The asphalt industry has a well-established track record of using new technologies and innovative materials such as polymers, fibres, 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 fibres to reinforce asphalt concrete pavements has been around since the 1980’s. Since the 1980’s, laboratory testing methods have improved to quantify an asphalt mixtures resistance to low temperature cracking, fatigue cracking, and permanent deformation. Also, plant operations have also improved since the 1980’s and adapted to the incorporation of new technologies with minimal plant modifications. Numerous studies have been performed that quantify the benefits of using synthetic and aramid fibres 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) that quantify the field performance of synthetic fibres relative to a control section. The goal of this paper is to summarize recent/modern field projects using aramid fibres versus a control in terms of a pavement condition index (PCI) (manual and automated distress survey) so one can quantify the life-extension of the pavement when using aramid fibre. Once the life extension is known, a life cycle cost analysis could be conducted to look at the cost savings.
