Asphalt and road building

TNO researches the properties and performance of existing materials and the structures of existing roads, including national trunk road. TNO uses this and other knowledge to develop innovative concepts for improving road performance. We also work on monitoring systems that measure the quality of asphalt faster and more accurately. This information is a sound basis for decision-making on maintenance and replacement.

Material properties of asphalt

Asphalt consists of several materials. Because the precise composition and the properties of these materials are often unknown, it is difficult to ascertain how they will perform. TNO studies these individual materials and assesses their performance and that of the asphalt as a whole. This means that its quality is easier to determine. TNO also develops tests for rapidly and reliably assessing the quality of innovative types of asphalt.

Our work on asphalt and road building

Our work in this field focuses on:

• Road monitoring and measurement. By means of data and image analysis relating to damage measured on the road surface.
• Skid resistance and ravelling. Precise measurement of the skid resistance of road surfaces and early detection of ravelling damage.
• Repair and protection of asphalt. Realising products for maintaining roads, such as a 'sun protection' layer applied after construction.
• Innovative asphalt mixes. Working with market players to realise new asphalt mixes, such as a fibre-reinforced asphalt with a longer service life.
• Transition joints and transition structures. We develop new joints and study how the construction and maintenance process can be accelerated.
• Testing and assessment of the service-life performance of asphalt. We study the behaviour of asphalt and assess how mixtures and binders behave over time.
• Accelerated testing of asphalt mixtures. For rapidly assessing the usability of innovative asphalt mixtures.