Performance of hot-mix asphalt using polymer-modified bitumen and marble dust as a filler

Marble dust waste powder generated by the marble cutting industry has a high alkalinity.In this research,the use of marble dust(MD)as a mineral filler substitute in hot mixed asphalt(HMA)was evaluated.The Marshall mix design was used to determine the optimum bitumen content(OBC)for all of the mixtures.For each of the four MD contents,i.e.,0,2%,4%,and 6%by weight of the total aggregates,four different bitumen percentages were used.The results of the Marshall stability test showed that the optimum filler content was 4%MD.Samples were prepared with 0 MD in the control mix and varying percentages of MD as an alternate filler.In addition,MD aided in increasing the Marshall stability,rutting resistance,and permanent deformation and reduced the fatigue life of asphalt mixtures.As the percentage of MD increases,the rutting resistance and stiffness at high temperatures both increase.As the percentage of MD increases,the fatigue life reduces.Rut resistance in high-temperature conditions can be improved by using MD in HMA as a partial substitute for stone dust(SD).In areas where extensive MD waste is present,MD can be incorporated into HMA mixtures instead of conventional fillers.

A dual-beam piezo-magneto-elastic wake-induced vibration energy harvesting system for high-performance wind energy harvesting

Wind-induced vibration energy harvesting has a great potential for utilizing wind energy to supply power for low-powered devices.To improve the working performance of energy harvesters effectively,a suitable structural design is crucial.This paper proposes a dual-beam piezo-magneto-elastic wake-induced vibration energy harvesting system to enhance the functional performance of aeroelastic energy harvesters in environments with variable wind speeds.The system contains two piezoelectric beams coupled by magnets(forming upstream and downstream energy harvesters),and each beam is attached with a foam cylinder.A corresponding dynamic model is provided,and output characteristics are obtained at different wind speeds.Results and experimental verification indicate that both upstream and downstream energy harvesters can realize efficient energy harvesting.When the wind speed exceeds a certain critical value,the amplitudes of the system’s displacement and voltage are high.The wind speed threshold value is approximately 1.25 m/s.When the wind speed and magnet spacing are 10.2 m/s and 20 mm,respectively,the output power of the system reaches 4.9×10^(−4)W.Moreover,the wind speed threshold value of the proposed system can be adjusted by an equivalent nonlinear restoring force.

Road pavement condition diagnostics using smartphone-based data crowdsourcing in smart cities

The purpose of the paper is to analyse the effectiveness of a solution known as road condition tool(RCT)based on data crowdsourcing from smartphones users in the transport system.The tool developed by the author of the paper,enabling identification and assessment of road pavement defects by analysing the dynamics of vehicle motion in the road network.Transport system users equipped with a smartphone with the RCT mobile application on board record data of linear accelerations,speed,and vehicle location,and then,without any intervention,send them to the RCT server database in an aggregated form.The aggregated data are processed in the combined time and location criterion,and the road pavement condition assessment index is estimated for fixed 10 m long measuring sections.The measuring sections correspond to the sections of roads defined in the pavement management systems(PMS)used by municipal road infrastructure administration bodies.Both the research in question and the results obtained by the method proposed for purposes of the road pavement condition assessment were compared with a set of reference data of the road infrastructure administration body which conducted surveys using highly specialised measuring equipment.The results of this comparison,performed using binary classifiers,confirm the potential RCT solution proposed by the author.This solution makes it possible to global monitor the road infrastructure condition on a continuous basis via numerous users of the transport system,which guarantees that such an assessment is kept up to date.