The Special Interest Session of the 2023 World Transport Convention (WTC) with theme “Towards the Development of Green Transport: Research and Practice of Bio-asphalt” was successfully held in Wuhan, China on the morning of June 17, 2023. The meeting was co-sponsored by Gao Junfeng, Associate Professor from our university together with young scholars from Chang’an University, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin Institute of Technology, East China Jiaotong University, China Merchants Chongqing Traffic Research & Design Institute Co., Ltd. and other colleges and universities and scientific research institutions at home, and hosted by National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Transportation and Civil Engineering Materials of Chongqing Jiaotong University.

While introducing the topic background, Gao Junfeng extended his gratitude to WTC Executive Committee for launching the special interest session, co-sponsors and support units, keynote speakers and participants of the convention. He also expressed his gratitude to You Zhanping, Co-chairman of WTC Highway Engineering Department and the distinguished professor from Michigan Technological University for his attendance and guidance.

During the keynote speech, Ge Dongdong, a specially-appointed professor from Changsha University of Science & Technology explained the interaction mechanism of different components of light oil, rubber and asphalt in his lecture titled Modification Mechanism and Performance Evaluation of Light Oil-Rubber-Composite Modified Asphalt, and evaluated the laboratory performance of the mixture of light oil, rubber and composite modified asphalt under the best preparation technology. Li Yiming, Associate Professor from Northeast Forestry University gave a lecture titled Synthesis of Bio-based Resin and Its Influence on Rheological Properties and Microstructure of Asphalt, during which he proposed the synthesis technology for biomass resin in the report titled, and analyzed physicochemical structure of biomass resin and its impact on rheological properties of asphalt. Qu Xin, Associate Professor from Chang’an University gave a lecture titled Research on Micromechanical Properties of Biomass Oil Modified Asphalt, during which he analyzed the intrinsic relation between composite modulus of biomass-modified asphalt and microscopic cohesive energy density, anti-fatigue performance of biomass modified asphalt and microscopic degree of freedom index using molecular dynamics. Doctor Xu Jing from East China Jiaotong University gave a lecture titled Research on Bio-oil as Asphalt Pavement Regeneration Agent: Durability of Regeneration Effect, during which he analyzed road performance of vegetable oil recycled asphalt and its mixtures by comparing them with commercial regenerants, and explained the durability of vegetable oil as asphalt pavement regenerant. Doctor Zhao Mengzhen, a Senior Engineer from China Merchants Chongqing Traffic Research & Design Institute Co., Ltd. gave a lecture titled Technical Research and Prospect of Modified Asphalt with Bio-oil Liquefied Rubber Powder, during which she analyzed the process of liquefaction, desulfurization and degradation of rubber powder, revealing the reaction mechanism of the composite modified asphalt with liquefied rubber powder. Zhou Tao, Assistant Professor from Harbin Institute of Technology gave a lecture titled Optimal Selection of Bio-based Asphalt Regenerant Based on Osmotic Diffusion Characteristics, during which he analyzed basic properties, wetting properties and osmotic diffusion properties of bio-based regenerants, revealing the compatibility of regenerant with aging asphalt. Therefore, suitable bio-based asphalt regenerant is selected. Gao Junfeng, Associate Professor from Chongqing Jiaotong University gave a lecture titled Research Progress in Sustainable Bio-asphalt, during which he summarized main research institutions, researchers and research trends in China and abroad, and analyzed the latest research progress in preparation process, performance evaluation and mechanism explanation of bio-asphalt.

During the detailed discussion, expert and scholar participants discussed on the good low-temperature performance, excellent adhesiveness, poor high-temperature performance, insufficient aging performance, limited means of representation and other characteristics of bio-asphalt. Participants hold the viewpoint that environmental protection property of pavement materials is the key to the construction of environment-friendly highway. The research and practice of bio-asphalt can turn waste into value, which is of great significance to promoting the environmental protection property of transportation infrastructures.

In the closing session, Professor Zhu Hongzhou, the Co-chairman of WTC Road Materials Discipline and Executive Deputy Director of National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Transportation and Civil Engineering Materials of Chongqing Jiaotong University said that experts and scholars from different colleges and universities, scientific research institutes and industrial enterprises gathered in Wuhan and discussed on the research and practice of bio-asphalt, stirring up innovation in green road materials and reflecting the consensus on the development of environment-friendly transportation facilities. He hoped that all the participants would have in-depth exchanges and cooperation and make due contributions to the construction of environment-friendly highways and building China with strong transportation network.

Through the Special Interest Session of the 2023 World Transport Convention (WTC) with theme “Towards the Development of Green Transport: Research and Practice of Bio-asphalt” , the research level and latest achievements of our university in the field of transportation and material science were showcased, and exchanges between relevant experts and scholars and enterprise peers were strengthened that will promote the high quality development of our disciplines and improve ours influence in the field of traffic and transportation in China.