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Collaboration: The Key to Transformative Research in Sustainable Infrastructure

This article explores the essential role of collaboration in advancing research on using recycled materials in transportation infrastructure. Led by experts from the University of Wisconsin and the University of New Hampshire, the RMRC aims to promote the safe and effective use of recycled materials while ensuring environmental safety. Through multi-disciplinary teams and long-term projects, researchers are now better equipped to tackle complex problems in construction. The findings emphasize the importance of collaboration in fostering innovation and improving sustainability in highway construction.

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Collaboration: The Key to Transformative Research in Sustainable Infrastructure

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  1. Collaboration – The Key to Making Research Transformative Craig H. Benson Wisconsin Distinguished Professor Director, Recycled Materials Resource Center www.recycledmaterials.org chbenson@wisc.edu

  2. RMRC Leadership Craig H. Benson Co-Director Univ. of Wisconsin chbenson@wisc.edu Kevin H. Gardner Co-Director Univ. of New Hampshire kevin.gardner@unh.edu Tuncer B. Edil Research Director Univ. of Wisconsin tbedil@wisc.edu Jeffrey S. Melton Outreach Director Univ. of New Hampshire jeff.melton@unh.edu

  3. What is the Purpose of the RMRC? • Promote the safe and wise use of recycled materials in construction of transportation infrastructure through education, technology transfer, and applied research. • Wise … ensure that the recycled material is suitable for the highway environment and provide procedures for appropriate use. • Safe …. ensure that material will not have an adverse impact on the environment or users.

  4. Research – ca. 1990 • Single investigator projects • One PI and one student • Relatively short timeline (< 2 yr) • Modest budget (not much field work) • Contributions – Yes • Transformative – Not always.

  5. Research – ca. 2010 • Research centers with multiple investigators • Multifaceted projects • Teams of PIs and teams of students (BS/MS/PhD) • Longer timelines (3-5yr common, some 10+ yr) • Sufficient budget to span theory to practice. • Transformative • This is the rule rather than the exception.

  6. Why is Collaboration Key • Biggest advances are made at the edges of our knowledge. • Greatest learning occurs when we stretch past our capabilities and experience using talents of others. • Major accomplishments often involve several related, yet scientifically different issues. • Major lessons learned often achieved by interacting with non-traditional research partners (e.g., contractors).

  7. Sustainable Highway Construction Using Base Courses with Recycled Pavement Materials • Haifeng Wang, Washington State U. • Tuncer B. Edil, U. Wisconsin • Craig H. Benson, U. Wisconsin

  8. Objectives • Develop method to design base courses constructed with recycled pavement materials (dirty RAP) stabilized with cementitous fly ash. • Assess potential environmental impacts. • Assess life cycle impacts on sustainability. • Demonstrate efficacy at field scale..

  9. MnROAD Test Sections Conventional Aggregate Base RPM Base RPM + Fly Ash Base Riverside 8 Fly Ash from Xcel Energy, 14.6% LOI and 22% CaO Non-compliant with MCPA requirements.

  10. Mixing & Compaction of Full-Scale Test Sections at MnROAD

  11. Pavement Performance - Modulus

  12. Geomembrane installation Sump welding Drainage layer installation Collection tank installation

  13. Environmental Data • Lysimeter data and lab columns on RPM & Fly Ash for As. • As MCL: 10 ppb • Hg MCL: 2 ppb in MN • Hg is well below MCL and lower for fly ash stabilized materials.

  14. WiscLEACH Model

  15. Life Cycle Analysis – Cost, Energy, Environment RPM + Fly Ash RPM + Fly Ash MnROAD Test Sections with RPM & Fly Ash

  16. Expertise • Pavement engineering, pavement geotechnics • Cement chemistry and engineering • Environmental chemistry and engineering • Life cycle assessment for sustainability • Construction

  17. www.recycledmaterials.org

  18. www.bioreactorpartnership.org

  19. www.cresp.org

  20. What do all of these research initiatives have in common? • Complex problems involving several disciplines of science and engineering. • Major infrastructure. • Geotechnical & geoenvironmental issues. • Stakeholders with real-world problems and/or opportunities.

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