摘要: |
As the Nation struggles to address poor infrastructure conditions, costing motorists more than
$67 billion a year, infrastructure deterioration is accelerated by sea level rise, heavy downpours,
inundation, extreme heat, and damages that are projected to increase with continued climate
change. While modern technologies such as porous and pervious pavements may help delay
road submersion by allowing rainwater to infiltrate rapidly through the pavement surface, the
durability of these mixes is not adequate and the mix voids are quickly filled with dust and debris
rendering the effectiveness of these mixes questionable especially in the long-term. The lack of
visibility and light during nighttime is also a major challenge for sleep-deprived drivers leading to
an increase in accident rates at night. Therefore, there is a need to improve visibility at night to
enhance safety and comfort to the users under all conditions.
The proposed research study will introduce a novel plagiarism, which has the potential to
introduce a new generation of multi-functional asphalt mixtures with the ability to repel water
driving it to the drainage ditches, reducing the impacts of heavy rain events and snow
accumulation on the mobility of the public, and enhancing visibility during nighttime. Through
advanced modification, characterization, and laboratory testing, this study aims to formulate a
new generation of multi-functional asphalt concrete (AC) materials that would provide reduced
water/snow accumulation by using super-hydrophobic nanomaterials and other modification.
The prepared asphalt mixtures will be beneficial for both hot and wet climate in the South and
cold and snowy climate in the North. Furthermore, the new generation of AC will be formulated
to provide luminescence during nighttime. In addition, it will be environmentally friendly and
cost-effective by testing and evaluating different blends of polymers, recycled products, and
other additives such as Evotherm as a warm-mix agent.
The proposed new generation of multi-functional asphalt mixtures will be developed by
addressing the following knowledge gaps:
(1) Evaluate the effects of superhydrophobic coating (SC) on the binder rheological
properties and aggregate wettability;
(2) Evaluate the effects of luminescent materials (LM) on the mixture brightness in
the dark;
(3) Assess the durability of asphalt mixtures prepared with SC and LM materials. |