Construction Materials News from Highways.Today
The Growing Importance of Sustainable Acoustics
The Growing Importance of Sustainable Acoustics Green buildings have become central to modern construction worldwide, with developers, architects, and engineers striving to create spaces that reduce environmental impact while supporting the well-being of occupants. These buildings are guided by certification systems such as LEED in the United States, BREEAM in the United Kingdom, Green Star …… Read more…
SABIT 2025 South Asia’s Bitumen Future Takes Centre Stage
SABIT 2025 South Asia’s Bitumen Future Takes Centre Stage The inaugural South Asia Bitumen Conference (SABIT 2025), held on 13–14 November at Cinnamon Life in Colombo, has now concluded with resounding success. As the first dedicated gathering for the region’s bitumen and asphalt community, the event delivered a comprehensive overview of market conditions, supply chain … Read more…
Teesside University Champions Ultra Low Carbon Cementitious Materials
Teesside University Champions Ultra Low Carbon Cementitious Materials Teesside University has joined forces with the Welsh resource management specialist Dauson Environmental Group to push the boundaries of low carbon construction. Their Knowledge Transfer Partnership seeks to convert construction waste into high grade supplementary cementitious materials that can rival traditional cement while sl… Read more…
Advancing Metal 3D Printing Through Real-Time Microstructural Insight
Advancing Metal 3D Printing Through Real-Time Microstructural Insight Additive manufacturing has steadily shifted from a niche capability to a core technology driving modern production. Its ability to build complex metal components layer by layer offers unmatched design freedom and a route to more resilient, flexible and sustainable supply chains. Yet one stubborn hurdle has remained … Read more…
Scalable Ceramic Additive Manufacturing for Extreme Environments
Scalable Ceramic Additive Manufacturing for Extreme Environments Ceramic engineering has inched forward for decades, yet one stubborn hurdle has repeatedly held back its wider industrial adoption: producing large, leak‑tight components at scale. That barrier has now been decisively lowered through a technical collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and c… Read more…
Pioneering Precision in Depolymerisation Research
Pioneering Precision in Depolymerisation Research The global plastics crisis has reached a crossroads, where traditional waste management systems can no longer keep pace with escalating production. Mechanical recycling, still widely used across industry, struggles to maintain polymer integrity, often producing materials with noticeably reduced strength, stability, and durability. As a result, recy… Read more…
Smarter Connections Bridge the Gap in Stainless-Steel Structural Design
Smarter Connections Bridge the Gap in Stainless-Steel Structural Design Stainless-steel has long been admired in construction for its corrosion resistance, aesthetic appeal, and longevity. Yet, despite its clear advantages, its widespread use in structural applications remains limited by high upfront costs and outdated design codes. These constraints often deter engineers from fully embracing the… Read more…
Gemstone Polishing Waste in Sustainable Cement
Gemstone Polishing Waste in Sustainable Cement Cement, the backbone of modern construction, is also one of the most carbon-intensive materials on Earth. Accounting for nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions, its production is under growing scrutiny as the world seeks greener alternatives. With infrastructure demand continuing to climb, researchers are turning to innovative materials that … Read more…
Intelligent Optimisation Redefines Prestressed Steel Structure Design
Intelligent Optimisation Redefines Prestressed Steel Structure Design As the demand for vast, open-span structures rises across global construction markets, engineers are increasingly turning to prestressed steel systems for their superior strength-to-weight ratios and design flexibility. However, these structures present complex design challenges. Engineers must juggle numerous interrelated varia… Read more…
Predicting Geopolymer Concrete Strength with Machine Learning
Predicting Geopolymer Concrete Strength with Machine Learning In the race towards greener, more resilient infrastructure, geopolymer concrete (GPC) is emerging as a game-changer. Known for its exceptional strength and significantly lower carbon footprint compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), GPC has been hailed as a next-generation building material. Yet, its performance remains difficult to… Read more…
