Material Design, Pore Structure, Performance Evaluation and Modeling of Pervious Concretes

This project is concerned with linking the pore structure of pervious concretes to its material design parameters so as to effectively predict the material performance. Pore structure characterization using image analysis methods, particle packing based prediction of pore structure features, controlled mechanical testing, experimental and computational prediction of performance, fractal models, and multi-criteria optimization are used to achieve the larger objectives.

This is an interdisciplinary activity involving materials science, structural performance studies, digital image analysis and serology, transport of water and pollutants through porous media, computational methods, and mathematical optimization.Material Design, Pore Structure, Performance Evaluation and Modeling of Pervious Concretes

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF); American Concrete Institute—Concrete Research Foundation

Cement less or Alkali Activated Concretes

Concretes that do not contain any cement at all can contribute greatly to the cause of materials-related sustainability. The use of industrial waste products such as fly ash or ground granulated blast furnace slag as the sole binder in concretes by activating them with alkaline materials such as sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, are under investigation, along with the effects of material parameters on reaction kinetics, produt formation and the resultant properties. The mechanical and durability properties of such concretes, as well as potential economical means of activation are being studied. The use of various activating media, the microstructure of such novel concretes and how they influence the performance, along with materials science based models for the structure and performance of those materials are being explored.

Funding Agency: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Other sources

Cementitious Systems for Energy Efficient Buildings

Increasing energy demand is one of the important 21st century challenges for the developing and the developed world. Energy savings in buildings with concrete as a component of exposed elements such as walls and roofs can be realistically achieved by modifying the material structure of concrete. The methodology studied here to achieve energy efficiency in buildings deals with renewable energy in conjunction with the building envelope

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)

Electrical Property Based Sensing and Prediction of Concrete Properties

Electrical impedance based sensing techniques are used in this project to determine the early and later age properties of cementitious systems. Age dependent electrical conductivity is used along with theories of porous composite media to predict the microstructure and mechanical properties of cement based materials. Dielectric properties are used to estimate percolation threshold and other pore structure features that dictate the properties.

Funding Agency: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Property Development and Performance in Modified Concretes

With increasing emphasis on sustainable concretes , the use of non-standard cement replacement materials and fine fillers will become commonplace in concrete. Under this large objective, studies focus on the development, characterization, and modeling of cementitious systems containing fine glass powder, high volumes of limestone powder, and circulating fluidized bed combustion fly ash. Experimental and modeling studies are employed to gain a fundamental understanding of the property development and long term performance of such systems. Studies include reaction kinetics, rheological evaluations and modeling, as well as proeprty development and microstructure.

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Economic Development, New York State (2 grants) NYSTAR (through CAMP—2 grants); New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Metropolitan Development Authority of Syracuse (MDA),