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New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 4768

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jue Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Traffic & Transportation, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
Interests: road engineering; construction and demolition waste; coarse/fine aggregate; polymer concrete; unbonded granular material; dynamic response; discrete element method
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Junhui Peng

E-Mail
Guest Editor
School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China
Interests: subgrade engineering; resilient modulus; permanent deformation; soil–water characteristic curve; numerical simulation calculation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Junfeng Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
Interests: materials and structure for pavement; asphalt pavement; coarse and fine aggregate; alternative materials for road engineering; construction and demolition waste; functional pavement materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Wensheng Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Transportation, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: road materials and pavement design; nondestructive testing technology; structural health monitoring; bridge and infrastructure engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the increasing requirements related to urbanization and environment, concerns regarding low-carbon and long-life solutions for road infrastructures have been growing in recent years. Long-life road infrastructures depend on the innovation of materials and structures, simultaneously considering novel numerical and intelligent technologies. Many impressive approaches have been proposed to enhance the performance and serviceability of road materials and structures, including the use of digital twin models and the material genome method in multiscale characterization.

Researchers worldwide are making great efforts to provide low-cost, eco-friendly, sustainable and durable road materials. Meanwhile, the application of advanced materials in road infrastructures requires successful design practices to construct long-life road structures. Therefore, the investigation of material characterization and structural behavior becomes an important issue to realize the optimized design and performance improvement of low-carbon, long-life road infrastructures.

This Special Issue aims to bring together papers addressing the latest challenges and developments in the field, contributing to the reinforcement of knowledge and practices in long-life road infrastructures. We invite researchers worldwide to contribute original research and review articles contributing to the area of materials and structures in long-life road infrastructures. Suggested topics related to this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

  • Innovative sustainable road materials;
  • Testing and evaluation of mechanical behavior;
  • Multiscale characterization and simulation;
  • Long-life design for subgrade and pavement;
  • Environmental effect of road construction;
  • Safety and serviceability of road infrastructures.

Dr. Jue Li
Dr. Junhui Peng
Dr. Junfeng Gao
Dr. Wensheng Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • road infrastructures
  • long-life pavement
  • road materials
  • subgrade
  • multiscale characterization
  • laboratory test
  • numerical simulation
  • field construction
  • design method