Tongji University Advances Sustainable Reactive Powder Concrete
Tongji University Advances Sustainable Reactive Powder Concrete The construction industry faces a growing dilemma: the sheer scale of waste generated from demolition, renovation, and new builds is spiralling out of control. Traditional landfill disposal, once seen as a necessary evil, now poses a dual problem, environmental degradation and the depletion of valuable land resources. Yet, … Read more…
Liquid-Metal Circuit Boards Pave the Way for a Recyclable Tech Future
Liquid-Metal Circuit Boards Pave the Way for a Recyclable Tech Future Electronic waste has become one of the fastest‑growing waste streams on the planet, and the figures paint a grim picture. Global volumes already exceed 50 million tonnes per year, with forecasts suggesting a staggering 60 million tonnes of e‑waste annually by 2030 if no … Read more…
Breakthrough Waterproofing System Could Transform Tunnel Engineering
Breakthrough Waterproofing System Could Transform Tunnel Engineering Water ingress has plagued tunnel engineers for decades, compromising operational reliability, reducing service life, and posing safety risks. With infrastructure expanding into complex geological environments, the stakes have never been higher. Traditional waterproofing systems typically rely on non bonded membranes that sit betw… Read more…
Nanotech Is Transforming Rubber‑Reinforced Mixes for Green Concrete
Nanotech Is Transforming Rubber‑Reinforced Mixes for Green Concrete Concrete may be the backbone of global infrastructure, yet the world is grappling with its environmental footprint. Traditional mixes rely heavily on virgin aggregates and cement, both major contributors to resource depletion and carbon emissions. As nations push toward cleaner construction, researchers and engineers are increasin… Read more…
Shape Memory Alloys Set to Transform Concrete Railway Ties
Shape Memory Alloys Set to Transform Concrete Railway Ties Concrete rail ties are the backbone of modern railway networks, securing rails in place and maintaining precise alignment under immense loads. However, as trains grow faster and heavier, these ties face relentless mechanical punishment. Fatigue, warping and cracking can creep in over time, creating safety concerns … Read more…
The Rise of Smart Materials in Infrastructure
The Rise of Smart Materials in Infrastructure Concrete has always been the stoic backbone of infrastructure, but new “self-sensing” mixes are giving it a voice. Imagine bridge pillars and pavements that themselves detect stress, cracks or moisture change, without external sensors. Engineers are achieving this by mixing in conductive components (like carbon fibres or nanotubes) … Read more…
Lubrizol Unveils Zinc-Free Hydraulic Additive to Power Sustainable Performance
Lubrizol Unveils Zinc-Free Hydraulic Additive to Power Sustainable Performance Lubrizol has taken a bold step forward in sustainable industrial chemistry with the launch of Lubrizol® AH933ZF, a zinc-free hydraulic additive engineered to deliver robust performance while protecting environmentally sensitive ecosystems. As the global demand for cleaner technologies intensifies, this new additive repr… Read more…
Sustainable Aggregates Are Changing How the World Builds
Sustainable Aggregates Are Changing How the World Builds Imagine a fine powdery dust piling up by the tonne at the edge of a quarry, once considered little more than an inconvenient by-product. Today, that very quarry dust is being reimagined as a treasure trove of sustainable building material. In an era when the construction industry … Read more…
DMAT Secures $4.5m to Revolutionise Sustainable Self-healing Concrete
DMAT Secures $4.5m to Revolutionise Sustainable Self-healing Concrete DMAT, a deep-tech innovator spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has successfully raised $4.5 million to fast-track the commercialisation of its groundbreaking self-healing concrete technology. The investment round, led by Italy’s Primo Capital SGR S.p.A. through its Primo Climate fund, also drew support… Read more…
Bitumen and Asphalt in a Changing World
Bitumen and Asphalt in a Changing World Across the globe, tens of millions of kilometres of roads stitch together cities, towns, and villages, with asphalt as the literal groundwork of development. Asphalt (also known as bituminous pavement) is essentially a mixture of mineral aggregate and bitumen binder. Bitumen itself is a heavy viscous form of … Read more…
