Potholes! The classic symbol of political incompetence, forcing drivers to navigate veritable minefields and wait for months (or why not years) for a definitive solution. Some projects tried to inject technology into the streets (basically solar energy), ending in a spectacular failure or their costs skyrocketed. Now scientist Erik Schlangen from Delft University in the Netherlands has a different idea: designing roads that repair themselves. The initial cost would be higher, but if that reduces subsequent maintenance…
Four lines of public transport in both directions, heavy vehicles at all hours, and a shopping center less than a hundred meters away... imagine the state of the streets near my home. This situation repeats in many parts of the world, and we can say the same of the general pattern: politicians love building new roads (even more so when they are campaigning), yet they are like Carmen Sandiego when it comes to ordering and paying for their maintenance. Our relationship with asphalt is complicated. Its properties are excellent, but it needs a lot of help. The best jobs can last five or ten years (depending on traffic, climate, and other conditions), and that obviously isn't enough. The key is prevention, repairing small faults before they turn into craters. So, how does a road capable of regenerating those faults on its own sound?
The Self-Healing Asphalt from Delft
So we arrive at Delft University in the Netherlands, where scientist and materials expert Erik Schlangen works on an advanced version of asphalt with integrated metal fibers, making it conductive. By applying heat using an induction system, the asphalt becomes softer and the existing cracks close on their own. The concept of regenerative asphalt has already been evaluated on a dozen roads, and one of them has remained open to the public since 2010, without signs of deterioration. Schlangen explains that more time is still needed to verify the results.
The potential of this asphalt is enormous, but we cannot escape the big question: how much does it cost? If we consider the special mixture and the induction system, the cost can be 25 percent higher compared to traditional asphalt. However, the balance becomes favorable in the long run, with annual savings of 90 million euros if all roads in the Netherlands were made this way. If that seems little, regenerative streets have another trick up their sleeve: the future possibility of recharging electric cars. Schlangen suggested that the first tests will be near traffic lights.
Source: The Verge
