Fall 2021 Distinguished Lecturer - Dr. Zhanping You | Michigan Tech Research Forum

|November 30, 2021|Theme: Transportation and Environment|

Zhanping You

Lecturer

Distinguished Professor Zhanping You, Transportation Engineering

Topic

Engineering Waste Tires to Better Roads

Research Statement

Stockpiles of waste tires pose concerns of potential contamination of local groundwater and fire risk. The objective of this study is to engineer waste tires as a sustainable rubber asphalt material for better roads through various experimental and numerical modeling techniques. This study attempted to establish discrete element models (DEM) to investigate the strength, skeleton structures, and stress distribution of rubber modified asphalt mixtures. The research team also expanded the research work from models and lab work and then to field pilot projects. Quite a few pilot projects that use recycled tire rubber were constructed as asphalt pavements in Michigan. In general, the test results from the laboratory were favorable regarding moisture damage resistance, low temperature cracking resistance, and noise reduction. The effort of this study will contribute to circular and low carbon economy.

Six Questions with Zhanping You

You focus your work on the relationship between communication and culture. How did you come to choose this focus? Or, did it choose you?

The most common materials are concrete, steel, wood, masonry, and stone. These materials are very important to our daily life. My work in road materials uses not only stones, concrete, steel, but most importantly, asphalt materials. Asphalt materials have not been researched widely, yet asphalt pavement covers over 94% of the 2.6 million miles of paved roads in the US. Therefore, I love to explore ways to make asphalt materials more sustainable, resilient, and durable to meet the demands of transportation needs.

How do your research and teaching complement each other?

Teaching provides me broad dimensions to sharpen my research vision, while research helps me develop in depth understanding so that I can teach better.

What has changed the most in your field over the past decade (or two)?

Innovative materials and construction technology.

What is the biggest challenge in your fields of expertise?

Sustainable materials for long life roads.

How does Michigan Tech work for you as a home base?

We have very great colleagues and talented students to work with on campus

What's next in your research?

Working with local, state, and national recycling effort to develop better road materials with plastics, waste glass, scrap tires, and other recyclables.