Enhancing The Mechanical Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture Using Styrene Butadiene Styrene and Locally Sourced Graphite from Bauchi State

• Author(s): Bello Umar Jada; Abdurahman Garba
• Paper ID: 1719629
• Page: 944-955
• Published Date: 10-07-2026
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 10 Issue 1 July-2026
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719629

Abstract

Porous asphalt mixtures are widely used as surface courses due to their excellent drainage capability, reduced splash and spray, and noise mitigation benefits. However, their application in hot and wet climates is often limited by inadequate mechanical performance, including susceptibility to raveling, rutting, and fatigue cracking. This study investigates the combined effect of locally sourced natural graphite from Bauchi State, Nigeria, and styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) polymer on the mechanical performance of porous asphalt mixtures. Graphite was incorporated as a stiff carbon-rich filler, while SBS was used to enhance elasticity and temperature resistance of the binder. Porous asphalt mixtures were designed using an open-graded aggregate structure targeting 18–22% air voids and conventional paving-grade bitumen as the base binder. Graphite contents of 2%, 4%, and 6% and SBS contents of 3%, 4%, and 5% (by weight of binder) were evaluated. A Box–Behnken Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to assess the effects of graphite and SBS contents on Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength (ITS), rut depth, density, air voids, ductility, and Cantabro loss. Seventeen experimental runs were conducted, and quadratic response surface models were developed for optimization. The results showed that graphite and SBS acted synergistically to improve cohesion and aggregate retention within the porous asphalt matrix. Increasing both modifiers significantly enhanced Marshall stability and resistance to raveling and rutting. Response surface optimization indicated that the optimum combination for maximum stability (11.5 kN), minimum Cantabro loss (10%), and lowest flow (2.4 mm) was 6% graphite and 5% SBS. Meanwhile, 6% graphite and 4% SBS produced the highest ductility (56 cm) and excellent skid resistance characteristics. The optimized mixtures satisfied international porous asphalt performance requirements, demonstrating that the combined use of locally sourced graphite and SBS is an effective and sustainable approach for improving the mechanical performance and durability of porous asphalt pavements.

Keywords

Cantabro, Reveling, Styrene butadiene styrene, Graphite, Box-Behnken

Citations

IRE Journals:
Bello Umar Jada, Abdurahman Garba "Enhancing The Mechanical Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture Using Styrene Butadiene Styrene and Locally Sourced Graphite from Bauchi State" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 10 Issue 1 2026 Page 944-955 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719629

IEEE:
Bello Umar Jada, Abdurahman Garba "Enhancing The Mechanical Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture Using Styrene Butadiene Styrene and Locally Sourced Graphite from Bauchi State" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 10, no. 1, Jul. 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719629

APA:
Bello Umar Jada, Abdurahman Garba (2026). Enhancing The Mechanical Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture Using Styrene Butadiene Styrene and Locally Sourced Graphite from Bauchi State. Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719629

MLA:
Bello Umar Jada, Abdurahman Garba "Enhancing The Mechanical Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture Using Styrene Butadiene Styrene and Locally Sourced Graphite from Bauchi State" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 10, no. 1, Jul. 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719629

BibTeX

@article{1719629,
author = {Bello Umar Jada, Abdurahman Garba},
title = {Enhancing The Mechanical Performance of Porous Asphalt Mixture Using Styrene Butadiene Styrene and Locally Sourced Graphite from Bauchi State},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {944-955},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1719629.pdf},
abstract = {Porous asphalt mixtures are widely used as surface courses due to their excellent drainage capability, reduced splash and spray, and noise mitigation benefits. However, their application in hot and wet climates is often limited by inadequate mechanical performance, including susceptibility to raveling, rutting, and fatigue cracking. This study investigates the combined effect of locally sourced natural graphite from Bauchi State, Nigeria, and styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) polymer on the mechanical performance of porous asphalt mixtures. Graphite was incorporated as a stiff carbon-rich filler, while SBS was used to enhance elasticity and temperature resistance of the binder. Porous asphalt mixtures were designed using an open-graded aggregate structure targeting 18–22% air voids and conventional paving-grade bitumen as the base binder. Graphite contents of 2%, 4%, and 6% and SBS contents of 3%, 4%, and 5% (by weight of binder) were evaluated. A Box–Behnken Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to assess the effects of graphite and SBS contents on Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength (ITS), rut depth, density, air voids, ductility, and Cantabro loss. Seventeen experimental runs were conducted, and quadratic response surface models were developed for optimization. The results showed that graphite and SBS acted synergistically to improve cohesion and aggregate retention within the porous asphalt matrix. Increasing both modifiers significantly enhanced Marshall stability and resistance to raveling and rutting. Response surface optimization indicated that the optimum combination for maximum stability (11.5 kN), minimum Cantabro loss (10%), and lowest flow (2.4 mm) was 6% graphite and 5% SBS. Meanwhile, 6% graphite and 4% SBS produced the highest ductility (56 cm) and excellent skid resistance characteristics. The optimized mixtures satisfied international porous asphalt performance requirements, demonstrating that the combined use of locally sourced graphite and SBS is an effective and sustainable approach for improving the mechanical performance and durability of porous asphalt pavements.},
keywords = {Cantabro, Reveling, Styrene butadiene styrene, Graphite, Box-Behnken},
month = {July}
}