controlling climate change, etc. The major contributor to this issue is our built
environment. This is where we spend the maximum amount of resources and fossil fuels
resulting excess carbon emissions and footprint. The built environment consists of all the
structures ranging from buildings, roads, bridges and all other man-made entities which
support the human civilization.
Progress has been made in many sectors to embed sustainability in our daily lives but it has
miles to go down the line into achieving every aspect. These aspects relate to our
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which have been modified into Millennium
development goals. These goals focus on sustaining health, wealth, economy and living
conditions of every human being on the planet. This study will be an attempt to solve one of
the development goals which consists one of the components of the built environment that
is Transportation Infrastructure.
Transportation Infrastructure has remained the key element for the economic and social
development of a country. It impacts trade, production and consumption, health and other
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factors. It is also a keen element in the job sector. The ways of transportation are land, air
and water out of which the majority is roadways and the other two are dependent on it. In
this time of war against global warming and climate change, we are struggling to alter our
ways of lifestyle in order to bring sustainability. Planning, design, construction and
maintenance of roads have been nascent towards being sustainable whereas efforts are
being made to innovate and build a greener building and greener products. ‖The road
network uses massive amounts of energy to construct and the materials used are highly
unsustainable in nature. Similar to any civil structure, their elements such as asphalt or
bitumen in road construction which is produced through fractional distillation involves
burning of crude oil to which the world is striving to put an end.
This sector produces the highest level of greenhouse gas, directly, through fossil energy
used in mining, transportation, paving works and indirectly through the emissions coming
from vehicles. Indeed, the constant increase in the number of road vehicles and therefore of
the traffic generates a substantial increase in pollution and noise disturbances.‖-World
Highways, 2015.
Transportation systems cause pollution and fragmentation among various habitats.
Besides, huge challenges await the road construction sector such as a cheaper and better
production, construction and of course maintenance, all the more as raw materials are
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becoming scarce and the environmental laws are getting stricter regarding air pollution and
noise disturbances. Like the rest of the sectors, the road construction sector needs to face
the challenge of sustainability.
These calls for transforming the methods the roads are being laid. Recent studies have
shown light in the background of making our transportation system greener and sustainable
which can be a fast track to achieving the goals of saving the planet from further critical
conditions. The good news is many countries have taken initiatives but it has not been
practiced as it should be. Especially in developing countries, the demand for new roads and
maintenance of existing roads very high as they depend on the overall development.
Therefore, we shall look into examining and formulating techniques and strategies to design
and construct sustainable road infrastructures. Let us take a step forward into looking the
alternatives of the process and analyze the reasons what are the factors which play a role in
changing our traditional routines.
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LITERATURE REVIEW PAVEMENTS AND ITS TYPES
Flexible pavement can be defined as the type of pavement which consists of a mixture of
asphalt or bituminous material, aggregates (coarse and fine) placed on a bed of compacted
granular material of appropriate quality in layers over the subgrade. The course aggregates
can be crushed stone and fine aggregates are generally sand. (Both engineered to required
specification). The Bitumen is the derived from tar which is the final product of fractional
distillation of natural oil. These pavements generally designed for low volume traffic loads as
compared to rigid pavements. The stress distribution in these pavements is such that it
gradually recedes as the load is transmitted downwards from the surface by virtue of
spreading over an increasingly larger area, by carrying it deep enough into the ground
through successive layers.
Figure 1-Road section of a flexible pavement, 2011, Online manuals -Texas Department of
Transportation
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A rigid pavement can be defined as the type of pavement which consists of a plain or
reinforced concrete as the surface course instead of asphalt. It also consists a base course
which requires aggregates(coarse and fine) with binder medium. The design of rigid
pavement is based on providing a concrete slab of strength to resist heavier traffic loads
.The rigid pavement has rigidity and high modulus of elasticity which distributes the load
over a relatively wide area.
Figure 2- Road section of a rigid pavement, 2011 Online manuals -Texas Department of
Transportation
In a rigid pavement, the flexural strength of concrete is the major factor in the overall
performance of the road. Due to this property of pavement, when the subgrade deflects at
the beneath, the concrete slab is able to bridge over the localized failures and areas of
inadequate support from subgrade because of slab action.(theconstructor.org)
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SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPTS AND MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS
"This one trend, climate change, affects all trends."(Barack Obama, Paris Climate Change
conference 2015).A report by the US federal highway administration in 2015 unfolded the
requirement of sustainability in road sectors. The two primary goals of any road are to meet
the engineering requirements designed for a long term period on a particular site and to use
smart environmentally safe materials and processes in order to preserve the ecosystem.
Sustainability is a continuous effort where the conventional practices are changed and
refined to meet the current goals. This refers to solving issues as greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, energy consumption, impacts on habitat, water quality, changes in the hydrologic
cycle, air quality, mobility, access, freight, community, depletion of non-renewable
resources, and economic development. The motivation for moving towards sustainable
practices has been delivered by the most influence factor that is economics. Along with the
urgent need to fight climate change and global warming, economics has proved to be of
benefit in the long term to any organization which decides to walk on this side of the
business. (World Green Building Trend, 2016).The materials used in the road are basically
extracted from the surrounding and modified to meet the necessary engineering
requirements. For road sustainability, these are keen components. Factors that should be
investigated when designing roads. These include lifecycle cycle analysis, carbon footprint.
Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a systematic approach of looking at a product’s complete life
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cycle, from raw materials to final disposal of the product. It offers a cradle to grave approach
to a product or process considering environmental aspects and potential impacts. (Williams
2009)It is one of the best methods to analyze the amount of energy spent throughout its
lifecycle. Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gasses produced to directly
and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon
dioxide (CO2) in a given time frame.(timeforchange, 2016)This refers to fossil fuel -
consumption from the point of extraction to the place where the product is at any particular
date. The use of alternate materials and recycled components must be an important
decision to reach the sustainability goals in road infrastructure.
DURABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ROAD CONSTRUCTION
The proposed solutions for the construction of sustainable roads in developing countries are
described by many studies. The major changes needed for sustainability issues are to be
made in the pavement design where the design is more important than other layers or road
construction. The wheel and axial load variations and the interactions with the pavement life
and durability are some of the important factors which affect the roads at extreme
conditions. It is suggested that heavy vehicles such as trucks must be constantly checked
for the inspections of axel and wheels. The quality of construction is also is also analyzed to
and determined to be significant. (Molenaar, 2013)This claims by data analysis of triaxial
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tests, deformation patterns and resilient modulus results to imply the use of recycling
construction and demolition waste and using RA(Recycled Asphalt) in hot mix asphalt.
These are some of the effective measures in reducing the use of virgin materials.
Reclaimed asphalt pavements have been very popular where the old sections of the road
need to be re-recycled for the construction and rehabilitation of other roads. In India, for
example, researchers have concluded the benefit of high-quality RA in design mixes.
Experiments were carried out in making mixes proportion of RAP: VA aggregates: fly ash
and finding a better mix for using on road construction. Tests of different proportions of
these ingredients were conducted like Optimum Moisture Content, gradation curves,
Unconfined Compressive Test and California Bearing Ratio which were found to be
satisfactory. (Saride, 2015). RAP and fly ash must be frequently used in large quantities for
a sustainable approach to road construction. Application of waste PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride),
recycled PVC (2-4mm) in size in the bitumen mix for the base course of the pavement can
be a technique to reduce the use of natural materials. The treated PVC can be used to
prepare two blends of bitumen mixes 3% and 5% by weight. Extensive experiments such as
penetration tests, rheology, retained stability, indirect tensile strength, rut depth studies and
beam fatigue tests it is inferred that use of PVC (treated) was found effective in approaching
sustainable road construction. (Behl, 2014).
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INDUSTRIAL WASTE AS VIRGIN MATERIAL
In the case of road construction and rehabilitation, the majority of the problems we face are
due to the materials. The conventional material system needs to be changed and new
innovations must be made to make our roads greener and safer. Studies show potential
alternate materials which have been identified and experimented to be beneficial for roads
to make resilient to the environment. These alternate materials are basically industrial waste
which is toxic to the surrounding environment and has potential in serving similar purposes
as virgin materials in other industries.
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Figure 3- Recycling rate of municipal wastes, 2015, Wall Street Journal
ASH
Common Industrial wastes such as Ash (Fly Ash, Bottom Ash, Pond Ash, Magnetherm Slag
) are being used in road and building construction and have gained popularity since many
years.
When coal is burnt in the furnace of the power stations, it results in around 80% of ash. This
part gets carried along with flue gasses and is collected by using either electrostatic or
cyclone precipitator which is called fly ash. The remaining ash sinters and falls down at the
bottom of the furnace, known as bottom ash. Fly ash may be disposed of in dry form or
through water slurry in a pond. When fly ash and bottom ash are mixed and disposed of in
the form of water slurry to ash ponds, it is called pond ash. Fly ash can cause environmental
degradation creating health hazards and requires large areas of landfill. Countries such as
India have already formulated guidelines to use ash in road construction. It can be used in
the lightweight embankment to reduce settlement. Also, ferry bumpers, composting and
safety barriers have been used as additive to the pavement to increase strength and
improve drainage characteristics. (IRC SP-58, 2001)
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TIRES
The use of scrap tires is proven efficient in building and rehabilitating roads. (David,1992)
Typical uses are wet and dry processes where the scrap tires are used as a binder in the
asphalt mixture or used with aggregate mixtures respectively. Experiments were carried by
Washington State Department Of Transportation such as SAM(stress absorbing
membrane), SAMI(stress absorbing membrane interlayer) and other types which also
proved beneficial to the concept of recycled use of scrap tires but not cost effective in that
period of time. The rubber-asphalt paving material has still a potential space for
improvement to use on a massive scale. (WSDOT, 1992).In addition, a distinct
experimentally study verified the use of tires in taking various pavements design layers.
The design sections consisted of different proportions of soil, scrap tires chips, and
geotextiles which were constructed and tested in real time. It was successful in getting the
desired parameters with minor challenges. (Neil, 1992)
Chip size
(inches)
Friction
angle
(degrees)
Cohesion
(psi)
Lateral
earth
pressure at
rest(K 0)
Poisson’s
ratio
Elastic
Modulus
(Psi)
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Figure 4 , Engineering properties of tire bales, Encore Systems Inc-(Texas Department of
Transportation)
GLASS
Use of domestic waste glass also was studied for road construction for the US
environmental Protection Agency. It was found that asphalt does not adhere to glass
surfaces as it does with aggregate. It could only be used 15% of the total aggregate volume
using glass finer than 3/8 inch sieve. To reduce the adhesion problem, few additives like
hydrated lime was introduced and the results seemed promising. Many other anti-stripping
agents were discovered to solve the adhesion for the glass and asphalt. This result in the
use of waste glass on low volume roads with the help of binders. The alkali-silica reaction
between glass and concrete is a widespread problem. The reaction causes a gel-like
product formation that absorbs moisture, expands and finally leads to the disintegration of
2 21 1.12 .41 .28 164
3 19 1.67 .26 .20 163
2 25 1.25 .47 .32 112
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the concrete. (University Of Missouri, 1975). Glass can be a very efficient substitute in rigid
pavements where concrete is the main element of the roadway. According to an experiment
at University If Baghdad, the 28-day compressive strength value of 45.9 MPa was obtained
from the concrete mix made of 20% waste glass fine aggregate, which represents an
increase in the compressive strength of up to 4.23% as compared to the control mix.
Figure 5-Compressive strength of waste glass concrete mixes (Ismail,2008).
