Abstract Manager

The asphalt industry has a well-established track record of using new technologies and innovative materials such as polymers, fibers, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), recycled asphalt singles (RAS) recycled tire rubber (RTR), and warm mix asphalt (WMA) with the objective of improving the performance and/or sustainability of the materials.  The practice of using synthetic fibers to reinforce asphalt concrete pavements has been around since the 1980’s.  Since the 1980’s, laboratory evaluation techniques (i.e. balanced mix design (BMD) has improved and dosing equipment at the asphalt plant has improved, and the quality of the aramid fiber has been engineered in such way too improve performance.  Numerous studies have been performed that quantify the benefits of using synthetic and aramid fibers in asphalt mixtures.  Some of these studies are based on laboratory data while others are based on field data.  Some background information will be provided from the older research (1980’s to current).  The goal of this paper is to summarize recent/modern field projects using aramid fibers versus a control in terms of field cracking so one can quantify the life-extension of the pavement when using aramid fiber.  Once the life extension is known, a life cycle cost analysis could be conducted to look at the cost savings.