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(Iowa) -- A project from Iowa State University engineers and the Iowa Department of Transportation is looking to used recycled plastic to improve Iowa's gravel roads.
The project uses 3D printed geogrids made from recycled plastic to boost the longevity of gravel roads. Full-scale testing is underway in Buchanan County, Iowa, and after two years of monitoring, ISU civil engineering research associate Araz Hasheminezhad says:
"Now we are seeing that these roads held, improving the bearing capacity of these roads 30%, stiffness 20%, and moisture reduction 10 to 20%."
Hasheminezhad says the roads that have been reinforced with the 3D printed geogrids have not required maintenance, which has implications for the longevity of the roads and overall costs. The project is supported by funding from the Iowa Department of Transportation. Research will continue on the site in Buchanan County, with the goal of expanding the technology to Iowa's roughly 71,000 miles of gravel roads and beyond.