A successful 20-year collaboration to develop stronger fiber-reinforced pavement materials that increase road durability prompted FORTA, LLC to renew its named professorship with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.
“ASU has been foundational in helping FORTA and the asphalt industry understand the benefits of fiber-reinforced asphalt,” says Joseph Yaede, vice president of business development and engineering for FORTA Asphalt Fiber. “ASU researchers have been instrumental in helping to establish the importance of distribution and dispersion of fiber in the overall performance of asphalt mixtures.”
FORTA Professor of Pavement Engineering Kamil Kaloush and a team of faculty members who specialize in pavements and materials in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Fulton Schools, work closely with FORTA in developing guidance for performance and design.
“The FORTA Professorship is more than just a research investment; it is a catalyst for real-world innovation,” says Kaloush, civil engineering program chair in the school. “It has elevated my work and helped position ASU as a national leader in sustainable, resilient pavement engineering while empowering our students to become the next generation of infrastructure leaders.”
FORTA’s annual investment for the next five years affirms the impact of this industry-academia partnership.
“We are absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful for FORTA’s continued investment in academic excellence through the renewal of the FORTA Professorship of Pavement Engineering,” says Ram Pendyala, director of the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and a Fulton Schools professor of civil, environmental and sustainable engineering. “This professorship elevates our school’s national and global profile in pavement engineering, underscoring our commitment to advancing resilient infrastructure systems worldwide.”
FORTA’s investment through the professorship aligns with key pillars of ASU’s Changing Futures campaign – advancing technology for good to make our world a better place and inspiring tomorrow’s game changers to approach challenges with confidence and creativity.
Expanded student opportunities
This collaboration supported Kaloush’s team in mentoring future pavement engineers, including graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and undergraduate researchers.
“Many of them have gone on to work in industry and state departments of transportation,” he says.
In the past five years, this partnership funded students’ thesis and dissertation research – often in collaboration with industry – and assisted with research journal publications and travel to professional conferences, which have increased students’ visibility nationally and globally.
FORTA’s investment also provided hands-on lab experience with state-of-the-art materials testing equipment and funded paid student research assistantships as well as undergraduate scholarships. The support launched students into graduate studies and careers in pavement engineering.
Collaboration’s recent results
Fiber-reinforced asphalt technologies improve pavement strength, flexibility and lifespan.
“Arizona faces distinct infrastructure challenges such as extreme heat, population and traffic growth and aging roadways,” Kaloush says.
His team’s research extends pavement lifespan at a minimal cost, reduces maintenance and traffic disruptions, improves skid resistance and safety, and provides economic impact and a workforce to serve Arizona’s infrastructure needs.
FORTA’s investment also established the Advanced Pavements Laboratory’s strong research infrastructure through upgraded testing and data analytics capabilities, Kaloush says.
“We are transforming the way we design, build and maintain roads in a climate-impacted world,” he says. “This progress would not be possible without the visionary support of FORTA and ASU.”
Recent research highlights include testing the physical and mechanical properties of aramid fibers and experiments to evaluate plant-produced modified mixtures compared with no-fiber asphalt mixtures, using fiber recovery and fracture tests.
ASU’s research is critically important “to increasing the use of FORTA-FI® and fiber-reinforced asphalt throughout the world,” Yaede says. “To date, FORTA-FI has been used to reinforce over 20 million tons of asphalt worldwide.”
What’s next
Kaloush envisions a deeper collaboration with FORTA during the next five years, including field studies across Arizona and the Southwest monitoring long-term performance of emerging fiber blends under real-world conditions.
He also expects to work closely with FORTA on joint development of design guides and best practices for fiber-enhanced asphalt tailored to regional climates.
A key part of Kaloush’s plans involves expanding student-to-industry pipeline programs, offering internships, advancing co-authorship opportunities and mentoring students and scholars through FORTA.
Another focus will be on calculating sustainability metrics, such as quantifying emission reductions, energy savings and lifecycle benefits of fiber-reinforced pavements, he says.
“This work is crucial right now because with rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather, pavements must be more durable and adaptive,” Kaloush says. “Much of our roadways are approaching or exceeding their design life, so we need solutions that are cost-effective and fast to deploy.”
In addition, FORTA plans to work with Kaloush’s team to continue development of FORTA-FI proof statements and additional technologies that have a lasting impact on the asphalt pavement community, Yaede says.
“Our partnership with ASU reflects FORTA’s ongoing commitment to innovation, research and performance validation in the asphalt industry,” he says. “By collaborating with ASU’s world-class engineering faculty and facilities, we not only advance the science behind fiber-reinforced asphalt but also ensure our solutions are grounded in real-world data and academic rigor. This alliance strengthens our ability to deliver proven, high-performance materials that meet the evolving needs of modern infrastructure.”
Pendyala says he’s proud of the enduring relationship between FORTA and ASU researchers.
“This partnership exemplifies how industry and academia can come together to shape the future of civil engineering,” he says. “We thank FORTA for their vision, generosity and unwavering support of excellence in engineering education and research.”
