EVALUATING THE RUTTING RESISTANCE OF ASPHALT CONCRETE MODIFIED WITH ORGANO-PHILIC MONTIMORILLONITE NANO CLAY (OMMT)
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Date
2025-12-11
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
The long term performance of asphalt pavements is a major consideration in
designing durable and safe road infrastructure, especially in low and middle income
countries where flexible pavements dominate due to their lower cost and ease of
maintenance. Rutting, a critical form of permanent deformation occurring in wheel
paths, remains one of the most detrimental pavement failures, contributing to
traffic accidents and accelerated deterioration. This study evaluated the
effectiveness of organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) Nano clay in improving the
rutting resistance of asphalt concrete by enhancing its mechanical and volumetric
properties. Unlike studies that use untreated montmorillonite, this research
employed OMMT to achieve better binder filler interaction and dispersion within the
asphalt matrix.
Marshall mix design results identified 1.0% OMMT by mass of aggregate as the
optimum dosage, producing a Marshall Stability of 17.2kN, Flow of 3.6mm, Air Voids
of 4.2%, VMA of 15.3%, VFB of 72.4%, and a bulk density of 3.352g/cm³. Indirect
tensile strength test confirmed that OMMT significantly reduces rutting susceptibility
by strengthening the binder phase and improving stress distribution within the
aggregate structure under heavy axle loading.
Description
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH