In the relentless pursuit of durable and sustainable infrastructure, a groundbreaking development has emerged from the labs of the School of Architecture and Engineering at Chongqing Institute of Engineering. Led by Feng Sun, a team of researchers has engineered a novel material that could revolutionize airport pavement construction. The innovation? A self-healing, rubberized calcium-sulfoaluminate-cement-based Engineered Cementitious Composite (CSA-ECC) designed for ultra-thin white-topping overlays.
Airport pavements endure a brutal combination of aircraft loads and environmental stresses, leading to cracks, joints, and vertical displacements over time. Traditional materials often fall short in mitigating these issues, but the new CSA-ECC material, incorporating recycled crumb rubber (CR), promises to change the game. “The addition of crumb rubber significantly enhances the bending deformation capacity of CSA-ECC,” Sun explains. “At just three days, the deflection increased by 1.24–1.43 times compared to the reference mixture.”
The mechanical properties of this new composite are nothing short of impressive. While the incorporation of CR slightly reduces compressive and flexural strengths, the material still meets the rigorous requirements for airport pavements. At three days, the compressive strength reaches 32 MPa, and the flexural strength hits 6.43 MPa. More importantly, the material’s ability to resist cracking and improve strain capacity by 80% is a game-changer for seamless pavement applications.
But the real magic lies in its self-healing capabilities. After just 15 wet-dry cycles, small cracks in the CR-containing CSA-ECC mixtures are almost completely sealed. The healing products, primarily dense crystals of C-S-H and CaCO₃, ensure that the material remains robust and durable over time. “This self-healing behavior is crucial for maintaining the integrity of airport pavements,” Sun notes, highlighting the material’s potential to reduce maintenance costs and extend the lifespan of airport infrastructure.
The implications of this research are vast, particularly for the energy sector. Airports are energy-intensive operations, and the construction and maintenance of their pavements contribute significantly to their carbon footprint. By using recycled crumb rubber and developing a self-healing material, the new CSA-ECC not only enhances durability but also promotes sustainability. This could lead to significant cost savings and environmental benefits, making it a win-win for both the construction industry and the energy sector.
The study, published in Case Studies in Construction Materials, opens up exciting possibilities for future developments. As airports around the world seek to upgrade their infrastructure to meet growing demands, this innovative material could become a cornerstone of modern pavement construction. The research by Feng Sun and his team at Chongqing Institute of Engineering is a testament to the power of innovation in addressing real-world challenges, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future.