Phase-Separation Characteristics of Bitumen and their Relation to Damage-Healing

During the service life of flexible asphalt pavements, asphalt concrete degrades due to traffic loading and environmental conditions like temperature, rain, oxidation, ultraviolet-radiation from the sun. All these environmental factors have adverse effects on the performance of bitumen, which is the binder of asphalt concrete. They are known to...

Mechatronics and Control Solutions for Increasing the Imaging Speed in Atomic Force Microscopy

This research is focused on improving the mechatronic design and control strategies of Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM) in order to increase the imaging speed of these instruments, while maintaining the resolution and accuracy of AFM. Different techniques are developed which have led to a faster lateral scanning speed, higher bandwidth control of...

Vergelijkend AFM Onderzoek: Microstructuur van bitumen in relatie tot healing

In this report we present the background, the scientific and experimental approach and the results of AFM experiments performed on two different batches of bitumen. The specific bitumen researched in this project has also been studied in the context of the InfraQuest project ‘Pragmatisch Healing Onderzoek’. It has been known for quite some time...