The pozzolanic effect of waste glass in concrete is more obvious at the later age of 28
days. The optimum percentage of waste glass that gives the maximum values of
compressive and flexural strengths is 20%. And Using finely ground waste glass in
preference to fine aggregate could produce promising results, assuming that the geometry
will be less heterogeneous.(Ismail,2008)
% waste glass 0 10 15 20
Fresh Density 2467.90 2445.70 2428.30 2420.90
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Figure 6-Fresh densities of waste glass concrete mixes (Ismail,2008)
Recycled glass is a very good source for using in road construction .It has shown specific
gravity values were found to be approximately 10% lower than the values to natural
aggregate reported by (Das, 2007). A study at the Swinburne University of Technology
experimented samples of recycled glass for their strength and geotechnical characteristics
which delivered satisfactory results compared to being treated as materials for pavement
design. Three recycled glass sample were taken and named Fine Recycled Glass (FRG)
,Medium Recycled Glass (MRG) and Coarse Recycled Glass (CRG). The maximum particle
size of these samples was 4.75 mm, 9.5mm and19 mm respectively. The main difference
between these samples was their gradation curve which influenced the geotechnical
Properties . The FRG and MRG samples were found more suitable for replacement. (
Disfani, 2011).
Test Fine recycled
glass
Medium
recycled
glass
Specific Gravity 2.48 2.5
Flakiness Index -- 85.4
Organic content(%) 1.3 0.5
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pH Value 9.9 10.1
Standard Proctor(kN/m3 ) 16.7 18.0
Modified proctor(kN/m3) 17.5 19.5
LA Abrasion Value 24.8 25.4
Figure 7- Engineering properties of recycled glass, ( Disfani, 2011)
Glass can not only be used in flexible pavements but also in rigid pavements. There is great
potential for the utilization of waste glass in concrete in several forms, including fine
aggregate, coarse aggregate.(Ahmed ,2011). Use of fine waste glass can also act as an
additive to fine aggregate which could produce promising results.(Ismail, 2008)
PLASTICS
Polyethylene is one of a kind of polymers which was investigated for the potential to
enhance asphalt mixture properties. Two types of polyethylene were added to coat the
aggregate High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE). The
results indicated that ground HDPE polyethylene modifier provides better engineering
properties. The recommended proportion of the modifier is 12% by the weight of bitumen
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content. It was found to increase the stability, reduce the density and slightly increase the
air voids and the voids of mineral aggregate. (Mohammad, 2007)
―Researchers have estimated eight million tons of plastic being dumped into the oceans by
192 coastal countries in 2010.It may appear staggeringly high, in reality, the quantity would
be many times more than that amount. Besides estimating the total quantity, a paper
published recently in the journal of Science has identified the top 20 countries that have
dumped the most plastic waste into the oceans. At the twelfth position, India is one of the
worst performers. It has dumped up to 0.24 million tons of plastic into the ocean every year;
the amount of mismanaged plastic waste per year is 0.6 million tons.‖(The Hindu,2015).This
is a report showing the urgency to find solutions to fight against this hazardous waste being
responsible in polluting water, land, and air at an exponential rate. One of the best remedies
is to direct these waste plastics into using for several purposes, for example, construction of
roads. This demands to understand the feasibility of usage of this category of wastes into
the construction of roads.
It has been also discovered that recycled plastics can be used in the construction of
bituminous or asphalt roads. The polymer in plastics and the bitumen mixture can withstand
high temperatures and can resist the action of water. The sound proofing properties of
plastics cause the roads to reduce noise pollution and no toxic gasses are produced.(
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Swami, 2012). This has been practically implemented in the roads of Himachal Pradesh,
India and proved to be very efficient (DNA India, 2010).But there are many steps involved
from the collection of waste plastics to finally using in the construction. The plastics should
be recycled and prepared for usage in the mix designs. This consists of several economic
and technological constraints such as the requirement of chemical modification to recover
the base chemical constituents.( Rebeiz, 1995). There is a need for proper regulations and
resources to use these wastes into the construction process.
There are many properties of bitumen which is unsuitable for pavements and can cause
distress to the traffic. First, bitumen is the result of the burning of fossil fuels which is an
environmental disaster. At high temperature, bleeding of road prevails reducing the
performance of surface courses. Due to the chemical reactions for instance oxidation,
bitumen may crack. Bitumen strips off from the aggregate forming pothole on roads as
being water repellent material in action with water which reduces the life of roads. Plastic
due to its chemical composition it acts a good binder to bitumen. It Softens at around 260
degrees Fahrenheit and there is no effervesces of any gasses in the temperature range of
260-350 degree Fahrenheit .Have a binding property to enhance their binding
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property.(Gawande,2012).
Figure 8- Different routes for plastic waste management,(Panda,2009)
Another study from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology experimentally proved
that using wastes plastics can improve the design quality of the pavement as well as reduce
the use of bitumen. The experiment consisted of designing a Semi Dense Bituminous
Concrete (SDBC) mix which was prepared using Marshall Method of bituminous mix design.
This SDBC was prepared with conventional 60/70 grade bitumen, 60/70 grade bitumen
added with varying percentages of LDPE and were studied for various parameters .From
the table below it can be observed that the Marshall Stability Values and Bulk Density
increased with the percentage increase in the modifier (LDPE).
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Sl No
LDPE
(%)
BITUMEN
(%)
MARSHAL
STABILITY
(Kg)
FLOW
VALUE
(mm)
BULK
DENSITY
(GM/CC)
AIR
VOIDS%
Vv
VOIDS IN
MINERAL
AGGREG
ATE(VMA
)
% VOIDS FILLED
WITH BITUMEN
(VFB)
1 3 5 1050 3.10 2.24 3.86 15.04 74.12
2 6 5 1120 3.88 2.25 3.43 14.66 76.23
3 9 5 1185 3.91 2.25 3.21 14.48 77.18
Figure 9-Results of SDBC Mix for Varying Percentages of LDPE (Rokade,2012)
ENGINEERED CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITION
Cement is the mixture of calcareous and argillaceous materials with at a given proportion.
