A Dutch researcher is modeling the damaging effects of water and traffic on asphalt in an effort to prevent such damage.
 
Repairing asphalt damage caused by water infiltration costs a great deal of money and produces extra traffic delays. Yet within the asphalt industry there is little insight into the fundamental processes leading to water damage.

Delft University doctoral candidate Niki Kringos decided to change that.

Kringos developed her own computer program to model asphalt deterioration from the combined action of water infiltration and mechanical load.

Her approach is said to be entirely new in the asphalt world and could result in better material selection, better maintenance planning and advanced asphalt mixture optimization.

Last year Kringos was honored as the first European scientist to receive an award from the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists in the United States. She received her Ph.D. with honors Monday.