Research for better roads
Stronger road materials and more resilient repairs are two key features of UMD's civil engineering professor Manik Barman 's research. The benefits reach all corners of Minnesota in the form of smoother, safer roads.
Some of the most common issues in roads are potholes and cracks. Water enters the pavement through cracks, which worsen the pavement during the winter because of extremely cold temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles, eventually forming potholes .
Asphalt roads have a life expectancy of 13-17 years before they need to be replaced or undergo massive rehabilitation. One area of Barman’s research is focused on finding a better asphalt mixture that would result in fewer cracks and fewer potholes in Minnesota, which has one of the coldest climates in the United States.
Asphalt road surfaces, sometimes called blacktop, are a mix of fine to coarse rocks or other aggregate, bound together by an oil-like petroleum or plant-based substance called asphalt. The material is formed by mixing the heated asphalt with aggregate, forming or spreading on the road surface, and allowing it to cool.
In Barman’s laboratory, he’s testing material strength, resiliency against freeze thaw cycles, temperature extremes, and road cycle lifetimes. Some of this testing equipment is not available anywhere else in the state.
“This can positively influence the economy of the state and that makes me proud, because the research I do doesn't just stay in research papers; it actually gets implemented.”
Manik Barman, associate professor, UMD Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Much of Barman’s research is commissioned and supported by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) and National Road Research Alliance (NRRA). This has resulted in changes to the guidelines and field guides on how to perform road repairs. Departments of Transportation use guidelines that Barman established to determine the quality of their materials. These all help extend the longevity of roads, especially those in rural areas.
Catching waves
Waves are one potential source of alternative energy. By monitoring wave conditions to understand how much energy is available, UMD mechanical engineering professor, Craig Hill , hopes to to develop new, affordable energy technologies and make beaches safer.
