Practical Application of Nanotechnology Solutions in Pavement Engineering: Construction Practices Successfully Implemented on Roads (Highways to Local Access Roads) Using Marginal Granular Materials Stabilised with New-Age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME)

Abstract

The introduction of any new disruptive technology in a traditionally well-established industry, such as the road construction industry, is usually associated with considerable resistance. This is especially relevant when the new technology is based on the use of granular materials traditionally considered to be of an unacceptable quality in combination with relatively new concepts such as New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME). In such cases, the fact that the material design methods are based on fundamental scientific principles and have been proven in laboratories and through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT), may be of little influence. However, the general acceptance of new disruptive technologies, e.g. telecommunications and Information Technologies (IT), have been based on the considerable advantages it presented. The same principles are applicable to the general acceptance and use of NME stabilisation/enhancement of materials in the road construction industry. This article is aimed at the practical cost-effective demonstration of the general application of the use of nanos-silane modified emulsions in the construction of the highest order roads, i.e. inter-city multi-lane highways, lower order roads (including Low-Volume-Roads (LVR)) and even local accesses to farms and in villages/townships. The implementation of NME technologies is directly associated with ease of use, time and cost savings and the addressing and reduction of risks applicable to the use thereof.

Evaluation of two nano-silane-modified emulsion stabilised pavements using accelerated pavement testing

“…Prior to rehabilitation, road D1884 was severely cracked with associated wateringress and damage (Jordaan et al 2017a). The remixed base material was of South African class G8 (COLTO 1985) which is classified as a granular material such as a natural gravel, with grading modulus 2.7-0.75, and CBR at least 10 at 93% mod AASHTO.…”

Practical Application of Nanotechnology Solutions in Pavement Engineering: Addressing Practical Road Construction Related Problems Using Marginal Materials Stabilised With New-Age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (Nme) Towards Sustainable Roads

“…Over the last few years, the ability of these available nanotechnology solutions to stabilise/enhance/improve naturally available materials has been proven in laboratories [11,12,13], through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) [14,15,16] and in practice in southern Africa [8,17,18]. In parallel, to move away for the stigma of "snake oils" [8,10,19], scientifically based design methods were developed [19][20][21][22][23] to address any negative connections and engineering concerns.…”

“…Although most of these concepts have been in used for many a decade, if not for more than a century in the built environment [1,2,3], the traditionally road construction industry is notoriously conservative. The benefits in terms of the use of material compatible nanotechnologies to all available construction methods varying from the most basic to the most advanced have been demonstrated [18]. However, it is rare that construction projects are conducted without any problems.…”

Nanotechnology Applications Towards Sustainable Road Surface Maintenance and Effective Asset Protection, Generating Rapid Employment Opportunities in a Post COVID-19 Era

“…Over the last decade the use of material compatible NME technologies for the stabilisation of marginal granular materials have been proven and through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) [10,11,12] and in practice [13]. Simultaneously, the fundamental requirements [14] for NME products and scientifically based design concepts have been developed and published in international peer-reviewed journals [15,16] to ensure that these technologies can be universally applied without risk to life, the environment and pavement design engineers in terms of future pavement materials behaviour, durability and cost implications using life-cycle cost analysis incorporation probabilistic theories [17].…”