A curvy mountain road needs a different kind of pavement than a truck lane on a highway.
The one ideal asphalt for all conditions does not exist: climatic conditions, traffic frequencies and loads place different demands on the pavement. Another challenge: preparing old asphalt so that it can be used for new pavements. Thanks to Empa researchers, the design of the ideal asphalt for every type of road has finally become easier. Roads are exposed to many stresses: they have to withstand both increasing traffic frequencies and ever heavier trucks - and this in heat, cold and rain. Over time, cracks, ruts and potholes in the road surface develop, which have to be repaired at great effort and cost. «The goal of asphalt research is therefore to develop road surfaces that withstand the stresses for as long as possible,» explains Martin Zaumanis, asphalt researcher in the Empa department for road construction and waterproofing under the head of department Manfred Partl. But there is no such thing as perfect asphalt to suit all locations - a busy road in a moderate climatic zone requires different characteristics than a rarely used mountain road that has to last even during the cold winter.
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