Cooperation and technology transfer in pavement Engineering

2012 TRB International Partnership Meeting

Leif BakløkkNPRA

Norway has a long tradition in using American technology and expertise in

road engineeringUSA has been a world leader in R&D in the area of road engineeringMany Norwegians have studied in USAThe Norwegian pavement design system is largely based on AASHO Road Test

The cooperation between Minnesota and Norway is based on:

The generally close relation between Minnesota and NorwayCooperation agreement (MOU) between MnDOT and NPRA as well as the annual meetings at TRBVisit/exchange of personellMnROADTERRABCRRA (Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields)

What do we benefit from professional cooperation?

Generally higher knowledge/level of expertise.

Larger professional network. It is important to have someone to contact when new problems have to be solved and to know who has the knowledge on the various topics.

Provides us with bigger assurance that the solutions/methods we have chosen are right, and ideas on the possibilities for improvement.

This is well-invested money. In connection to European research it is estimated that for every penny we invest in such cooperation, we get 10 times back.

What have we done last year?

Roger Olson visited Norway and Sweden in May 2011. Tour on Norwegian roads and professional discussion in Trondheim provided the basis for more topics for cooperation. To persons from Norway participated in TERRA Board Meeting and MnROAD Research Conference in October 2011. Here several «Action Items» for further work were put forward.All Nordic countries has provided their input to the work Ben Worel is doing on the «Comparison of Pavement Designs».

Frost heave and temperature fluctuations: Topic for cooperation

In Minnesota low-temperature cracking is a big problem. We do not have much problem with this issue in Norway.In Norway we still have significant problems with frost heave on many roads. MnROAD has data for frost penetration.

Application of GPR for roads is another area that is well-suited for cooperation

3D-Georadar which is developed in Norway is being tested by FHWA

Other topics of cooperation in road engineering

Design of pavement structuresPavement performance modellingMaterial properties and requirementsBest practice (methods and materials)Quiet Rumble Strips

The cooperation in the future

Important to have continuity and specific (defined) topics of cooperationExchange and visit for students and professionals is also important

TERRA meetings/eventsTRBGPR-seminar April 18th 2012 TrondheimBCRRA’13 Trondheim 25-27 June 2013