Advanced and Sustainable Infrastructure Materials
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High-Performance Cementitious Materials:A large portion of infrastructure systems and buildings is built using cementitious materials. While many concrete elements at U.S. infrastructure have exhibited promising performance over years, a portion of these concrete elements has shown premature deterioration and durability issues. This research uses advanced techniques such as LGCC, acoustic emission, or low-temperature calorimetry to understand the origin of deterioration and damage in concrete and to find ways to increase the durability and performance of concrete exposed to chemical or physical distresses.
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Use of Phase Change Materials (PCM) in Concrete Pavement to Melt Ice and SnowEvery year a large portion of annual budgets are devoted to producing energy for buildings. In 2013, 40% of total U.S. energy consumption was consumed in residential and commercial buildings. Use of phase change materials (PCM) in civil engineering application can be a way to use solar energy and to decrease the use of conventional sources to produce energy (e.g. electricity, gas, oil). PCM is an organic material that can be designed to store energy from ambient, applied or solar sources and the stored energy can be used during cooling events to heat up buildings or even road pavements. Our research shows that when PCM is used inside concrete pavements, it can melt ice or snow on the surface of pavement and as a result, it will decrease the deicing salt demand during winter.
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Eco-Friendly Construction Materials: Use of Carbonated Calcium Silicate Concrete to Decrease CO2 Footprint and Increase Durability of InfrastructureConcrete itself is by far the most widely used building material and its production generates 5-7% of worldwide CO2 emission. In this project, we investigate the behavior of Carbonated Calcium Silicate Concrete (CCSC) under freezing and thawing. CCSC consumes CO2 during the hardening reaction and can substantially decrease the CO2 footprint of cement and concrete industries. This research shows that CCSC is very resistant to salt attacks and freeze-thaw cycles and can be used as an alternative of ordinary portland cement to produce concrete element.
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Fiber Reinforced and Impact Resistant Cementitious Materials: Experimental and Numerical InvestigationIn this line of research, impact and triaxial behavior of high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is investigated. Both experimental and numerical techniques are used to understand HPFRC responses to impact and triaxial loadings. It is shown that HPFRC is very resistant to impact or triaxial loading and can be used in a variety of applications that a high-ductile, high-strength, impact resistant, and durable material is needed.
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