Innovation in High-Performance Asphalt Mixes (HPAM) to increase the service life of flexible pavements in Canada

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Transportation systems have the same importance for society that arteries, veins and nerves for the human body. Canada has a well-developed transportation system consisting of road, rail, water and air networks. However, the road network remains the most important as 90% of all goods are transported using this system. Nationwide, Canada has over 1,000,000 km of road including over 30,000 km of highway [1]. The modern road appeared with the advent of the automobile and has evolved over the years with the evolution of humanity. In recent decades, the road industry has positively changed to meet the needs of sustainable development and cost reduction. Meanwhile, the technological evolution in other transportation-related industries, such as the automotive industry and traffic control systems, has also accelerated. In this context, several international experts have started working on defining the road of the future. This road would be sustainable, resilient, connected, adaptable, self-healing, a source of energy, smart and versatile. The ideas proposed for this research program aim to advance our ability to build this road of the future. In Canada, cracking is the most prevalent deterioration mode of pavements. It is caused by traffic loading, low temperature and can be accelerated by oxidation of the asphalt or when the asphalt material performs poorly. Four breakthrough ideas will be investigated in this research program to advance new solutions that will effectively extend the service life of pavements. Some of these innovations are inspired by the human body, specifically its capacity to adapt, evolve and heal itself. Biomimetic research has opened up new avenues of innovation for many industries, namely architecture, transportation, communication and adhesives to name but a few. The proposed program will leverage nature-inspired strategies to create a range of High-Performance Asphalt Mixes (HPAM). The use of Self-Healing Materials, Phase-Change Materials and antioxidants will be explored to reduce the risk of pavement cracking and help tomorrow’s roads heal themselves. Advances in nanotechnology will also be leveraged to modify the molecular structure of the binder enabling targeting specific aspects of the binder performance and formulating HPAM with enhanced characteristics. These HPAM mixes will be tailored to resist different modes of deterioration. Ultimately, the program will contribute to the construction of highly durable, long-lasting pavements in Canada and to a new generation of highly qualified engineers, sensitive to sustainable development and environmental issues. Fifteen graduate and undergraduate students will have the opportunity to develop technical knowledge and skills in advanced pavement materials engineering and design. They will be poised to lead the transition towards smarter and more sustainable road infrastructures in Canada and around the world.