Developments in the Built Environment (Apr 2024)
Conceptual design and economic feasibility analysis of an eco-friendly pavement cutter equipped with scattered dust reduction function
Abstract
This study presents a sustainable and innovative approach to green construction through the development of automatic pavement cutters. By comparing the performance of wet-type cutters with the newly developed automatic cutters, this research focuses on reducing scattering dust and promoting environmental sustainability. Comprehensive tests conducted on a testbed reveal that the automatic pavement cutters outperform their wet-type counterparts, reducing cutting time by 27% for asphalt pavement and an impressive 34% for concrete pavement. The newly developed equipment demonstrated noise levels of 82–83 dB at 4 m, meeting the low-noise target of 85 dB. Compared to conventional road cutters, it significantly reduces 11.5% noise pollution during road-cutting activities. Cost analysis reveals the economic feasibility of implementing these innovative machines, enabling the construction industry to achieve higher efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Embracing this green construction method paves the way for a more sustainable future.