Mechanical Performance and Design Considerations of Bituminous Mixtures Incorporating Recycled Fibers: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Recycled fibers in bituminous mixtures are increasingly recognized for their potential to modify and reinforce asphalt mixtures, enhancing durability and reducing environmental impacts. This paper reviews the influencing themes and factors related to the incorporation of recycled fibers into bituminous mixtures, based on a systematic bibliometric analysis. A bibliometric study was conducted covering the evolution of document publications, sources, authors, countries, and the clustering of influential keywords, which frame the main themes explored in a systematic literature review. Results reveal a growing interest in case studies assessing the mechanical performance of bituminous mixtures incorporating recycled fibers, highlighting sustainability and reinforcement design development. The review discusses the main factors influencing mixture reinforcement design, the processing methods and characterization of recycled fibers, and the mechanical performance of different fiber types including plastic, plant-based, textile, and glass fibers. Overall, this work provides insights into the key factors in the literature influencing the performance of recycled fiber-reinforced bituminous mixtures and serves as a preliminary guide and reference for researchers entering this field of study.