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Study on the Performance of Modified Asphalt Mixture Incorporating MSWI Bottom Ash
Fanlong Tang1, Ting Chen1, Yufan Hu2
1College of Network and Communication Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211169, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 15, 2026
Summary
This study found that using municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash as aggregate in asphalt mixtures can degrade performance, but specific fractions and dosages offer viable resource utilization. Optimal replacement levels depend on the bottom ash
Area of Science:
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) bottom ash presents a significant waste stream requiring valorization.
- Investigating the use of MSWI bottom ash as a sustainable aggregate replacement in asphalt mixtures is crucial for resource efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the engineering feasibility of using MSWI bottom ash as a partial replacement for basalt aggregate in SBS-modified AC-20 asphalt mixtures.
- To determine the impact of different particle size fractions and dosages of MSWI bottom ash on asphalt mixture performance properties.
Main Methods:
- MSWI bottom ash was incorporated into asphalt mixtures in three particle size fractions (2.36-9.5 mm, 9.5-16 mm, and 2.36-4.75 mm) at dosages of 0%, 7.5%, 15%, 22.5%, and 30%.
- Key performance indicators tested included high-temperature stability, low-temperature cracking resistance, moisture stability, dynamic modulus, and fatigue resistance.
- Comparative analysis was conducted against basalt aggregate in SBS-modified AC-20 asphalt mixtures.
Main Results:
- Incorporating MSWI bottom ash generally led to performance degradation, with varying degrees depending on particle size and dosage.
- The 9.5-16 mm fraction showed the most significant performance reduction, while the 2.36-4.75 mm fraction exhibited the least deterioration.
- At 30% dosage, dynamic stability decreased by up to 49.3% and fatigue life by up to 60.3% for certain fractions.
Conclusions:
- MSWI bottom ash can be utilized as an aggregate replacement, with recommended maximum dosages of 30% for the 2.36-4.75 mm fraction and 22.5% for the 2.36-9.5 mm fraction to balance performance and utilization.
- Adjusting the asphalt-aggregate ratio is necessary to account for the high absorption capacity of MSWI bottom ash.
- The 2.36-4.75 mm fraction of MSWI bottom ash offers the most promising results for sustainable asphalt mixture design.
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