Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan
are looking for ways to make asphalt more
resistant to Canadian weather conditions
f you’ve never navigated your way through a minefield then you may
want to drive on a Saskatchewan road or highway during springtime,
which is also known as pothole season.
Chances are probable you’ll be swerving left and right to dodge the craters
in the road, some large enough to swallow your tire and cause severe
damage to your undercarriage.
The inevitable freeze-thaw cycle is commonplace on the prairies and
it takes a toll on Saskatchewan roads and highways. Drivers begrudgingly
accept the fact that potholes and cracks in the asphalt will greet them every
spring when the ground thaws.
But researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) may have a
solution to fix those bumpy roads.
U of S engineering professor Haithem Soliman, who has a Ph.D. in pavement
materials, and Ph.D. student Mai Alawneh are studying asphalt mixes
used in Saskatchewan roads and how to make them more weather resistant
and perhaps add longevity to their lifespan.
By Martin Charlton Communications
18 Think BIG | Quarter 2 2020 | saskheavy.ca
/saskheavy.ca
