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Did you know that the history of asphalt concrete is linked to a Belgian-American inventor?
Asphalt concrete (often called asphalt, black pavement or, in Anglo-American paving parlance, tarmac or white asphalt) is a composite material widely used for the surfaces of roads, car parks, airports and dams. This mixture has been used for paving roads since the 19th century and consists of mineral aggregates, applied and compacted in layers with bitumen as the interface material. The history of asphalt concrete shows its diversity and development, especially closely related to the contributions of several inventors.
Humans have used natural asphalt since ancient times. From Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire, asphalt has been used for waterproofing and road construction.
In ancient times, natural asphalt was used to waterproof temple baths, warehouses and ditches. Even the streets of ancient Babylon were paved with asphalt. At the end of the 18th century, France first tried to use this material to pave roads, and gradually expanded this technology to other cities.
By the 19th century, as transportation increased, demand also gradually increased. In 1829, the French Ligny's diving channel used a mixture of natural asphalt and aggregate, laying the foundation for the development of future paving technology.
In 1869, Threadneedle Street in London, England was rebuilt using Swiss natural asphalt, which had a considerable impact at the time.
The next important advance came from the Belgian-American chemist Edward De Smedt. In 1870, he invented a technique at Columbia University that used heated natural asphalt mixed with sand. The material and the technique used to forge it set the standard for asphalt concrete, earning him a U.S. patent.
In the following decades, British civil engineer Edgar Purnell Hooley further improved the technology in 1902 and founded a company dedicated to promoting it. . He called the material "tarmac," which translates to "bitumen mixed with tarmac," and it became the basis for today's asphalt concrete.
The chemical properties of asphalt concrete make it extremely durable and economical to use as a pavement, especially in high-volume traffic environments.
With the development of technology, various types of asphalt concrete have emerged, including hot mix asphalt concrete (HMA), warm mix asphalt concrete (WMA), etc. These mixtures not only minimize environmental impact during construction, but also improve construction efficiency. For example, HMA is often used on roads and racetracks with heavy traffic because it can provide good road performance and load-bearing capacity.
The use of asphalt concrete is not without its challenges. Asphalt can suffer from various damages over time, such as cracks, potholes, etc. These problems arise partly from multiple factors including poor construction quality, environmental impacts and traffic loads. Due to the physical properties of asphalt, these problems not only affect the life of the road surface, but also cause corresponding maintenance costs.
Proper design and maintenance can significantly extend the life of a road and reduce the need for future repairs.
The recyclability of asphalt concrete is also a key consideration for today's engineers. Many old asphalt pavements can be recycled and reused, which is not only environmentally friendly but also reduces construction costs. According to statistics, the recycling rate of asphalt concrete in the United States is the highest among all building materials, making it a preferred material in terms of sustainable development.
As we look back at the evolution of asphalt concrete, from ancient uses to modern innovations, the journey reminds us how technology has progressed over time. This makes us wonder: How can asphalt concrete evolve and innovate in the future in the face of contemporary transportation challenges and environmental crises?
