The FIBRA project: European research into fibre reinforced asphalt
Behind the Dutch trial sections of fibre reinforced asphalt lies a larger European research project. What FIBRA involved and who took part.
Behind the trial sections of fibre reinforced asphalt in the Netherlands lies a larger, European research project. What exactly did the FIBRA project involve, and who was involved?
What is FIBRA?
FIBRA stands for Fostering the implementation of fibre-reinforced asphalt mixtures by ensuring its safe, optimized and cost-efficient use. The project ran from 2018 to 2020 and was carried out under the CEDR research programme, the Conférence Européenne des Directeurs des Routes, in which European road authorities work together.
An international partnership
The project was led by the University of Cantabria in Spain and carried out together with, among others, Empa from Switzerland, Technische Universität Braunschweig from Germany, BAM Infra from the Netherlands, and Veidekke Industri and SINTEF from Norway. Rijkswaterstaat was involved on behalf of the Netherlands in the wider CEDR partnership.
Objectives of the project
The aim of FIBRA was to promote the use of fibre reinforced asphalt mixtures by ensuring the safety, optimisation and cost-effectiveness of these mixtures. Among other things, the project produced practical guidelines for the design and characterisation of fibre reinforced asphalt mixtures, and for the structural design of road pavements containing these mixtures.
From laboratory to trial section
In addition to practical design guidelines, the project also involved scaling up the production process and constructing trial sections, including the trial sections on the Dutch motorway A73. The environmental impact of the FIBRA pavements was also assessed within the project.
Why BAM believed in fibres
BAM saw clear advantages of fibre reinforcement over polymer-modified bitumen, particularly in terms of service life, production temperature and, by extension, sustainability. Because replacing polymer-modified bitumen with fibre reinforced bitumen proved cost-neutral, BAM saw it as a strategic advantage to further explore the possibilities of fibres.
Conclusion
The FIBRA project formed the scientific basis behind the fibre reinforced trial sections in the Netherlands and beyond. By pooling knowledge from multiple European research institutes and road builders, the project contributed to practical guidelines intended to bring wider application of fibre reinforced asphalt closer.