Influence of Nano-silica on the Engineering Properties of Concretde Pavement

The durability and sustainability of concrete pavement are key concerns in infrastructure development, necessitating continuous research into material optimization, cost efficiency, and environmental sustainability. One of the critical aspects of pavement design and maintenance is the life cycle cost analysis, which highlights the need for advanced materials and efficient construction techniques to enhance life and performance. In this study, an effort has been made to evaluate the influence of nano-silica particles on the functional and engineering characteristics of concrete pavement. The incorporation of 3% nano-silica into the cementitious composite pavement (CCP) demonstrated significant improvements in surface durability and mechanical resistance. Specifically, the addition of nano-silica enhanced the abrasion resistance by approximately 56%, thereby reducing surface wear over time. Furthermore, the Cantabro weight loss, which is an indicator of aggregate loss and material cohesion, showed an improvement of more than 67% compared to the control samples after 28 days of curing. These findings suggest that nano-silica can be effectively utilized to enhance the structural integrity and life of concrete pavements while contributing to sustainable construction practices.