Life Cycle Cost Formulation of HDPE Reinforced Flexible Pavement using Geotextile and Crumb Rubber Tyre

Abstract

No wonder there are many possibilities of alternatives to conventional construction materials with good mechanical properties that improve not only the durability and serviceability of the structure but also reduce waste. In this contrast, there is a vast possibility of applying high-density polyethylene (HDPE), Geotextile, and crumb tire rubber to develop flexible pavement construction. This work contains a life cycle cost analysis of the flexible pavement made of HDPE (high-density polyethylene), Geotextile, and tire rubber on the basis of initial cost, maintenance cost, and performance to develop a relation in between and obtain material construction cost; in this paper, multiple linear regression technique is used.

Introduction

• Modern construction is shifting toward sustainability due to increasing carbon emissions and solid waste generation.

• Flexible pavements play a critical role in infrastructure, but traditional materials like bitumen contribute heavily to environmental degradation and petroleum demand.

• The use of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Geotextiles, and Crumb Rubber from tires presents a promising, eco-friendly alternative.

???? 2. Objective

• Compare the economic and performance efficiency of flexible pavements made from:

  • HDPE

  • Geotextile

  • Crumb rubber

• Conduct Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Multiple Linear Regression to quantify long-term savings and durability.

???? 3. Literature Review Highlights

• Traditional bitumen roads increase global carbon footprints.

• HDPE and crumb rubber have demonstrated mechanical suitability.

• Geotextiles offer durability for medium-load highways.

• Regression and economic models from previous studies support cost-performance relationships for infrastructure materials.

???? 4. Materials & Methodology

A. Material Selection

• HDPE & Crumb Rubber: Sourced from recycled waste.

• Geotextile: Chosen for its moisture control and load-distribution.

• Control Sample: Conventional asphalt pavement for baseline comparison.

• Tests: Mechanical properties like tensile strength, elasticity, and moisture resistance measured.

B. Pavement Construction

• Prototypes constructed with:

  • HDPE Layer: Mixed with aggregates.

  • Geotextile Layer: Installed between sub-base and base.

  • Crumb Rubber Layer: Blended into asphalt.

• All pavements built using standard flexible pavement procedures.

C. Data Collection

• Costs tracked across three areas:

  1. Initial Cost (materials + construction)

  2. Maintenance Cost (based on wear over time)

  3. Performance Cost (evaluated from durability tests and mechanical properties)

D. Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA)

• Cost Forecasting: Future cost estimates per maintenance cycle.

• Present Value Analysis: Discount future costs to present-day values.

• Sensitivity Analysis: Tests robustness of results against cost variations, maintenance intervals, and inflation.

E. Multiple Linear Regression

• Independent Variables: Material cost, labor, initial cost, maintenance cycle, tensile strength, etc.

• Dependent Variable: Overall life cycle cost (INR/km).

• Analysis conducted using MATLAB, estimating the contribution of each variable to long-term costs.

???? 5. Key Outcomes to Be Evaluated

1. Economic Feasibility

   • How much cheaper are recycled materials over the full pavement lifecycle?

2. Environmental Impact

   • Reduction in carbon footprint and solid waste (especially tyres and plastic).

3. Durability & Service Life

   • Resistance to wear and environment over time.

4. Regression Analysis Output

   • Mathematical relationships linking mechanical properties and costs, used for predictive modeling.

???? Example Regression Output (Using MATLAB)

• Inputs: Real project data from government sources, PPP projects, experimental data.

• Outputs:

  • Regression Coefficients for each variable.

  • R² value for each material indicating model accuracy.

  • Final regression equation for estimating life cycle costs.

Conclusion

The analysis shows that the construction of flexible pavement with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), tire rubber, and geotextiles significantly reduces the life cycle costs along with improvement in durability and sustainability. Strong statistical relationships further show that these materials will not only decrease initial and maintenance expenses but also improve load-carrying capacity and extend service life. Hence, there is impressive economic advantage over traditional asphalt. In addition, environmental advantages of recycling waste tire rubber and reducing carbon footprints make these materials very critical in the future evolution of sustainable infrastructure practices. The bottom line is that the research calls for the adoption of new materials to promote economic efficiency and ecological responsibility in road construction.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Vivek Anand, Shashank Gupta, Mukesh Pandey, Rakesh Gupta. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.