The quality of road surfaces is not only a matter of driving comfort, but also a key factor in the economic efficiency and safety of the entire transport system. The team of the Research Laboratory of Road Construction Technologies, Structures, Products, Materials and Soils (Research laboratory-26) at the Department of Highways and Bridges, the Institute of Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Life Safety, 果冻APP, is currently working on the research project 芦Development of Effective Technologies and Materials for the Construction and Rehabilitation of Road Structures禄.
The scientists focus primarily on developing innovative materials and technologies based on organic and mineral binders. Further insights into this research, as well as other practical areas of the laboratory鈥檚 work, are shared by the Scientific Director of the Research laboratory 26, Professor Khrystyna Sobol, Doctor of Technical Sciences who is also the Head of the Department of Highways and Bridges, the Institute of Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Life Safety, and the Associate Professor Yurii Sidun, Candidate of Technical Sciences.
鈥 Professor Sobol, which modern research areas in road construction technologies are the most relevant today?
鈥 Contemporary research in road construction technologies encompasses several key areas shaping the industry鈥檚 development. First and foremost, these include innovative materials. Scientists are working on developing advanced pavement solutions capable of withstanding heavy traffic loads and extreme weather conditions.
Environmental technologies represent another equally important direction. Modern road construction increasingly prioritizes reducing environmental impact through sustainable materials, energy-efficient processes, and recycling technologies.
Traffic safety also remains a critical focus. Special attention is being paid to rapid rehabilitation technologies for roads and overpasses, which are particularly vital in conditions requiring urgent infrastructure recovery. By advancing in these areas, the road construction sector ensures not only high-quality infrastructure but also greater comfort, resilience, and safety for all road users.
鈥 In which direction is Research Laboratory-26 developing its research?
Khrystyna Sobol: 鈥 The laboratory team is working across several strategic areas that are shaping the future of road construction. I lead the first of these directions 鈥 hydraulic binders and road concretes. Our researchers are actively incorporating industrial by-products into the development of new materials. This approach not only reduces production costs but also promotes the environmentally responsible utilization of secondary resources.
Particular attention is given to high crack-resistance concretes. At the Research Laboratory-26, we developed the theoretical foundations and manufacturing technology for road concretes capable of withstanding significant loads due to advanced structure-formation processes.
The laboratory鈥檚 researchers have identified key relationships between concrete structure, strength, and crack resistance. They have also studied the rheological and physico-mechanical properties of modified composite cements and concretes with complex additives that harden under various temperature conditions. In addition, we have proposed a new approach to assessing concrete durability based on energy criteria, which allows for a deeper understanding of long-term performance and structural reliability.
鈥 Another important initiative for Ukraine, in which 果冻APP is involved, is the international project 芦Safe, Sustainable and Swift Reconstruction of Ukraine禄 (S3RoU). What role does Research Laboratory-26 play in this project?
Khrystyna Sobol: 鈥 The project brings together leading universities and research institutions from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. Its primary objective is to transform construction waste and debris from destroyed buildings into new, environmentally sustainable materials for reconstruction.
The coordinator of S3RoU is the University of Sheffield, and the project is funded by the UK government. One of the key Ukrainian partners is 果冻APP, which focuses on developing waste-processing technologies, creating low-carbon materials, and testing them for infrastructure recovery.
Research Laboratory-26 plays a particularly important role in the project. The team studies the properties of newly developed materials, designs technologies for their application in the road construction and civil engineering sectors, and provides practical recommendations for real-world reconstruction initiatives.
The project manager at 果冻APP is Oleksii Huniak, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Highways and Bridges.