Tarmac’s CEVO Asphalts Pave the Way for Net Zero Roads
Tarmac’s CEVO Asphalts Pave the Way for Net Zero Roads Tarmac has taken a decisive leap towards a greener future with the launch of CEVO Asphalts, a breakthrough engineered solution designed to enable the UK’s first truly Net Zero road infrastructure. By blending advanced binder technologies, circular economy practices, and low-energy manufacturing, CEVO Asphalts is reshaping … Read more…
Bridging South Asia’s Bitumen Future at SABIT 2025
Bridging South Asia’s Bitumen Future at SABIT 2025 The global bitumen industry is gearing up for a landmark event as the inaugural South Asia Bitumen Conference 2025 (SABIT 2025) prepares to open its doors on 13–14 November 2025 at the Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Organised by Conference Connection, in collaboration with … Read more…
High-Friction Thin Overlays are Paving the Way for Safer and Quieter Roads
High-Friction Thin Overlays are Paving the Way for Safer and Quieter Roads Over the years, road pavements endure relentless punishment from traffic loads and environmental forces, leading to common surface issues such as rutting, cracking, raveling, and those all-too-familiar potholes. As these distresses worsen, they shorten the pavement’s service life and undermine driver comfort and … Read more…
ULMA Drives Engineering Excellence in Brazil’s Landmark Viaduct Construction
ULMA Drives Engineering Excellence in Brazil’s Landmark Viaduct Construction In one of Brazil’s most ambitious infrastructure upgrades in recent years, ULMA Construction has played a pivotal role in building three new viaducts that will transform mobility between São Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro. The project, valued at 1.4 billion reals, aims to ease … Read more…
Reinventing Steel for a Stronger, Lighter, Greener Future
Reinventing Steel for a Stronger, Lighter, Greener Future Steel is the backbone of modern infrastructure, from soaring skyscrapers and bridges to the cars and trains that connect our cities. For over a century, engineers have relied on steel’s strength and durability to build the world around us. Today, this tried-and-true material is undergoing a remarkable … Read more…
Latex-Modified Concrete Reinforces the Future of Bridge Engineering
Latex-Modified Concrete Reinforces the Future of Bridge Engineering The construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge marks a defining moment in North American infrastructure. Stretching 1.5 miles across the Detroit River to connect Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, this monumental project isn’t merely about creating another crossing—it’s about engineering excellence and cross-borde… Read more…
Wrekin launches Armadillo Silt Shield for Sustainable Silt Management
Wrekin launches Armadillo Silt Shield for Sustainable Silt Management Construction sites face a persistent problem that often flies under the radar: the accumulation of silt and debris. Left unmanaged, these materials can clog drainage systems, trigger flooding, and cause environmental harm. The stakes are high, as contaminated waterways may lead to regulatory sanctions, costly clean-ups, … Read more…
Cementing a Greener Future with Low-Carbon Concrete
Cementing a Greener Future with Low-Carbon Concrete Concrete is literally the foundation of modern civilisation, but it comes with a hefty climate cost. The production of cement, the key ingredient in concrete, emits an estimated 7-8% of global CO₂ each year, making it one of the single largest industrial contributors to greenhouse gases. To put … Read more…
The Future of Steelmaking
The Future of Steelmaking How Novel Iron making Processes Can Reduce Carbon Footprint Steel is the backbone of modern civilization, forming the structural core of cities, mobility, infrastructure, and clean energy solutions. Today, over 1.9 billion tonnes of steel are produced globally every year, making it one of the most heavily used industrial materials on … Read more…
Plasma Breakthrough Promises Cleaner, Cheaper Iron Production
Plasma Breakthrough Promises Cleaner, Cheaper Iron Production A research team at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has opened a potential new chapter in the history of iron and steelmaking. By observing iron formation in real time at the nanometre scale, they have pioneered a process that could transform the industry’s reliance on coal and … Read more…
Terram to Bring Sustainable Road Reinforcement Solutions to Highways UK
