On April 9, 2026, Mr. Dominik Nowicki, MSc Eng., received the third prize in the 5th edition of the “Innovations in Road Engineering” competition, organized by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA). The award was presented by the Director General of GDDKiA, Mr. Paweł Woźniak.
The competition featured Bachelor’s and Master’s theses defended in 2025. It was conducted in two stages, with a total of 30 submissions across three categories: Environmentally Friendly Road Materials and Technologies, Traffic Engineering, and Road Engineering Structures. The entries were evaluated by a jury composed of members of the Scientific Council at GDDKiA, representatives of road engineering associations, and GDDKiA experts.
Mr. Nowicki’s thesis, entitled “Analysis of the Influence of Recycled Aggregate on the Mechanical Properties of Cement Concrete,” was defended at the Military University of Technology under the supervision of Dr. Tomasz Rudnicki. Part of the experimental research was carried out at the laboratories of the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences (IPPT PAN), under the guidance of Prof. Michał A. Glinicki.
The primary objective of the thesis was to develop a methodology for the effective use of recycled concrete aggregate in pavements and civil engineering structures. The research conducted at IPPT PAN focused, in part, on assessing the risk of damage caused by the alkali–silica reaction (ASR). The susceptibility of aggregates to this reaction manifests itself through concrete expansion and cracking, which reduce its durability and serviceability. The study also proposed an effective mitigation strategy based on innovative binder design, controlled by the concentration of alkali metal ions in the pore solution. Additional environmental benefits were achieved through the use of low-carbon binder components.
The results address key challenges in modern construction materials engineering, including reducing the carbon footprint of material production, limiting the exploitation of natural resources, and promoting the systematic reuse of construction waste. As demonstrated, such waste can become a valuable raw material—provided its properties are thoroughly understood. Notably, the issue of alkali reactivity has not previously been widely considered in the context of recycled aggregates. The findings indicate strong potential for implementing recycled aggregate concrete technology in durable pavement applications.
Dominik Nowicki, MSc Eng. is a specialist at the Division of Strain Fields in the Department of Experimental Mechanics at IPPT PAN. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy at the Military University of Technology (WAT) in Warsaw. His research interests focus on the development of sustainable technologies for cement-based construction materials.
For more information about the competition, please visit the organizer’s website: WWW.
