Be formless, shapeless like asphalt. Be asphalt, my friend

Sulaiman, Abdulgafar

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132928 Copy

Description

Title

Be formless, shapeless like asphalt. Be asphalt, my friend

Author(s)

Sulaiman, Abdulgafar

Issue Date

2023

Keyword(s)

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Abstract

In 1971, Bruce Lee, on The Pierre Berton Show, said “Be formless, be shapeless like water. You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend”. In retrospect, I think he meant asphalt. Asphalt is the black fluid by which roads are constructed. In his quote, Bruce Lee encourages us to not be rigid, to adapt to our environment, to be resilient and multifaceted. During the hot summer, asphalt becomes stiff enough to prevent rutting. During the cold winter, asphalt becomes soft enough, so it doesn’t crack. This flexibility of asphalt also made asphalt concrete the most recyclable material at 99%, constructing 94% of U.S. roads. My research is in optimizing the properties of asphalt to better adapt to its environment, preventing rutting, cracking, or other road distresses. Herein, I have also taken different forms and shapes. I have been a “traffic warden” directing traffic on the road while collecting samples, a “gymnast” balancing myself on the ledge and preventing myself from falling into a truck of hot asphalt concrete, a “carpenter” constructing a table for laboratory testing. Everything about asphalt preaches flexibility. So, be asphalt, my friend.

Type of Resource

• Text
• Image

Language

eng

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132928

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Abdulgafar Sulaiman

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