Assessment of the Performance Characteristics of Hot Mix Asphalt Incorporating Treated Palm Kernel Shell as a Partial Aggregate Substitute
1 *Saheed, T. M., 2 Ige, J. A., and 3 Oluremi J. R..
1,2,3Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/6202.71.0103
Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has necessitated the exploration of agricultural waste in pavement engineering. However, performance uncertainties limit their adoption. This study evaluates treated palm kernel shell in hot mix asphalt. Materials were collected and processed into raw and treated palm kernel shell using lime, cement, and combined coatings. Moisture content and loss on ignition tests were conducted to determine material properties. Hot mix asphalt samples were prepared using specified mix proportions incorporating granite and varying percentages of treated palm kernel shell. Laboratory batching, mixing, and compaction were carried out following standard procedures. Marshall Stability and Flow tests were performed, alongside bulk density, air voids, voids in mineral aggregate, and voids filled with bitumen evaluations. Moisture content ranged from 7.51 to 8.45, while loss on ignition varied between 8.74 and 10.81, indicating material consistency after treatment. Marshall Stability values decreased from 20.99 to 12.38, while flow ranged from 4.17 to 7.53, reflecting variations in deformation characteristics. Marshall Quotient ranged from 1.65 to 3.90, indicating stiffness differences. Air voids varied between 3.06 and 5.51, with corresponding bulk densities from 1.51 to 2.33. VMA ranged from 12.62 to 18.24, while VFB varied from 64.54 to 78.08, demonstrating binder distribution efficiency across mixes. Treated palm kernel shell improves asphalt performance within controlled limits. Optimal mixtures should balance stability, flow, and void properties. Further studies should focus on durability and field performance validation.
Keywords: Palm kernel shell, Hot mix asphalt, Marshall stability, Air voids, Sustainable materials, Asphalt performance.