(Purdue University) With spring break travel season upon the United States, many will hit the road, only to encounter potholes caused by repeated freezing and thawing.

In some cases, these potholes can cause major damage to vehicles. Lu says that newly constructed or repaired roads are often opened to heavy traffic too early, causing premature damage to roadways.

To combat this, concrete sensors can be installed to measure when the road is ready for traffic without causing premature damage.

These sensors can also be used to determine when the pavement is losing strength and needs to be replaced.

Self-healing concrete is another technology being developed that will help roadways. Lu says that nanoparticles are introduced into the concrete, and they react to the cement to produce a gel-like substance that can repair cracks.