Cement industry alone contributes 5% of the global carbon dioxide production -----
Cement acts as a binder substance used in construction that can bind other materials
together. The most important types of cement are used as a component in the production
of mortar in masonry and concrete .Cement Concrete is a mixture of cement, fine
aggregate, coarse aggregate and water in a specific proportion to form a strong building
material. Cement production is growing by 2.5% annually and is expected to rise up to
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4.4 billion tons by 2050(Madeleine, 2012).Due to the rising traffic in the world, the demand
for concrete pavement roads has also magnified. This causes the use of more cement
which is a danger to the natural ecosystem.
Figure 10- Comparison on ECC material performance in uniaxial tension (Lepech,2010)
Use of ECC (Engineered Cementitious Composition) has been a good effort to reduce the
cement content in the construction of rigid pavement. ECC is a modified high-performance
fiber reinforced cementitious compositions which have similar ductility as metals and has
tight crack width. It has a strain capacity more than 300 times than ordinary concrete.
Several tests, for example, mechanical loading, performance, shrinkage,
permeability,abrasion,freeze-thaw,strength,environmental tests, etc has proved that ECC is
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a better than conventional cement compositions to use in highways. 14 mixes were
designed in which the ingredients of the ECC were from various industrial wastes such as
fly ash thermoelectric industries, residue wastes from a metal casting, post-consumer carpet
fibers, cement kiln dust and expanded polystyrene beads from lost foam foundry operations.
Use of ECC potentially can reduce about 70% use of virgin materials used for rigid
pavements. (Michael , 2010)
Figure 11-Design Chart for ECC and Concrete overlay thickness (Lepech,2010)
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SUSTAINABLE RATING SYSTEMS FOR ROADWAYS
GREEN ROADS
(GRI) Green roads International is a nonprofit organization which has taken initiatives in
devising suitable guidelines for making roads greener. A "Green road" is a transportation
project that is designed and constructed to a level of sustainability substantially higher than
current common practice. Green roads provide environmental, economic and social
benefits. The GRI provided focuses on projects efficiently use resources and renewable
materials; help reduces emissions, manage waste, enable multimodal transport. The
organization has formulated guidelines for accessing the sustainability criteria of the road
construction through studying life cycle analysis. This includes setting up indicators for
materials used in construction. Some of the indicators are global warming potential,
acidification, human health, resource depletion, etc. (Greenroads,2016)
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Not only these indicators are most useful in identifying better materials for the construction
and rehabilitation of transportation systems but also to justify the use of these alternate
sources to save the environment.
Figure.12 –Framework of LCA (Greenroads manual V1.5-(consoli,1993)
INVEST-(FWA) INVEST (Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool) is a web-based self-
evaluation tool comprised of voluntary sustainability best practices, called criteria, which
cover the full lifecycle of transportation services, including system planning, project
planning, design, and construction, and continuing through operations and maintenance.
Federal Highway Administration’s under US Department of Transportation developed this
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program for voluntary use by transportation agencies to analyze and elevate the
sustainability of the projects.
INVEST criteria are basically divided into four modules:
(1)System Planning for States
(2) System Planning for Regions
(3) Project Development
(4) Operations and Maintenance
Each module is independent and is evaluated separately. The Project Development module
consists of multiple scorecards designed to recognize the varying scope, scale, and context
of projects across the country.(Sustainablehighways,2012)
GREEN LITES
Green LITES is a certification program developed by NYSDOT(New York State Department
Of Transportation) in 2008. It is a self-certification program that distinguishes transportation
projects and operations based on the extent to which they incorporate sustainable
36
choices. This is basically an internal management program for NYSDOT to measure
performance, recognize suitable practices, and identify zones for improvement. NYSDOT
project designs and operations are evaluated for sustainable practices and based on the
total credits achieved. The rating system recognizes varying certification levels, with the
highest level going to designs and operational groups that clearly advance the state of
sustainable transportation solutions. The certification system has various programs
depending on the type of project. They are Project Design Certification Program, Operations
Certification Program , Green LITES Regions, Local Projects Certification Program and
Green LITES Planning. There are 4 levels of awards (certifications) in this rating system.
They are Green LITES certified, Green LITES Silver, Green LITES Gold and Green LITES
Evergreen.(New York State Department Of Transportation,2008)
There are other types of rating systems such as
I-LAST:(Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool) by Illinois
Department of Transportation ,2011
Green Guide for Roads: Alberta
Green Pave: Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Green Guide for Roads: Transportation Association of Canada
Envision , ISI(Institute of sustainable infrastructure)(Asmar,2013)
37
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The study design was cross-sectional in nature and a non-experimental research .After
studying the feasibility of the applications of alternate materials in road construction, data
was collected about the properties of these materials. These
The data was collected from secondary resources which included journals and company
reviews. This included data about the carbon footprint, embodied energy, recyclability,
present tradition, and cost.
The research used these data to compare the environmental properties and their impacts.
The results would give a basic framework to analyze the differences in using virgin materials
over recycled industrial wastes in pavement design & construction. The industrial wastes
such as scrap tires, glass and plastics were chosen. Furthermore, this research aims at
analyzing these results and making an effort to claim the use of these materials over virgin
materials in road design and construction. This study also seeks to be a stepping stone into
38
postulating new materials for the substitution of traditional pavement design which will
require less use of natural resources and will be more sustainable.
