TRANSCRIPT: With rising global infrastructure driving $3.4 trillion in new road construction projects, sustainability in asphalt paving is of increasing importance. One hundred and seven countries have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions, and reducing the environmental impact of asphalt has become a critical part of these plans. Asphalt production is primarily reliant on bitumen, a byproduct of [...]
TRANSCRIPT: Asphalt mix design engineers are facing challenges in balancing requirements for roadway durability, sustainability, and cost. Using balanced mix design, or BMD, shifts the focus from volumetric properties to performance testing. This can help engineers optimize resistance to rutting, cracking, aging, and fatigue while also potentially reducing costs and leveraging eco-friendly solutions such as reclaimed asphalt [...]
TRANSCRIPT: As global demand for roads grows, so does the importance of the material that holds them together: bitumen. However, once a consistent, locally sourced byproduct of oil refining, bitumen quality has become increasingly unpredictable. Why? Because modern refineries now prioritize extracting other outputs, resulting in bitumen of varying, often lower quality. Bitumen [...]
TRANSCRIPT: What makes roads age? What happens to aged roadway materials once they require replacement? Is there a way to recycle these materials into new roads? Let's check it out. Over time, roads age. Sun, heat, ice, rain, and heavy traffic eventually lead to rutting, cracking and dangerous potholes. Building new roads starts with removing the old [...]