Assessment of fiber-reinforced bituminous mixtures’ compaction temperatures through mastics viscosity tests

The experimental investigation herein described, divided into two phases, was aimed at understanding the effects of cellulose-based fibers on bituminous mixtures for paving applications. The first phase of the investigation focused on the analysis of the effects of fibers on the bituminous mastic viscosity at working temperatures. The second, based on the results obtained during the first phase, focused on evaluating the effects of compaction temperature on compaction properties, volumetric characteristics and the incidence of failure performance in fiber-reinforced bituminous mixtures. This paper provides an overview of the results obtained and some details of the specific protocols followed during the research project.