Nanotechnology as a Preventive Engineering Solution to Highway Infrastructure Failures
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 139, Issue 8
Abstract
This paper reports the results of research on the application of nanomaterials to improve the quality and durability of road infrastructure. The research investigated road transportation infrastructure failures and the feasibility of preventive engineering solutions using nanotechnology. Laboratory experiments were conducted on different treated and untreated Nigerian soil samples (laterite, clay, and black soils) to study the changes in their fundamental geotechnical properties. Common engineering standards were used for the experiments and results analysis. Laboratory tests showed that treated laterite and clay soils had improved the liquid limit, plastic limit, and shrinkage index, including hydrophobic properties. The California bearing ratio (CBR) improved by as much as 87–125%. However, the black soil sample only passed the hydrophobicity test. The black soil did not exhibit any bearing strength in the CBR test, even after treatment with the nanomaterial. The paper contributes to understanding how nanomaterials can be used to engineer construction materials (laterite and clay soils), used in road pavements, and alter their normal geotechnical properties. This construction innovation results in improved performance characteristics. The paper also makes a pedagogical contribution by discussing the basic science and reaction chemistry that underpin material transformation processes and performance enhancement. This contributes to construction engineering practice and durable, economic, and sustainable highway infrastructure. The paper discusses the empirical results and gives recommendations on further work.
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Acknowledgments
VXL Nigeria provided the nanomaterial used in this research, together with some supporting technical documentation. The writers acknowledge the comments and suggestions from the anonymous reviewers, which they found useful in revising the paper.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 139 • Issue 8 • August 2013
Pages: 987 - 993
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 4, 2012
Accepted: Dec 18, 2012
Published online: Dec 21, 2012
Discussion open until: May 21, 2013
Published in print: Aug 1, 2013
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