Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL)

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Improved ice removal patent

Dr. Emily Asenath-Smith displays an ice laminate grown on a surface using her patented invention, “Vertical draw system and method for surface...

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New cold weather facilities

Olivier Montmayeur, a research mechanical engineer at U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering...

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National OHWM Data Sheet

The National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), made up of researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development...

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Testing new oil cleanup method

Kate Trubac, a Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory research general engineer, oversees an in-situ burn experiment conducted with the...

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05

Mapping at the speed of light

A unique team of experts uses Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to scan areas to create incredibly detailed maps of them.

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About CRREL

The Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory is solving challenges in all climates, particularly Earth’s coldest regions.

Welcome

At ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), we’re developing innovative solutions for science and engineering challenges in extreme environments. Learn about what we do and how you can join us.

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Video by Jeff Chao, Christopher Kieffer

Particle Accelerator Technology for Extending Pavement Life

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center

Dec. 20, 2022 | 4:09

Our pavement infrastructure is a critical national asset that impacts military mobility, the transport of goods, and personal travel. However, current pavements do not provide the desired durability, requiring frequent maintenance resulting in a high logistical burden and elevated carbon footprint. For the U.S. military, which demands strong pavements that can support its heavy vehicles and aircraft, the high volume of repairs means heavy machinery and repair materials must regularly be moved to far-flung locations.

Responding to this need, a partnership between the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Illinois’s Center for Transportation Research seeks to use novel electron beam accelerator technology to create more durable pavements. The unique collaboration combines Fermi Lab’s deep knowledge in particle acceleration science and technology with ERDC’s extensive expertise in military pavement research dating back to World War II.

This effort will dramatically improve pavement strength, toughness and service time, potentially saving the Department of Defense hundreds of millions of dollars, while also reducing the pavement industry’s large carbon footprint.

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