An investigation into the assessment of road performance of bamboo-ceramic fiber asphalt composites utilizing AHP and TOPSIS methodologies

In order to mitigate defects in asphalt pavements and enhance the performance of asphalt mixtures, the incorporation of fibers into these mixtures has emerged as an effective strategy. Traditional asphalt mixture modification typically involves the addition of a single type of fiber; however, this method is no longer sufficient to meet the performance requirements of asphalt mixtures and has certain limitations. This research represents the inaugural effort to concurrently integrate bamboo fiber and ceramic fiber into asphalt mixtures, with the objective of harnessing the beneficial properties of both fibers to improve high-temperature stability, low-temperature crack resistance, and water stability. The performance of the asphalt mixture was assessed through a series of tests, including wheel rutting, small beam bending, freeze-thaw splitting, and water immersion Marshall tests. The optimal combinations of fiber content were identified utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methodologies. Additionally, the microscopic modification mechanisms of the fibers within the asphalt mixtures were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The findings demonstrate that the incorporation of a bamboo-ceramic fiber composite significantly enhances the high-temperature performance and water stability of the base asphalt mixture by as much as 40% and 30%, respectively, while also improving low-temperature performance by a minimum of 8%. The two types of fibers exhibit synergistic benefits. Utilizing the AHP-TOPSIS model, the optimal blend ratio was identified as 0.3% bamboo fiber and 0.6% ceramic fiber. The incorporation of these fibers occurs through a physical process that does not involve the formation of new chemical bonds, thereby enhancing the road performance of the asphalt mixture through mechanisms such as adsorption, bridging, and tackifying effects.