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
RECYCLE SCRAP TIRES
EMBODIED ENERGY AND CARBON FOOTPRINT
Several millions of tires roll around the earth and huge amount of natural resources are
used to produce these .This creates tons of waste or scrap tires which are either discarded
or incarnated once the life cycle is achieved. To find out the embodied energy in a tire, the
energy spent on the process of raw material acquisition to transportation to the market is to
be examined. Tire constitutes of rubber or elastomers, metals, textiles, additives, carbon-
based materials and chemicals such as sulfur and zinc oxides. Steel cords run through the
tire and other chemicals to make it more durable. The primary energy used is the burning of
fossil fuels. Each year 6162 trillion Btu of energy is spent in processing steel and other
alloys (Design lifecycle).After the acquisition of raw materials, they are shipped to the
39
factories where the final product is created. A case study conducted by Conservation
Technology Inc examined a factory that produced 33,000 metric tons of tires per year and
found that it used 22,474,000kWh of energy per year. The factory used 7540 tons of liquid
petroleum used to generate 103,140 tons of steam using boilers. Millions of tires are
discarded every year which is toxic in nature. Although there are environmental laws, most
of these tires end up in a landfill or are incinerated which is a hazard to the ecology.
This is an opportunity of recycling the tires to its maximum potential .In today’s date it can
be used in various industries especially in the construction environment the use is promising
and saves natural resources such as trees and asphalt. A study done at the University of
Wisconsin proved that mechanical scrap tires can be used in the construction of pavements
using various techniques. The experiment used testing different pavements using various
composition of scrap tires and soil and concluded to be feasible using tires in road
construction with general maintenance. There are other experiments carried out in other
organizations which prove that it is a potential alternative to constructing roads.
Considering recycling of these tires, it cannot be directly used. This requires proper
recycling and converts them to final product for the road industry. ISRI (Institute of Scrap
recycling Industries INC) experimented the carbon footprint of recycling tires. The study was
successful and it concluded that energy from recycled rubber has a lower carbon footprint
than coal which is the main ingredient of energy production. The upstream carbon footprint
40
for the production of asphalt is 840kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per metric ton whereas it
Is 124 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent to recycle tires per metric ton. When used in
pavements, recycled rubber had between 3 and 7 times lower carbon footprint than asphalt.
Electricity is the largest source of the carbon footprint.
Figure 13-Difference in carbon dioxide equivalent between asphalt & recycled tire, ISRI
2009
COST ANALYSIS
If we take an example of using tires in the pavement we can derive various forms of layer
thickness. Taking into consideration a section from the study done at University of and W
Wisconsin Department of transportation, we can get an approximate volume of tires used in
0one mile of road. From the figure, if we estimate for 1 mile of road,
0
200
400
600
800
1000
ASPHALT RECYCLED TIRE
Kg of CO2 equivalent
Kg of CO2 equivalent
41
Approximate Volume of tires = [3’x {16.5’+17’}/2] x 5280’ (1 mile) which will be equal to
265,320 cubic feet of scrap tires.
Figure 14 -Section of pavement using scrap tires (Eldin, ASCE 1992)
Tire recycling is not a new business. Several firms focus on recycling tires into making the
various products but it has not been on a massive scale. Starting from crumb rubber to TDF
(tire derived fuel), it has many uses. But the scrap tires are still being stacked up in millions.
It is estimated more than 50 million tires and discarded in the United States each
year,(Guidelines ,1987). This reflects for technological advancement in the recycling of
these tires and diverting them into the construction industry. The cost of recycling will
decrease when their new plants are installed which would cater to the demands.
Assuming a road being constructed in Gainesville, Florida let us take a step in analyzing the
approximate costs which are incurred in using traditional material over industrial wastes.
42
According to the department of Florida transportation, construction of a 2 lane asphalt
roadway of one center mile will cost $7,321,444 by LRE. Some of the costs defined by
Florida Department Of Transportation(FDOT) as per 2013 were
Asphalt is projected around 100$ per 1 ton,
Earthwork for $0.3 per cubic feet and
Structural concrete (rigid pavements) to be $29.63 per cubic feet.
Figure 14-Section of pavement using scrap tires (Eldin, ASCE 1992)
Using the above pavement section using soil and scrap tires, it is estimated to have 265,320
ft3 of tires which can be used as a replacement for 1mile of road subgrade. Now the cost of
the road section can be computed as
Compacted density of tires =40 lb/ft3
For 1mile of road =40lb/ft3 x 265,320 ft3
=10612800lbs
43
=5306.4 tons (1 ton=2000 lbs)
Comparing with the price of sub base and subgrade which mainly consists of aggregates
and binder material,
Density of coarse aggregate (crushed stone) and sand =100lb/ft3 (rfcafe ,2016)
Cost of aggregates =$30/ton (Gravelshop,2016)
For 265,320 ft3= [{(265,320 x 100) / 2000)} x 30 ]
= $ 397,980
The hidden costs would be transporting the tires from the scrap tire factory to the recycling
plant. In this case, it can be made sure the vehicles can be chosen which would run on
sustainable fuels such as biodiesel and the recycling plant running on renewable energies.
By spending $5000 for a mile of road by replacing scrap tires, an amount of approximately
$ 390,000 can be saved.
1 tire barrel =1 ton which contains 100 tires wrapped together in a pile of 2.5x4.5x5 feet.
5306.4 tons=530640 tires which can be purchased from Tallahassee for $0.7 per barrel
from a scrap tire company which equated to $3714.48(USA scrap tire network, 2016). This
is the amount of money a recycling plant can purchase for shredding and organizing. Then
with a certain percentage of profit the company can sell the contractor for around $5000.The
hidden costs would be transporting the tires from the scrap tire factory to the recycling plant.
44
In this case, it can be made sure the vehicles can be chosen which would run on
sustainable fuels such as biodiesel and the recycling plant running on renewable energies.
By spending $5000 for a mile of road, equivalent amount of asphalt, fine aggregate and
coarse aggregates.
From the above breakdown of preliminary prices, we can observe that it is economically
profitable to use scrap tires in pavements and is sustainable in nature. This also reduces the
maintenance costs(pavement maintenance, roadside maintenance ,drainage ,vegetation,
aesthetics, traffic services ,bridge, routine maintenance, miscellaneous routine maintenance
and other maintenance functions)which traditionally costs more than 200 million dollars per
annum.(DOT, Florida cost report,2014).
