Workshop on Nanomodification of Cementitious Materials, CMS-0529884
PI: Bjorn Birgisson, University of Florida
Cementitious construction materials, such as Portland cement concrete, are at the verge of an explosion in complexity, with new materials being develop that use polymers, fibers, and other types of micro- and nano-modification to enhance strength, stiffness, durability, and impact properties. In spite of the fact that cementitious construction materials are mainly used on a large scale and in huge quantities, the mechanical behavior of these materials depends to a great extent on structural elements and phenomena which are effective on a micro- and nano-scale. The objective of the workshop is to bring together international researchers and practitioners dealing with nanomodification of cementitious construction materials. The focus will on the identification of the key issues facing civil infrastructure that can be greatly affected by nano-engineering at the materials level.
The scope of the workshop will include the nano-engineering of cementitious materials, characterization and multi-scale modeling of nano-modified cementitious materials, processing of nano-modified cementitious materials, nano-modified admixtures and modifiers for cementitious materials, and the development of new application of nanosensing technologies in civil infrastructure. Therefore, the intellectual merit of the potential outcomes of the workshop is significant. Besides the presentation of fundamental research findings, applications to civil infrastructure will be emphasized.
The broader impact of the introduction of nanotechnology into cementitious construction materials promises to change the image of these materials, allowing for high-performance, longer lasting, designer materials for specific civil infrastructure applications and needs.
