Self-healing asphalt could solve UK pothole challenge

Scientists from King’s College London and Swansea University, in collaboration with scientists in Chile, designed the self-healing asphalt, which does not require any maintenance or human intervention.

“These advanced solutions aim to prevent the early-stage cracking of roads autonomously, thereby reducing their progression into future potholes,” said Dr Jose Norambuena-Contreras, a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Swansea University.

Cracks occur when bitumen hardens through oxidisation, but the exact processes behind this are unknown. The team found a way to reverse the cracking and develop methods to ‘stitch’ asphalt back together.

During the research, machine learning was used to study organic molecules in complex fluids like bitumen. The team developed a new data-driven model to accelerate atomistic simulations, advancing research into bitumen oxidation and crack formation. The team is also collaborating with Google Cloud to simulate the behaviour of the bitumen on a computer.

To make the asphalt ‘self-healing’, the team incorporated ‘spores’, which are tiny porous materials made from plants. The spores are filled with recycled oils, which are released when the asphalt begins to fracture. This reverses the cracking process.