EVALUATION OF RICE HUSK ASH AS MINERAL FILLER IN HOT MIX ASPHALT

Abstract

The development of sustainable and cost-effective road construction materials is a pressing challenge in the realm of infrastructure development. Traditional road construction relies heavily on granite materials, which are not only costly but also deplete valuable natural resources and contribute to environmental degradation. To address these challenges, there is a need to explore alternative filler materials that not only enhance sustainability but also maintain or improve the mechanical and durability properties of asphalt mixes. Specifically, the inclusion of rice husk as a filler in hot-mixed asphalt remains largely unexplored. The moisture content, specific gravity, bulk density, void ratio and porosity of RHA were found to be 0.11, 2.38, 0.88kg/cm3, 0.19, and 11.54% respectively, while the chemical composition shows that it contains over 82% of Si2O4. The result shows that the maximum stability using 0% RHA (100% Fine) was 5.5kN with the corresponding flow of 4.5mm at a BC of 5.33% and a density of 6g/cm3. Out of the percentage replacement with RHA (25, 50, 75 and 100%), only 75% of RHA shows a higher stability value of 3.14kN but was about 42% lower compare to the control value. Hence, RHA is not a good replacement to the conventional material