Liverpool John Moores University is making strides in road maintenance with the development of self-sensing asphalt that could transform highway upkeep in Britain. This innovative technology uses electronic components to detect voids and damage in road surfaces in real-time, offering a more durable solution compared to traditional sensor-based methods.
In the fiscal year 2020-21, the UK government allocated £1.5 billion to road repairs and maintenance. The new self-sensing asphalt could potentially reduce these costs by providing immediate feedback on road conditions without the need for embedded sensors, which often fail due to traffic and weather conditions.
Dr. Yangming Gao from the School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment explained that this asphalt can monitor its own condition, allowing for timely repairs and maintenance. This reduces road closures and minimizes traffic disruptions, making the upkeep process more cost-effective and efficient.
The self-sensing asphalt integrates conductive additives to form an internal network similar to a nervous system. This network allows the material to detect changes in its electrical properties caused by traffic and damage. By measuring these electrical changes, engineers can assess the extent of surface degradation, including internal voids that are not visible to the naked eye.
Typically, asphalt contains about 3-8% air voids. A significant increase in this percentage could indicate internal damage. The asphalt is linked to an electronic circuit and a data acquisition system along roadways, which continuously collects and sends data to a remote center or a digital twin platform. This real-time data helps evaluate the road’s condition and predict maintenance needs.
The research team has conducted various electrical and mechanical tests, and their findings were published in the journal *Construction and Building Materials*. While the study has successfully explored the basics of self-sensing asphalt, including its composition and lab assessments, further research is needed. This includes examining damage-sensing capabilities and conducting full-scale tests on actual roads.