Terram to Bring Sustainable Road Reinforcement Solutions to Highways UK Highways UK 2025 is set to shine a spotlight on sustainable innovation, with Terram showcasing its latest ground reinforcement technologies at the NEC Birmingham on 15–16 October. Positioned at stand B21 in Hall 5, the geosynthetics pioneer will demonstrate how its solutions are transforming road … Read more…
In the pipeline
In the pipeline Here, Leon Woods, Country Manager UK at Steinzeug-Keramo, looks at why it is important to consider a material’s Life Cycle Cost when selecting underground drainage pipes. It is a telling insight that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury said that this Government will set about ‘doing fewer things better instead of the … Read more…
GPR Mapping to Unlock the Secrets of Steel Fibre Reinforced Tunnel Linings
GPR Mapping to Unlock the Secrets of Steel Fibre Reinforced Tunnel Linings As global cities grow denser and surface land becomes increasingly scarce, the push underground has never been more urgent. Urban tunnels today carry more than just traffic. They channel water, energy and communications infrastructure, forming the hidden backbone of modern cities. Shield tunnelling … Read more…
Smart Concrete Testing with GPR and Deep Learning to Transform Rebar Detection
Smart Concrete Testing with GPR and Deep Learning to Transform Rebar Detection Reinforced concrete has been the backbone of modern infrastructure for over a century, but evaluating its integrity has always posed challenges. Traditional inspection methods often rely on destructive testing, which compromises the very structures engineers are trying to protect. This approach not only … Read more…
Unlocking the Secrets of Long-Term Creep in Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Bridges
Unlocking the Secrets of Long-Term Creep in Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Bridges When it comes to modern bridge engineering, few projects have captured global attention quite like the Tian’e Longtan Bridge in China. Stretching across the Hongshui River with a world-record arch span of 600 metres, it stands as a symbol of engineering ambition and precision. … Read more…
Smarter Concrete with Hybrid Random Forest Strength Predictions
Smarter Concrete with Hybrid Random Forest Strength Predictions Concrete remains the most widely used construction material on the planet, but it comes at a cost. Traditional cement production accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, sparking the industry’s search for greener alternatives. One such solution is high-volume fly ash (HVFA) self-compacting concrete (SCC), which … Read more…
ETH Zurich Students Create Groundbreaking Multi-Metal 3D Printing Technology
ETH Zurich Students Create Groundbreaking Multi-Metal 3D Printing Technology In a leap that could transform aerospace manufacturing and beyond, students at ETH Zurich have developed a novel laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) system capable of printing multiple metals simultaneously. By employing a rotating tool path rather than the conventional linear approach, the machine dramatically reduces … Read more…
Swiss Researchers Are Redefining Timber Frame Wall Strength
Swiss Researchers Are Redefining Timber Frame Wall Strength The sharp crack of splitting wood echoes through Empa’s vast construction hall. A horizontal load of over 100 kilonewtons has just snapped a beam in a two-storey timber wall. For Empa researcher Nadja Manser, it’s the sound of success. This is the last in a series of full-scale tests … Read more…
Hydrophilic Materials Lead the Way in Subsurface Oil Management
Hydrophilic Materials Lead the Way in Subsurface Oil Management In the shifting landscape of groundwater remediation and subsurface engineering, researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have turned a long‑standing assumption upside down. Their detailed microfluidic observations and analytical modelling reveal that hydrophilic materials, surfaces that attract water, retai… Read more…
Revolutionising Functionally Graded Materials with Laser Remelting
Revolutionising Functionally Graded Materials with Laser Remelting An international team of researchers has just spotlighted a clever fix for a longstanding additive manufacturing issue—achieving seamless transitions between dissimilar materials. By weaving in a layer-wise laser remelting (LR) step within Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L‑PBF), they’ve tackled the stubborn problem of poor material… Read more…
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