The platform consists of a range of equipment enabling the development, manufacture and testing of alternative materials and solutions for transport infrastructure (road surfaces, airport runways, industrial sites, cycle paths, etc.). It is designed as an interface between fundamental research and industrial application, with the primary aim of supporting the decarbonisation of road construction, reducing its environmental impacts and improving the resilience of infrastructure in the face of climate change.

The platform is structured around three areas of technological capability, enabling a multi-scale and multi-physical approach, which is essential for addressing the challenges of the ecological transition:

Research and development of low-carbon, bio-based and recycled materials

• State-of-the-art equipment for the production and characterisation of bio-based binders, aimed at replacing petroleum derivatives: a hydrothermal liquefaction pilot plant, rheological testing facilities for binders, methods for the physico-chemical analysis of binders, a goniometer, etc.
• Equipment designed to improve the recyclability of materials and optimise manufacturing and application processes. With a range of mixers (25 to 500 kg) and expertise in cold, warm or bitumen foam-based processes, the platform enables experimentation with formulations that drastically reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of bituminous solutions.
• Test bench for measuring airborne emissions during the construction and service life of bituminous materials to limit their environmental impact
• Manufacturing and mechanical characterisation equipment for the development of innovative solutions using hydraulic materials (soils, aggregates and concrete): mixers, presses, fatigue test benches

Improving climate resilience and sustainability

To address climate instability, the MIT platform offers a comprehensive range of equipment to assess the long-term viability of new formulations:

• Accelerated ageing simulation: the platform utilises state-of-the-art equipment (UV chambers, rain simulators, climate chambers with controlled temperature and humidity) to simulate extreme and realistic environmental conditions;
• Advanced physico-chemical and rheological analysis: the integration of high-resolution analytical tools (FTIR, DSC, stress-strain rheometers, Bending Beam Rheometer) enables the chemical microstructure of materials to be correlated with their mechanical behaviour under cyclic loading;
• Comprehensive mechanical characterisation to ensure the long-term durability of infrastructure in the face of changing traffic and climate conditions: rutting, complex modulus, fatigue resistance under imposed deformation. A new, unique hydraulic press (100 kN axial / 1,000 N·m torsional) also enables the assessment of crack resistance and the durability of interfaces under complex loads;

An integrated platform with a multi-scale research infrastructure for bringing innovations to maturity

• Control of the characterisation chain: from binder formulation to the performance of asphalt mixtures (PCG, rutting, modulus, fatigue), the platform ensures complete technical consistency.
• Complementarity with the fatigue carousel, enabling the entire value chain to be covered, from the design of the base material to its integration into a full-scale real-world road structure.
• Facility capacity and engineering capabilities: With 650 m² of laboratories and two test halls (450 m² and 300 m²), the platform offers a modular environment capable of accommodating interdisciplinary research projects and large-scale industrial partnerships.