Project number

1.2.1.1/18/A/007

 

Project goal

 

The Competence Center for Smart Materials and Technologies (SIA “VMKC”, hereinafter - the Competence Center) covers three scientific directions - smart materials, biotechnology, and the environment. The aim of the Center of Excellence is to support at least 13 researches in accordance with the defined research directions, developing new products and technologies in the sector and introducing them into production, thus promoting cooperation between the research and industry sector and increasing the competitiveness of the industry.

 

The project will be implemented in the field of Latvia's smart specialization strategy - "Smart materials, technologies, and engineering systems", in the sub-area - "Smart materials".

 

As a result of the operation of the Competence Center, it is planned to support at least 13 research projects and at least 9 companies that will further introduce new products or technologies into production.

 

The total research costs of the project exceed 7 million euros, the planned amount of support from the European Regional Development Fund (hereinafter - ERDF) - 4 708 111.50 EUR.

 

The project is implemented from 01.10.2020 - 30.09.2021

​

​

Project progress report for the period

 

01.10.2020 - 31.12.2020

 

At the beginning of the project, a thorough analysis of the available literature and the development of a theoretical basis was carried out, taking into account the experience of other countries in the research and production of reinforced asphalt concrete. At the same time, the availability of possible raw materials (RAP, new minerals, binder), testing, and analysis of their physical-mechanical properties were performed. The most suitable physical parameters of fiberglass have been selected.

 

After evaluating the results of testing of raw materials, the design of reference asphalt concrete mixtures and reinforced asphalt concrete mixtures (FRAC) variants was started, as well as the development of their testing strategy and plan. The possibilities of the efficient addition of fiberglass were investigated both in the laboratory and in the asphalt concrete plant.

​

01.01.2021 - 16.03.2021
 

The year 2021 began with the start of the second phase of the project, during which the developed recipes or work formulas will be actually tested for production in an asphalt concrete plant and the first production batches will be tested.

 

At this stage of the project, the design and testing of formulations for reference asphalt (HMAC) and reinforced asphalt concrete (FRAC) variants were performed. Asphalt mix compositions included: milled asphalt, fiberglass (various lengths and volumes), and recycled rubber granules. In order to evaluate the fundamental properties of asphalt mixtures under different external load and action conditions, mixtures for the asphalt mixtures used for the top layer and the binder layer (sublayer) were developed. Asphalt mixture testing procedures have been started in SIA “Vianova” (empirical properties, flowability, stability, etc.) and VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi” Road Laboratory - physical and mechanical properties, water sensitivity, wheel track test WTSair, PRD air, TSRST, etc.

 

16.03.2021 - 16.06.2021
 

In the third quarter of the research project, the main activities are focused on testing the empirical and fundamental properties of reinforced asphalt concrete mix in the building materials laboratory of VSIA LVC and Riga Technical University, sample analysis. As in the second quarter, recipes or working formulas for asphalt concrete mixes were developed. In order to achieve the best possible predictable performance results, adjustments were made to both the factory settings and the work formulas during production as well as after the analysis of the first test results. During the reporting period, asphalt mixture testing procedures were continued in SIA “Vianova” (empirical properties, flowability, stability, etc.) and VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi” Road Laboratory - physical and mechanical properties, water sensitivity, wheel track test WTSair, PRDair, TSRST, etc.

 

For the high-strength pavement structure developed within the research project, in cooperation with VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi”, an experimental section was built on the state road network - the state regional road P2 Jugla paper mill village — Upesciems, section from 1,945 km to 2,145 km.

 

The construction of the section was carried out in accordance with the circular production technology - the milled asphalt concrete material is used for the production of high-strength asphalt concrete and re-incorporated into the pavement of the specific section.

 

The purpose of the construction of the specific section is to present to VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi”, as the main Customer and the financing manager of the road industry, the construction of the reinforced asphalt concrete pavement, as well as to monitor its service life.

 

17.06.2021 - 09.09.2021

 

In the final quarter of the research project, the main activities are focused on the analysis of the results of testing the empirical and fundamental properties of the reinforced asphalt concrete mix, summarizing the conclusions, as well as obtaining additional test results. As in the previous quarter, minor raw material corrections and additional tests were performed on the developed work formulas in the mineral testing laboratory of SIA “Vianova”, as well as the production of test batches in the asphalt concrete plant.

 

During the reporting period, asphalt mixture testing procedures were continued in the building materials laboratory of SIA “Vianova”, VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi”, and in the laboratory of Riga Technical University. Also, during the reporting period, scientific publications are being prepared to summarize the results of a research project on the production of high-strength asphalt concrete using circular production technology and improving the properties of asphalt concrete by adding recycled rubber and fiberglass in the production process.

 

For the high-strength pavement structure developed within the research project, in cooperation with VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi”, an experimental section was built on the state road network - the state regional road P2 Jugla paper mill village — Upesciems, the section from 1,945 km to 2,145 km. You can read about the construction of the section in the road newspaper of VSIA “Latvijas Valsts ceļi” -https://lvceli.lv/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AA-augusts-2021-nonprint_fin2.pdf

 

The end result

​

The research project carried out by SIA “Vianova” in cooperation with SIA “VMKC” has been successfully completed.

 

In the course of the project, three high-strength asphalt concrete production technologies and work formulas have been developed, which will be introduced into production after the end of the positive monitoring period.

 

Also, two scientific publications “LABORATORY EVALUATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF DENSE GRADED ASPHALT MIXTURES CONTAINING WASTE GLASS FIBER AND CRUMB RUBBER” and “FIRST TRIAL OF CIRCULAR ASPHALT PRODUCTION IN LATVIA” have been prepared and submitted to the scientific journal The Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering.

​

Publication “Laboratory Evaluation of the Properties of Dense Graded Asphalt Mixtures Containing Waste Glass Fibre and Crumb Rubber” Rolands Izaks, Liga Gebauere, Romans Kornisovs, Viktors Haritonovs

You can read in the journal:

https://bjrbe-journals.rtu.lv/issue/view/269

https://bjrbe-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/bjrbe.2022-17.564

 

The project was launched on October 1, 2020.