New smart fabric buried in asphalt lets roads self-report damage

Scientists at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI) have developed an innovative smart fabric embedded with sensors that can be integrated directly into asphalt roads to monitor their internal condition in real time. Made from flax fibers reinforced with ultra-thin conductive wires, this bio-based fabric detects strain and stress within the asphalt’s base layer by measuring changes in electrical resistance. The data collected is analyzed by AI algorithms, enabling continuous, nondestructive monitoring of hidden cracks and damage beneath the road surface without the need for drilling or core sampling. This approach aims to improve maintenance planning by providing timely insights into road health, potentially reducing costly repairs and traffic disruptions. The lightweight flax-based fabric is designed for durability, resisting damage during weaving, installation, and heavy traffic loads. Manufactured on a double rapier loom, it can be produced in scalable widths and lengths suitable for real-world road construction. Initial tests involved embedding the fabric across the full width of roadbeds in industrial zones. While the technology does not extend