45
Figure 15- System of recycling tires, derived from ( IERE, Nov 2009)
The use of tires in road construction is promising. It will require a series of enhancements.
First, there is a need to formulate basic design guidelines. This innovation and technology
have to be promoted all around the world. There must a clear economic chart which should
be developed in order to convince the industries to use the maximum amount of tires as it
would be beneficial to them.
46
RECYCLED INDUSTRIAL WASTE GLASS
The glass is a non-crystalline amorphous solid that is produced by supercooling of a mixture
consisting silica sand (SiO2) and soda ash (sodium carbonate) to a rigid state. This
supercooled material does not crystallize and retains the internal structure. The other
constituents of the material consist of sodium oxide (Na2O), lime (CaO), and several minor
additives. These are used in the forms of bulbs, cathode ray tubes, bottles, glasses and for
packaging.
EMBODIED ENERGY AND CARBON FOOTPRINT
Silica sand which is the main ingredient is mixed with lime and soda and is heated at around
1500 °C using fossil fuels. The molten glass is passed over molten tin at 1000ºC and then
cooled in a controlled manner to form a continuous sheet. This produces a substance
known as Float glass whose thickness can range from 2 – 25 mm. Several other additives
are added like (Mg and Al2O3) to help the melting process, and other oxides are added for
color. The mining of silica sand which causes immense stress on the ecosystem. Fossil fuel
is also used to excavate and transport the materials .The embodied energy of glass is
approximately 15.9 MJ/Kg. (Andrew,2010)
47
Although the recycling of glass is not new to many industries, still a large pile of the
these end up in a landfill. In many cases, certain recycled glass are not recyclable in the
manufacturing of new glass bottles and jars or to make fiberglass. This may be because
there is too much contaminates or they do not possess the required properties. The
major difficulty could be the unavailability of recycling plant at a reasonable distance.
Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without any loss in purity or
quality. Over a ton of natural resources are saved for every ton of glass recycled. The
Energy costs drop about 2-3% for every 10% cullet used in the manufacturing process.
Figure 16- Recycling GHG Benefits Attributable to Energy Savings compared to
landfilling (WARM-13)
48
The recycling of glass can be aggressively developed by using this in construction
industries. The use of recycled glass in the pavement construction can drastically save
energy as well as natural resources. When the waste glass is crushed to sand like particle
sizes, similar to those of natural sand, it exhibits properties of an aggregate material. Glass
has been proven as an effective fine aggregate and as an additive in the concrete. It can be
applied in both flexible and rigid pavements. Materials such as glass have more than 100
years durability and remain unaffected by moisture content which is a required characteristic
of good pavement. Studies have shown that use of recycled glass surges sound insulation.
Figure 17- Difference in process energy (Mil Btu) between virgin & recycled materials, EPA
2011
A study showed the amount of energy spent in recycling glass. A waste TV is collected in
New York and taken to a local dismantling center. The Cathode ray tube is removed and
was sent to Mexicali where it was split and had the coatings removed. The glass is then
0
2
4
6
8
Virgin Materials RecycledMaterials
Process Energy in Mil(Btu)
Process Energy in Mil(Btu)
49
shipped to India for use in factory manufacturing the same tubes. The total distance in miles
from New York to India was 13,770 miles. It consists of 2,770 miles of road, 11,000 miles by
ship. The CO2 emissions were calculated to be 2,004 pounds per ton. This number is not
even close to justifying the recycling of glass. This should be an eye opener to promote
local plants of recycling where it can be sent as raw materials to various factories and
construction sites spending minimum amount of energy.
Figure 18-- Difference in transportation energy (Mil Btu) between virgin & recycled
materials, EPA 2011
COST ANALYSIS
Recycled waste glasses can be applied in both rigid and flexible pavements as
replacements for aggregate. Assuming a rigid pavement, we can calculate the expenditure
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Virgin Materials RecycledMaterials
Transportation Process Energy Mil(Btu)
Transportation ProcessEnergy Mil(Btu)
50
to replace the waste glass with concrete. Waste glass can be procured for $10 a
ton.(kdhnews,2013). According to a study at the University of Baghdad(2008), it is possible
to replace 20% of the pavement with recycled glass without any changes of the strength
and performance of the rigid pavement. Let us assume a rigid pavement using US
standards in the southeast region of 8000psi which is M55.15806~M 55.16 grade concrete.
Using this standard for 1 cubic yard of road, the materials are as follows,
Compressive strength psi 8000
Portland cement lbs 900
fly ash lbs 255
Slag Cement lbs 44
Mixing Water lbs 350
Crushed Coarse Aggregate lbs 1133
Natural Coarse Aggregate lbs 231
Crushed Fine Aggregate lbs 226
Natural Fine Aggregate lbs 890
Air % oz 2%
Air Entraining Admixture oz 0
Water Reducer
oz 3
High Range Water Reducer oz 4
51
accelerator oz 10
total weight lbs 4027
Figure 19- Mix design of rigid pavement for 8000 psi, 2014, Athena Sustainable Materials
Institute.
Total amount of fine aggregates =890+226 lbs
=1116 lbs
20% of this amount =223.2 lbs
For constructing in Gainesville, fine aggregate (sand) can be purchased at Alachua County
for $30/ton. (Gravelshop,2016).
For 2000 lbs the price of sand is $30.(1 ton= 2000lbs)
For 223.3 lbs =(30/2000)x223.2 =$3.35
When we replace this amount by waste glass the prices are as follows,
1 ton= $10
223.2 lbs = (10/2000)x223.2=$1.12
From above calculations, we can observe that the price of waste glass is $1.12 for 223.2 lbs
where the price of sand for the same amount is $3.35.
52
Figure 20- Price Difference in using replacing waste glass with sand, 2016.
