Cultivating Materials Science Research to Benefit Surface Transportation: 2022 Update

Federal Highway Administration2022PDFBooklet/PamphletExploratory Advanced Research Program (U.S.)United States. Federal Highway AdministrationTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUnited StatesMaterials scienceGround transportationBridgesPavementsFHWA-HRT-22-025Bridges and pavements must bear heavy cars and trucks over a sustained period and withstand weather conditions, such as rain and snow or extreme heat and cold, that can wear down materials over time. To combat the wear and tear that bridges and highways face, researchers are keen to explore how to build durable and longer lasting structures and pavements. One way to approach this problem is through materials science, a multidisciplinary field that studies the production and use of materials through the lenses of chemistry, physics, and engineering. Breakthrough research in materials science is beneficial to surface transportation. Such work can produce improved materials used to build more durable yet still affordable highway bridges and pavements. Thus, by actively supporting materials science research, the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s (FHWA) Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program is investing in the longevity and cost effectiveness of U.S. highway infrastructure.127