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Different technologies have been developed and used to enhance the resistance of asphalt mixes to different types of distresses in new flexible pavements and overlays. One of these technologies is the use of aramid fibers. The aramid fibers are heat-resistant fibers that have a much higher tensile strength than the other two types of fibers allowed in Ohio.  Despite the potential benefits for the use of aramid fibers in asphalt mixes, limited information is available on the field performance of aramid fiber-reinforced asphalt mixes as overlays on local roads (i.e., road maintained by cities, counties and townships).

The main goal of this research was to evaluate the rutting and cracking resistance of non-polymer-modified aramid fiber-reinforced asphalt mixes used for resurfacing applications on local roads and compare it to that of polymer-modified asphalt mixes. Another objective of this study was to compare the performance of non-polymer-modified fiber-reinforced asphalt mixes without the use of SAMI to non-fiber-reinforced mixes (both polymer-modified and non-polymer-modified) with the use of SAMI to control reflection cracking.  The research was divided into two phases.  Phase 1 focused on laboratory testing of asphalt mixes with aramid fibers while Phase 2 included the construction and initial baseline analysis of test sections in two cities and one county in Ohio.