INDUSTRIAL RECYCLED PLASTICS
A plastic is a type of synthetic or man-made polymer; similar in many ways to natural resins
found in trees and other plants. Webster's Dictionary defines polymers as any of various
complex organic compounds produced by polymerization, capable of being molded,
extruded, cast into various shapes and films, or drawn into filaments and then used as
textile fibers.This is one of the most important pollutants in the world contributing to climate
change.
Oil and natural gas are the major raw materials used to manufacture plastics. The plastics
production process often begins by treating components of crude oil or natural gas in a
$0.00 $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00
Sand
Waste Glass
Price
Price
53
"cracking process." This process results in the conversion of these components into
hydrocarbon monomers such as ethylene and propylene. Further processing leads to a
wider range of monomers such as styrene, vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid
and many others. These monomers are then chemically bonded into chains called
polymers.
For more than 50 years, global production and consumption of plastics have continued to
rise. An estimated 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a 4
percent increase over 2012, and confirming and upward trend over the past
years.( Worldwatch Institute – January 2015). In 2008, our global plastic consumption
worldwide has been estimated at 260 million tons and, according to a 2012 report by Global
Industry Analysts, plastic consumption is to reach 297.5 million tons by the end of 2015.
EMBODIED ENERGY AND CARBON FOOTPRINT
The average embodied the energy of generating plastics is estimated at 90MJ/Kg.2. The
carbon footprint of plastic (LDPE or PET, polyethylene) is about 6 kg CO2 per kg of plastic.
The production of 1 kg of polyethylene (PET or LDPE) requires the equivalent of 2 kg of oil
for energy and raw material. Polyethylene PE is the most commonly used plastic for plastic
54
bags. Another study showed that burning 1 kg of oil creates about 3 kg of carbon dioxide).
In other words: Per kg of plastic, about 6 kg carbon dioxide is created during production and
incineration. The plastic bag has a weight in the range of about 8 g to 60 g depending on
size and thickness. For the further calculation, it depends on the weight of a plastic bag to
be used. The main factors are the weight of the plastic bag and whether the gray energy
(energy used for production and disposal) is taken into account.
Figure 21- Difference in process energy in greenhouse gas emissions of virgin plastics and
recycled plastics(MTCO2E/Ton), EPA 2009
Recycling of plastic saves on average about 2.5 kg CO2 per kg of plastic. Thus recycled
plastic produces about 3.5 kg CO2 compared to 6 kg of CO2 for new plastic (production and
incineration).About 6% of the worldwide oil consumption is used for the production of plastic
(with increasing tendency). The use of waste plastics in road construction has been
0
1
2
3
HDPE LDPE PET
Process Energy GHG Emissions
Process Energy GHGEmissions
RECYCLED PLASTICS
55
experimentally proved to be suitable in road industry and promises to the reduced use of
bitumen or asphalt(Jafar,2015). The availability of waste plastics is abundant in the world
but needs more technical plants to able to recycle for various applications.
Figure 22- Difference in process energy of virgin plastics and recycled plastics, EPA 2009
0
10
20
30
40
HDPE LDPE PET
Process Energy(Mil Btu)
Process Energy(Mil Btu)
RECYCLED PLASTICS
56
Figure 23- Flow chart of a plastic waste management process,(Rebeiz, 1995)
57
With a well-designed program and the right technology, recycling can be more efficient in
terms of energy, money, and natural resources when compared to a system that
manufactures everything from virgin materials and sends it all to landfills when consumers
discard it. Reuse, recycling, and even landfills have materials for which they are the least
wasteful disposal method, but as technology finds new ways to sort and recycle waste, the
fraction of waste going to landfills can certainly be reduced. Rapid utilization of these
engineered wastes plastics can be a step closer to sustainable development.
COST ANALYSIS
In the case of plastics, it can be used in two processes which are dry and wet processes.
According to the study in CET(2012), it is possible to use around 15% of recycled plastic in
a dry process and 8% in the wet process without any changes of the strength and
performance of the bitumen.
Taking 1 mile of two-lane roadway, the amount of bitumen used is approximately 150 Metric
Tons.
15% of this amount =22.5 Metric Tons of recycled plastics
=49604 lbs(1 MT=1000kg, 1kg=2.2lbs)
58
The total amount of recycled plastics can be purchased in the state of Florida for around
$0.3 per pound which equated to $14,881 or the equivalent of $15,000. By traditional
means, the 22.5 Metric tons of pure bitumen costs approximately $3 per gallon which
results in a total amount of $19,677.312.It proves that it is economically viable to use
recycled plastics over pure nonrenewable fossil fuels.
Figure 24- Energy Savings per Short Ton of Recycled Material compared to landfilling,
(WARM-13)
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Bitumen plastic
Price
Price
59
CONCLUSION
The manufacturing and production of various products in our day to day lives cannot be put
to an end rather we can revise the process of doing so. There are several ways to build our
built environment causing minimum damage to the environment. Sustainable transportation
is a step not only for the environmental safety but also for human well-being and better
economic stability.
From this study, it can be concluded that there are strong possibilities of achieving required
standards for pavement construction using specific recycled industrial wastes such as glass,
tires, plastics, asphalt, and ash. The major amount of materials for pavement design is
extracted from nonrenewable resources and replacing them with materials which are
available in plethora will definitely be a big step in sustainable infrastructure. Furthermore,
the amount of energy in (extraction, processing and transporting) application of traditional
materials which is commonly known as embodied energy is significantly lower than
suggested alternate materials. In terms of economics, there can be significant profits in
adopting sustainable pavement design and construction process than in traditional methods.
60
When taken a case of pavement constructed over 1 mile in Gainesville, Florida using of
recycled scrap tires can save thousands of dollars which include the price of fine and coarse
aggregates, a binder material, machinery and equipment, etc. Secondly in using recycled
plastics in flexible pavements over $4600 can be saved .And finally, in using recycled glass
over a rigid pavement about $2.2 can be saved for every cubic yard. Overall, there is the
fulfillment of a social responsibility in maintaining healthy surrounding by reducing, reuse
and recycle in the built environment.
