Concrete is making a comeback in urban architecture and infrastructure worldwide. Weina Meng, a professor of civil engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, has as her chief research interest improvement in so-called ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC): a self-consolidating, extra-durable, extra-strong and long-lasting grade of concrete. Current commercial versions cost a lot — as much as $3,500 per cubic foot — but Meng’s research has already produced comparable variations that cost as little as several hundred dollars per square foot.
“The New York State and New Jersey departments of transportation are interested in our work,” she says, noting that both agencies will collaborate in tests of the UHPC on Stevens’ campus soon.
How does she do it? Meng innovates the process by varying particle sizes of the cement as it is created, packing the mixture together more tightly while incorporating a proprietary blend of quartz sand, fly ash, slag and other ingredients into the recipe.
“The secret is making it as dense as possible, so that water cannot penetrate and crack it,” Meng explains. “This concrete is almost steel-like. When it does crack, it hardens after cracking.”
It also resists water exceptionally well. One sample has been immersed in water for more than 2½ years.
“The inside is still dry,” Meng notes. “No chlorides have penetrated it, as of yet. We will keep checking.”
In addition, she collaborates in another project with fellow Stevens engineering professor Yi Bao to design and test multifunctional cementitious composites, or MCCs. These new types of engineered “smart concrete” appear to self-heal after fractures, resist fire exceptionally well and gently scrub the air of greenhouse gases.
“We want to find ways to use local and recycled materials in material manufacture — that is a ‘greener’ way…”
This summary is based on the following source: Stevens Institute of Technology
Smarter, Stronger, More Sustainable Construction Materials: Coming Soon From Stevens
https://www.stevens.edu/news/smarter-stronger-more-sustainable-construction-materials-coming-soon-stevens
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