Exploratory Study on the Addition of Sugarcane Bagasse Fibers to Permeable Friction Course Mixtures

Abstract

Sugarcane agriculture contributes to the greenhouse effect by the polluting action of residue disposal, given that most sugarcane bagasse (SB) is burned. Because it is a low-cost fiber and ecofriendly material, SB can be an alternative to the construction of permeable friction course (PFC) pavement layers. Due to SB-specific properties, its effects on PFC mixtures are unknown. This study aims to evaluate for the first time the feasibility of incorporating SB fibers in a PFC mixture. For this purpose, a PFC mixture that included SB fibers (PFC-SB) was compared to a control PFC mixture fabricated using synthetic cellulose fibers (PFC-CEL), which are currently the most used fibers for fabricating these mixtures. The results suggest that the SB fibers can be successfully added to PFC mixtures to control binder draindown without compromising their volumetric properties. Additionally, the PFC-SB mixture presented an increase in stiffness and resistance to both cracking and raveling compared to the PFC-CEL. However, the mix design should be optimized to ensure proper mixture permeability. These findings suggest that the incorporation of SB fibers in PFC mixtures can be further explored, which encourages additional research.