Bituminous pavements provide a resilient, waterproof, load-distributing medium that protects the base course from the detrimental effect of water and the abrasive action of traffic. Bituminous pavements are subject to maintenance due to wear, weathering and deterioration from aging. Flexibilityof bituminous pavement permits slight adjustments in the pavement structure, owing to consolidation of base course or effect of load, without detrimental effect. Hot-mix bituminous pavements are designed by either the Marshall or Gyratory method. Development of modified bituminous materials to improve the overall performance of pavements has been the focus of severalresearch efforts made over the past few decades. Several attempts were made in the past to modify bituminous mixes. The concept of using fibers to improve the behavior of the bituminous mixes is the recent development in the field. This research work compares the effect of polypropylene fiber on bituminous mixes with the help of laboratory investigations. The Marshall stability and flow values have been determined to evaluate the strength and deformation characteristics. To evaluate the field performance, indirect tensile strength, tensile strength ratio, retained stability and permanent deformation have been determined through various tests. It has been observed that Marshall stability values are increasing with in fiber content, density values are decreasing with increase in fiber content and optimumbinder content slightly increasing with increase in fiber content. The indirect tensile strength increases with increase in fiber content in mix. Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) and retained stability have increased with increase in fiber content, indicating improved resistance to moisture resistance. Permanent deformation decreases with increase in fiber content indicating increase in rutting potential.
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