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3701 KiB  
Article
Research on the Operation, Maintenance, and Parameters of Expressway Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Based on Markov Prediction
by Xiaomin Dai, Guojin Su, Wei Tian and Long Cheng
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3628; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073628 (registering DOI) - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1
Abstract
With the continuous progress of traffic technology and the continuous improvements in traffic infrastructure, the maintenance and management of highway mechanical and electrical equipment has become a key factor affecting highway operation efficiency. However, at present, most of the mechanical and electrical systems [...] Read more.
With the continuous progress of traffic technology and the continuous improvements in traffic infrastructure, the maintenance and management of highway mechanical and electrical equipment has become a key factor affecting highway operation efficiency. However, at present, most of the mechanical and electrical systems of expressways cannot monitor the equipment continuously in terms of operation and maintenance, and most of the equipment operation and maintenance stay only in the stage of equipment failure. In addition, there are many kinds of highway mechanical and electrical equipment, and there are significant differences in the levels of parameters, so the parameter levels of highway mechanical and electrical equipment cannot fully meet the operation requirements of the area. Therefore, based on the basic theory of the Markov chain and the concept of daily operation and maintenance, this paper constructs a multistate Markov fault prediction model considering maintenance. Based on the historical data, the model realizes the prediction of the equipment failure rate and the formulation of the optimal maintenance strategy for the equipment, taking video surveillance equipment as an example, and verifies the improvement in the value of the equipment under this strategy through the value engineering theory. Based on the prediction results, more reasonable technical parameters are customized for equipment with a high failure rate to improve the practicability and reliability of the mechanical and electrical equipment in the area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 12533 KiB  
Article
Engineering Performance and Mechanism of Alkali-Activated Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag–Zeolite Powder Grouting Materials
by Longni Wang, Hongyuan Fu, Qianfeng Gao, Jintao Luo, Jing Tang, Jianping Song, Youjun Li and Guangtao Yu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 3345; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063345 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 70
Abstract
Geopolymer-based grouting materials often have a higher early strength, better durability, and lower environmental impact than those of traditional cement-based grouts. However, existing geopolymer grouts face common challenges such as rapid setting and low compatibility with treated substrates. This study develops a new [...] Read more.
Geopolymer-based grouting materials often have a higher early strength, better durability, and lower environmental impact than those of traditional cement-based grouts. However, existing geopolymer grouts face common challenges such as rapid setting and low compatibility with treated substrates. This study develops a new grouting material using industrial byproducts to overcome these limitations while optimizing performance for reinforcing silty mudstone slopes. The base materials used were ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and zeolite powder, with calcium lignosulphonate (CL) serving as the retarding agent and NaOH as the alkali activator. The investigation focused on the effects of the mix ratio and water–binder ratio on the setting time, flowability, bleeding rate, concretion rate, and compressive strength of the new grouting material. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were employed to examine the action mechanism of the material components in the slurry. The one-factor standard deviation method and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) were used to assess the influence of each material component on the slurry performance indices and the correlation between each performance index and its optimal mix ratio. Subsequently, the optimal mix ratio of the new grouting material was ascertained. The results indicate that the setting time is positively correlated with the zeolite powder and CL dosages and the water–binder ratio, while it is inversely related to the NaOH dosage. The flowability is significantly enhanced with increasing zeolite powder and NaOH dosages, but decreases at a higher CL dosage and water–binder ratio. This insight is crucial for optimizing the workability of the grouting material under various conditions. The optimal ratio of the grout is zeolite powder:GGBFS:CL:NaOH = 30:70:5:7, with a water–binder ratio of 0.6. Compared to existing commercial grouting materials, the compressive strength of this new grout is comparable to that of silty mudstone. This significantly reduces the problem of stress concentration at the grout–rock interface due to strength differences, thus effectively reducing the risk of secondary cracking at the interface. These findings provide a new material solution for grouting and repairing fractured silty mudstone slopes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 2959 KiB  
Article
Risk Analysis of Service Slope Hazards for Highways in the Mountains Based on ISM-BN
by Haojun Liu, Xudong Zha and Yang Yin
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 2975; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15062975 - 10 Mar 2025
Viewed by 186
Abstract
To effectively mitigate service slope disaster risks in mountainous areas and enhance the overall safety of highway operations, based on the geological and structural characteristics of slopes, considering slope technical conditions, overall stability, and potential disaster consequences, 25 important influencing factors are systematically [...] Read more.
