State-of-the-art Survey of Advanced Materials and Their Potential Application in Highway Infrastructure

About the report:

This study attempted to identify new materials that might have applications in highway infrastructure that could lead to savings for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and other transportation agencies. This search identified 47 materials in various stages of development, of which several offer reasonable potential applications in transportation. Ratings by VDOT's Materials Division and Structure & Bridge Division identified 7 materials with an average rating greater than 2.5 (on a scale of 1 through 5) in terms of their potential for VDOT: biosensor for lead, elastomeric coating for blast protection, SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barrier, urethane coating for cathodic protection, smart fibers, smart paints, and smart polymeric coatings. Ratings by the two divisions identified 7 other materials with either an average rating of 2.5 or a rating of 4 or more by either division: electrically conductive concrete, microencapsulated fire-extinguishing agent, piezoelectric paint, self-healing coating, self-healing concrete, chemiluminescent lightsticks, and soil-decontaminating nanoparticles. An additional material with potential, mussels' glue, was identified after the aforementioned ratings were obtained.

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