The Study Program of Doctoral Engineering Science (PSDIT) held its 78th doctoral promotion on Friday, 23 August 2024, at the Wismakarma Hall, Faculty of Engineering, Udayana University on Jl. P.B. Sudirman Denpasar. Promovendus I Gusti Agung Ananda Putra, ST., MT with the dissertation titled Analysis of the Effect of Using Polypropylene from Mask Waste Fibers on Stiffness, Fatigue, and Creep Performance in Porous Asphalt Mixtures received a cumlaude predicate.

Dr. I Gusti Agung Ananda Putra, ST., MT describes that the improper disposal of masks presents environmental and health challenges, although the masks can be incorporated into asphalt aggregate mixture. This study aims to evaluate the impact of incorporating waste mask fibers into porous asphalt mixtures, specifically examining stiffness, fatigue, and creep performance at the optimum asphalt content (OAC). The method used is laboratory experiments by adding mask waste fibers with variations in levels of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% to the total weight of asphalt and making a test specimen design. Testing of constituent materials and test pieces using methods based on Indonesian National Standards (SNI), asphalt stiffness modulus using the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) tool based on the AASHTO T 315 standard, Stiffness and fatigue using the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) 30 tool based on the British Standard, and Creep using the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device (HWTD) tool based on the AASHTO T 324 standard. The results showed that in terms of the rheological properties of asphalt, adding mask waste to 60/70 penetration asphalt will reduce the penetration, ductility, specific gravity, and weight loss, and increase the viscosity, softening point, and flash point. The addition of mask waste will increase the resistance to grooves due to the increased hardness of the asphalt.

As chairman of the session is the Coordinator of PSDIT, Prof. Dewa Made Priyantha Wedagama, ST., MT., MSc., Ph.D. The promoter, the co-promoters I and II are Prof. Ir. I Nyoman Arya Thanaya, ME., Ph.D., Dr. Ir. I Made Agus Ariawan, S.T., M.T, and Dr. Ir. Yenni Ciawi respectively. Acting as examiners are Prof. Dr. Ir. Ngakan Made Anom Wiryasa, M.T., IPM., Prof. Dr. Ir. Nyoman Budiartha RM., M.Sc., Prof. Gusti Ayu Made Suartika, ST., M.Eng.Sc., Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Ir. I Dewa Ketut Sudarsana, M.T, and Ir. Ida Ayu Made Budiwati, M.Sc., Ph.D. Academic invitees are Dr. Ir. Anissa Maria Hidayati, M.T., Dr. Ir. Ni Kadek Astariani, ST, MT, IPM , ASEAN Eng (Ngurah Rai University) and I Gusti Ngurah Putu Dharmayasa, ST, MT, Ph.D (Undiknas University).