To effectively mitigate service slope disaster risks in mountainous areas and enhance the overall safety of highway operations, based on the geological and structural characteristics of slopes, considering slope technical conditions, overall stability, and potential disaster consequences, 25 important influencing factors are systematically identified. The identification process integrates insights from the relevant literature, expert opinions, and historical disaster maintenance records of such slopes. An integrated approach combining Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Bayesian Networks (BNs) is utilized to conduct a quantitative analysis of the interrelationships and impact strength of factors influencing the disaster risk of mountainous service highway slopes. The aim is to reveal the causal mechanism of slope disaster risk and provide a scientific basis for risk assessment and prevention strategies. Firstly, the relationship matrix is constructed based on the relevant prior knowledge. Then, the reachability matrix is computed and partitioned into different levels to form a directed graph from which the Bayesian network structure is constructed. Subsequently, the expert’s subjective judgment is further transformed into a set of prior and conditional probabilities embedded in the BN to perform causal inference to predict the probability of risk occurrence. Real-time diagnosis of disaster risk triggers operating slopes using backward reasoning, sensitivity analysis, and strength of influence analysis capabilities. As an example, the earth excavation slope in the mountainous area of Anhui Province is analyzed using the established model. The results showed that the constructed slope failure risk model for mountainous operating highways has good applicability, and the possibility of medium slope failure risk is high with a probability of 34%, where engineering geological conditions, micro-topographic landforms, and the lowest monthly average temperature are the main influencing factors of slope hazard risk for them. The study not only helps deepen the understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms of slope disaster risk but also provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the safe operation and disaster prevention of mountainous highways. The model offers clear risk information, serving as a scientific basis for managing service slope disaster risks. Consequently, it effectively reduces the likelihood of slope disasters and enhances the safety of highway operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 4517 KiB  
Article
Characterizing the Interaction Between Asphalt and Mineral Fillers in Hot Mix Asphalt Mixtures: A Micromechanical Approach
by Shuang Wang, Zhichen Wang, Ankang Yu, Huanan Yu, Zhongming He, Xiangzhu Meng, Zhi Gong, Deqing Guan and Fuli Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 2735; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052735 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 164
Abstract
Asphalt mastic serves as a critical binding material in hot mix asphalt mixtures, significantly influencing the performance and durability of asphalt pavements. The interaction between asphalt and mineral fillers directly affects the binding properties of the mastic. In this study, the adsorbed asphalt [...] Read more.
Asphalt mastic serves as a critical binding material in hot mix asphalt mixtures, significantly influencing the performance and durability of asphalt pavements. The interaction between asphalt and mineral fillers directly affects the binding properties of the mastic. In this study, the adsorbed asphalt film thickness was used as an indicator to evaluate the interaction between asphalt and mineral fillers. A micromechanical approach was proposed to calculate this thickness, and the results were compared using the Hashin model, the Mori–Tanaka model, and the generalized self-consistent model. The results demonstrate that the adsorbed asphalt film thickness, as determined using the micromechanical approach, ranged from 0.01 to 0.37 µm. The Hashin model was found to provide the most accurate characterization of the interaction between the asphalt and the mineral fillers. The order of adsorbed asphalt film thickness was as follows: coal gangue asphalt mastic > limestone asphalt mastic > fly ash asphalt mastic. Higher concentrations of acidic SiO2 in the mineral fillers resulted in a weaker interaction between the asphalt and the fillers. When the temperature was below the softening point of the asphalt, the interaction strength decreased as frequency increased. Conversely, when the temperature exceeded the softening point, the interaction strength increased with frequency. The effect of temperature on the interaction capability was further influenced by the characteristics of the mineral fillers. The micromechanical-based method proposed in this study eliminates the dependency of the evaluation indicator on the volume fraction of mineral fillers, thereby providing a more accurate characterization of the interaction between asphalt and fillers. This approach provides a theoretical foundation to guide the design of asphalt mixtures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 4105 KiB  
Article
Development of Enhanced Stress Prediction Models for Fixed Traffic Loads on Flexible Pavements Based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Machine Learning (ML) Techniques
by Adham Mohammed Alnadish, Madhusudhan Bangalore Ramu, Abdullah O. Baarimah and Aawag Mohsen Alawag
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1623; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031623 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Pavement design is influenced by traffic load, which affects its lifespan. Traditional methods classify traffic load into fixed traffic, fixed vehicle, variable traffic, and vehicle/axle loads. In fixed traffic, pavement thickness is based on the maximum expected wheel load without considering load repetitions. [...] Read more.
Pavement design is influenced by traffic load, which affects its lifespan. Traditional methods classify traffic load into fixed traffic, fixed vehicle, variable traffic, and vehicle/axle loads. In fixed traffic, pavement thickness is based on the maximum expected wheel load without considering load repetitions. Meanwhile, in fixed vehicle scenarios, it is calculated by the repetitions of a standard axle load. For nonstandard axle loads, the equivalent axle load is determined by multiplying repetitions by the corresponding equivalent load factor. In variable traffic, each axle and its repetitions are analyzed independently. This study proposes enhanced models for fixed traffic loads, focusing on single, dual, and tridem axles in a single-layer pavement model, to improve stress prediction accuracy. The results show that a quadratic model with a base-10 logarithmic transformation accurately predicts stresses. Additionally, machine learning models, especially Gradient Boosting, provided more accurate predictions than traditional models, with lower mean squared error (MSE) and root mean squared error (RMSE). The results show that these models are effective in predicting the stress in pavement. These findings provide valuable insights that can lead to better pavement design and more effective maintenance practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 6933 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on Deformation and Damage Evolution of Cracked Red Sandstone Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles
by Xize Han, Guangchen Sun, Helin Fu, Chao Tan, Zailong Huang, Peng Yin, Qishu Zhang, Wenchen Fan and Shuiping Yin
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11174; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311174 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 686
Abstract