CURRENT CHALLENGES IN ADOPTING APPLICATION OF ALTERNATE MATERIALS
IN PAVEMENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Abundant and readily availability of traditional materials in the vicinity of any project
site.
The matter of revising the alternate materials are not sensitized in the local and
regional scale that the availability of these traditional materials will be reduced with
increase in price in the due course of time.
The alternate materials such as recycled industrial waste are not available at
convenient distances which make it difficult for the application.
61
Imposition of stringent rules and regulations for introducing sustainability are not
encouraged by the governing bodies.
No compulsory guidelines on adopting any of green rating systems in all the projects
(new construction, operation, maintenance and renovation).
Very Limited research and development in innovation and experimentation of
alternate materials on proving better pavement performance.
Lack of sufficient data on the engineering and strength parameters of the recycled
industrial wastes in pavement applications.
Lack of data on the feasibility of application of each and every alternate replacement
of traditional sources according to country wise location.
Under development in efficient and greener off site (ex-Ready mix plants) and on site
(ex-rollers and excavators ) construction machinery.
Without transportation, a modern society cannot function on its own. A product or service
will come across transportation before it comes to the consumer. Since many decades the
way of building our transportation infrastructure in the world has swayed through a small
degree for which we are facing, transportation represents one of the major challenges on
the planet. Although it is not the sole reason for global warming and climate change but
transportation infrastructure it is one of the chief pieces in the built environment. If we make
62
strategic sustainable changes to our current or future infrastructures and systems we can
achieve the desired beneficial environment goals.
Roads are constructed by using cement, bitumen, aggregates, soil, water and other
engineered additives. These ingredients take an enormous amount of energies and use of
natural resources. From the above study, we can observe that It is experimentally proven
that materials such as industrial wastes do have similar engineering properties as the
traditional road building materials. This study aims to investigate alternate sustainable
materials for road construction and determine factors that depict environmental advantages
of using these alternate materials. When we compare parameters such as embodied
energy, it can be observed that using a material which satisfies the purpose (transportation)
can have less expenditure in energy and environmentally safe would beat the idea of using
traditional materials which contribute to ecological imbalance. Secondly, discoveries and
inventions come into action when there is a desperate need to achieve any goals.
For example, recently in 2014 the market came across a startup company by Scott and
Julie Brusaw which focused on solar roadways was an amazing invention to generate
electricity as well as solve the transportation The idea was to collect the maximum solar
energy which would hit the surface and serve dual purpose: modern infrastructure + smart
power grid. Here the pavement sections were made by hexagonal panels with specific
wattage and LED integrated into it.
63
Figure 25, Solar roadways, Resources. Gale, 2010
It is true that there are many challenges to shift the processes of design and construction.
But is the only way where our built environment can remain independent of nature. One of
the biggest challenges is the awareness of why there is a need for a shift in design and
construction of our transportation systems. We need new guidelines which have to be
compatible and consistent with the alternative sustainable materials and methods of
construction.
64
When people who are in this particular industries demand these changes, the market will
start responding these demands in creating better technologies and deliver their needs
which in this case are recycled engineered industrial wastes. Finally, this study will also
open doors to encourage respective authorities to build roadways using industrial wastes in
third world countries especially in India, China, and Africa where there would be a great
chance of promoting jobs as well as contributing to growing economy.
65
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LIST OF FIGURE REFFRENCE
Figure 1-Road section of a flexible pavement, , 2011, retrieved from
http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/pdm/pavement_types.htm
Figure 2- Road section of a rigid pavement, 2011, retrieved from
http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/pdm/pavement_types.htm
Figure 3- Recycling rate of municipal wastes, 2015, Wall Street Journal retrieved from
http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-costs-put-cracks-in-glass-recycling-programs-1429695003
Figure 4 , Engineering properties of tire bales, Encore Systems Inc. retrieved from
ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/gsd/pdf/stbguide.pdf
Figure 5-Compressive strength of waste glass concrete mixes(Ismail,2008).
Figure 6-Fresh densities of waste glass concrete mixes (Ismail,2008)
Figure 7- Engineering properties of recycled glass, ( Disfani, 2011)
Figure 8- Different routes for plastic waste management,(Panda,2009)
Figure 9-Results of SDBC Mix for Varying Percentages of LDPE (Rokade,2012)
Figure 10- Comparison on ECC material performance in uniaxial tension (Lepech,2010)
Figure 11-Design Chart for ECC and Concrete overlay thickness (Lepech,2010)
Figure.12 –Framework of LCA (Greenroads manual V1.5-(consoli,1993)
78
Figure 13-Difference in carbon dioxide equivalent between asphalt & recycled tire, ISRI
2009
Figure 14-Section of pavement using scrap tires (Eldin, ASCE 1992)
Figure 15- System of recycling tires, derived from ( IERE, Nov 2009)
Figure 16- Recycling GHG Benefits Attributable to Energy Savings compared to
landfilling (WARM-13)
Figure 17- Difference in process energy (Mil Btu) between virgin & recycled materials, EPA
2011
Figure 19- Mix design of rigid pavement for 8000 psi, 2014, Athena Sustainable Materials
Institute.
Figure 18-- Difference in transportation energy (Mil Btu) between virgin & recycled
materials, EPA 2011
Figure 20- Price Difference in using replacing waste glass with sand, 2016.
Figure 21- Difference in process energy in greenhouse gas emissions of virgin plastics and recycled plastics, EPA 2009 Figure 22- Difference in process energy of virgin plastics and recycled plastics, EPA 2009
Figure 23- Flow chart of a plastic waste management process,(Rebeiz, 1995)Figure 24-
Energy Savings per Short Ton of Recycled Material compared to landfilling,(WARM-1
79
Figure 25, Solar roadways, 2010 retrieved from
http://resources.gale.com/gettingtogreenr/current-issues/solar-roadways-wave-of-the-future-
or-money-sucking-vortex/