Quiet, Innovative Top Layer on Plastic Base

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Dirk Kemper

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+49 241 80 25225

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The performance and availability of the German road infrastructure is of central economic and social importance. A well-developed and efficient infrastructure is a prerequisite for the mobility of people and goods in line with demand and thus represents a key location factor that has a major influence on economic development. The transport infrastructure thus forms the basis for employment and prosperity in our society. In an increasingly coalescing Europe and against the backdrop of steadily rising traffic loads, this outstanding importance of the German transport infrastructure will continue to grow. Road traffic - especially heavy goods traffic - is increasing rapidly. The German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) has forecast an increase in road freight traffic of over 80% for the period from 2000 to 2015. However, this development is also associated with negative effects. In particular, the impact on the environment and especially on the population due to exhaust fumes and traffic noise will increase significantly. Road traffic noise is not only a nuisance, it is also harmful to health. Already today, about 60 % of the German population suffers from socially and physically impairing noise pollution. Almost 16% of the population is exposed to noise pollution from road traffic, which is hazardous to health. Optimization of future road surface layers with regard to a noise-reducing effect and simultaneously optimized service properties (pronounced skid resistance, brightness, drainage effect as well as high durability) is therefore inevitable.The aim of the project "Quiet innovative plastic-based surface layer" is the development of a completely new type of noise-reducing road surface using innovative construction materials and processes. Through interdisciplinary cooperation with the Institute of Technical Acoustics at RWTH Aachen University (Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Michael Vorländer), the Institute of Applied Mechanics at RWTH Aachen University (Univ.-Prof. Dr.- Ing. habil. Stefanie Reese) and the Institute of Textile Technology of RWTH Aachen University (Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirt. Ing. Thomas Gries) as well as the company Limburger Lackfabrik GmbH (Diez), a completely new approach to the above-mentioned problem is made possible for the first time. Instead of using conventional natural materials (bitumen and stone) to achieve optimum performance characteristics and at the same time the greatest possible noise reduction, this project aims to determine the optimum noise-reducing surface structure of the road surface layer, irrespective of the material used. In order to be able to produce these structures in a targeted manner and in consistently high quality, it is also necessary to move away from the production of the road surface course that has been customary up to now (standardized standard construction method and installation on the construction site under non-standardized conditions). Instead, this road surface is to be industrially manufactured, laid on the construction site and bonded to the subgrade (cf. picture).

Publications

Die Straße der Zukunft - Konzepte und Potentiale der Straßenbautechnologie der Zukunft (Straßenwesen im Wandel der Zeit)