Cracked rock masses in cold regions are subjected to freeze–thaw cycles over extended periods, resulting in freeze–thaw deformation. The combined effects of freeze–thaw cycling and the depth of cracks significantly influence the stability and durability of underground rock engineering in these regions. In [...] Read more.
Cracked rock masses in cold regions are subjected to freeze–thaw cycles over extended periods, resulting in freeze–thaw deformation. The combined effects of freeze–thaw cycling and the depth of cracks significantly influence the stability and durability of underground rock engineering in these regions. In some cold regions with minimal annual rainfall, rock masses are unable to absorb external water during freeze–thaw cycles. As freeze–thaw deformation progresses, the rock transitions naturally from a saturated state to an unsaturated state. To investigate the deformation damage mechanisms and evolution patterns of saturated red sandstone with initial non-penetrating cracks of varying depths (20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm) under freeze–thaw cycling conditions without external water replenishment and with naturally varying saturation levels, relevant freeze–thaw cycle experiments and strain monitoring were conducted. The results indicate that cracked red sandstone experiences residual strain in each freeze–thaw cycle, which gradually accumulates, leading to irreversible freeze–thaw damage deformation. The cumulative residual strain of the rock specimen after 45 freeze–thaw cycles was 40.69 times greater than the residual strain from the first cycle. Additionally, the freeze–thaw strain characteristic values exhibited a clear correlation with crack depth. These findings provide experimental methods and data references for analyzing the deformation and failure mechanisms of cracked rock induced by freeze–thaw damage in cold regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 6296 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Grout Filling Quality Assessment in Precast Concrete Sleeve Connections through a Collaborative Sensing Approach
by Bolin Jiang, Shanshan Wu, Qidong Xiong and Yongsheng Yao
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 8932; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198932 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1008
Abstract
This study presents a collaborative sensing approach that integrates the pre-embedded sensor method and the impact-echo technique to enhance the accuracy of grout filling quality assessment for precast concrete sleeve connections. The pre-embedded sensor method, which relies on vibration energy attenuation, enables continuous [...] Read more.
This study presents a collaborative sensing approach that integrates the pre-embedded sensor method and the impact-echo technique to enhance the accuracy of grout filling quality assessment for precast concrete sleeve connections. The pre-embedded sensor method, which relies on vibration energy attenuation, enables continuous monitoring of the grout filling process; however, its accuracy is limited at low filling degrees, as vibration energy values remain constant at approximately 255 when the filling degree is below 70%. In contrast, the impact-echo technique, based on the principle of impact elastic wave propagation, demonstrates high accuracy in evaluating grout filling degrees across various levels, with reflected waveform amplitude increasing accordingly. This collaborative approach establishes a functional relationship between vibration energy values from the pre-embedded sensor method and grout filling degree, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of grout filling quality. In field demonstrations, the calculated grout filling degree values deviated by less than 5% from the set values. Practical guidelines for implementing the collaborative sensing approach are also provided. The method developed in this study offers a reliable solution for assessing grout filling quality in precast concrete sleeve connections, addressing the limitations of individual testing methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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28 pages, 2126 KiB  
Review
Application of Acoustic Emission Technique in Landslide Monitoring and Early Warning: A Review
by Jialing Song, Jiajin Leng, Jian Li, Hui Wei, Shangru Li and Feiyue Wang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1663; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031663 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Landslides present a significant global hazard, resulting in substantial socioeconomic losses and casualties each year. Traditional monitoring approaches, such as geodetic, geotechnical, and geophysical methods, have limitations in providing early warning capabilities due to their inability to detect precursory subsurface deformations. In contrast, [...] Read more.
Landslides present a significant global hazard, resulting in substantial socioeconomic losses and casualties each year. Traditional monitoring approaches, such as geodetic, geotechnical, and geophysical methods, have limitations in providing early warning capabilities due to their inability to detect precursory subsurface deformations. In contrast, the acoustic emission (AE) technique emerges as a promising alternative, capable of capturing the elastic wave signals generated by stress-induced deformation and micro-damage within soil and rock masses during the early stages of slope instability. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the fundamental principles, instrumentation, and field applications of the AE method for landslide monitoring and early warning. Comparative analyses demonstrate that AE outperforms conventional techniques, with laboratory studies establishing clear linear relationships between cumulative AE event rates and slope displacement velocities. These relationships have enabled the classification of stability conditions into “essentially stable”, “marginally stable”, “unstable”, and “rapidly deforming” categories with high accuracy. Field implementations using embedded waveguides have successfully monitored active landslides, with AE event rates linearly correlating with real-time displacement measurements. Furthermore, the integration of AE with other techniques, such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and pore pressure monitoring, has enhanced the comprehensive characterization of subsurface failure mechanisms. Despite the challenges posed by high attenuation in geological materials, ongoing advancements in sensor technologies, data acquisition systems, and signal processing techniques are addressing these limitations, paving the way for the widespread adoption of AE-based early warning systems. This review highlights the significant potential of the AE technique in revolutionizing landslide monitoring and forecasting capabilities to mitigate the devastating impacts of these natural disasters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Long-Life Road Infrastructures: Materials and Structures, 2nd Edition)
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