Materials for the infrastructure of tomorrow

Research Project, 2023 – 2028

We need to replace cement with low carbon dioxide composite binders and use recycled materials for built infrastructure to meet the demands in a sustainable society. In this project, we will contribute to develop novel, sustainable, composite materials for the built infrastructure of tomorrow, durable to cope with future climate effects. The aim is to characterise and model the long-term performance of steel-reinforced concrete with recycled aggregates and cement largely replaced by natural pozzolans. Carbonation, chloride ingress, corrosion and cracking process will be in focus.  Image-based monitoring will be combined with image-based models at multiple scales. Advanced methods, such as multi-modal neutron and X-ray computer tomography, will be strategically combined with lab-based experimental methods more readily available, such as cameras for surface monitoring.