UKCRIC - Advanced Infrastructure Materials Lab
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Civil & Environmental Engineering
Abstract
This proposal is for the creation a new suite of laboratories, known as the Advanced Infrastructure Materials Lab (AIM Lab), within the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Imperial College, part of the UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC), a coordinated investment in world-class national infrastructure research capability.
This is a stand-alone facility, but will be complemented by the UKCRIC natural exposure facilities being developed at the University of Leeds and the UKCRIC extreme exposure facilities being developed at the University of Manchester. These 3 facilities will form a National Centre of Infrastructure Materials:
- Imperial College London - Advanced Infrastructure Materials Lab: enhanced facilities for producing, processing, imaging, analysing and testing infrastructure materials.
- University of Leeds - Infrastructure Materials Exposure Facility: a field exposure site with full meteorological measurement capabilities, plus controlled environment climatic chambers for natural and accelerated ageing of the full range of infrastructure materials and assemblies in both in static and dynamic environments.
- University of Manchester - Fire and Impact Laboratory for Resilient Infrastructure Materials: critical loading and characterization facilities for testing materials under realistic fire and impact loading conditions.
The Imperial College submission also includes funds referred to as Imperial+ (Imperial Plus). These are funds (managed by Imperial) to extend the range of infrastructure materials and research facilities covered by the Centre, via invitations to other leading research groups to bid for complementary equipment.
The focus of the research using these facilities will be to develop better materials for national infrastructure; materials with enhanced technical performance, longer life, and reduced greenhouse gas footprint, which will be more easily recycled and will contribute to lower capital- and recurrent- cost infrastructure. Research will also aim to establish how to use existing materials more effectively. The lab will be relevant to a wide range of infrastructure materials including concrete, modified geomaterials, metals, polymers, composites, timber, masonry and asphalt, for use in civil infrastructure including structures, tunnels, pipelines, paving, track-beds and flood defences.
This is a stand-alone facility, but will be complemented by the UKCRIC natural exposure facilities being developed at the University of Leeds and the UKCRIC extreme exposure facilities being developed at the University of Manchester. These 3 facilities will form a National Centre of Infrastructure Materials:
- Imperial College London - Advanced Infrastructure Materials Lab: enhanced facilities for producing, processing, imaging, analysing and testing infrastructure materials.
- University of Leeds - Infrastructure Materials Exposure Facility: a field exposure site with full meteorological measurement capabilities, plus controlled environment climatic chambers for natural and accelerated ageing of the full range of infrastructure materials and assemblies in both in static and dynamic environments.
- University of Manchester - Fire and Impact Laboratory for Resilient Infrastructure Materials: critical loading and characterization facilities for testing materials under realistic fire and impact loading conditions.
The Imperial College submission also includes funds referred to as Imperial+ (Imperial Plus). These are funds (managed by Imperial) to extend the range of infrastructure materials and research facilities covered by the Centre, via invitations to other leading research groups to bid for complementary equipment.
The focus of the research using these facilities will be to develop better materials for national infrastructure; materials with enhanced technical performance, longer life, and reduced greenhouse gas footprint, which will be more easily recycled and will contribute to lower capital- and recurrent- cost infrastructure. Research will also aim to establish how to use existing materials more effectively. The lab will be relevant to a wide range of infrastructure materials including concrete, modified geomaterials, metals, polymers, composites, timber, masonry and asphalt, for use in civil infrastructure including structures, tunnels, pipelines, paving, track-beds and flood defences.
Planned Impact
Game-changing research into construction materials has been limited over the past 25 years, falling between the interests of departments of materials science and civil engineering. A scientific approach is essential and is enabled by state-of-the-art instrumentation, but an understanding of engineering design, construction processes and exposure environments is also needed. This Facility will engage the materials science and civil engineering communities to work together on the next generation of infrastructure materials. Research using the facility (funded by other means, not this grant) has the potential to have great industrial and societal impact by developing better materials for national infrastructure; materials with enhanced technical performance, longer life, and reduced greenhouse gas footprint, which will be more easily recycled and will contribute to lower capital- and recurrent- cost infrastructure. The lab will be relevant to a wide range of infrastructure materials including concrete, modified geomaterials, metals, polymers, composites, timber, masonry and asphalt, for use in civil infrastructure including structures, tunnels, pipelines, paving, track-beds and flood defences.
The construction industry is crying out for materials engineers with an interest and deep understanding of construction materials. Motivated by the creation of this facility, Imperial is launching an MSc course in Infrastructure Materials. The graduates will be well-qualified to make an impact in industry and will also provide a pool of potential PhD students.
The construction industry is crying out for materials engineers with an interest and deep understanding of construction materials. Motivated by the creation of this facility, Imperial is launching an MSc course in Infrastructure Materials. The graduates will be well-qualified to make an impact in industry and will also provide a pool of potential PhD students.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Nick Buenfeld (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Mac M
(2021)
3D imaging techniques for characterising microcracks in cement-based materials
in Cement and Concrete Research
Yio M
(2019)
3D pore structure and mass transport properties of blended cementitious materials
in Cement and Concrete Research
Dominguez-Quintans C
(2023)
A Critical Assessment of the Effect of Initial Fabric on Key Small-Strain Design Parameters of Slurry-Deposited Silts and Sands
in Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Dominguez-Quintans, C
(2023)
A critical assessment of the effect of initial fabric on key small-strain design parameters of slurry-deposited silts and sands, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
in Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Dodwell TJ
(2021)
A data-centric approach to generative modelling for 3D-printed steel.
in Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Cui C
(2021)
A phase field formulation for dissolution-driven stress corrosion cracking
in Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
Korec E
(2023)
A phase-field chemo-mechanical model for corrosion-induced cracking in reinforced concrete
in Construction and Building Materials
Van Deventer J
(2020)
A Roadmap for Production of Cement and Concrete with Low-CO2 Emissions
in Waste and Biomass Valorization
Navidtehrani Y
(2021)
A simple and robust Abaqus implementation of the phase field fracture method
Navidtehrani Y
(2021)
A simple and robust Abaqus implementation of the phase field fracture method
in Applications in Engineering Science
Navidtehrani Y
(2021)
A simple and robust Abaqus implementation of the phase field fracture method
Ayati B
(2022)
Acid activated smectite clay as pozzolanic supplementary cementitious material
in Cement and Concrete Research
Kristensen P
(2021)
An assessment of phase field fracture: crack initiation and growth
Kristensen PK
(2021)
An assessment of phase field fracture: crack initiation and growth.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Kristensen P
(2021)
An assessment of phase field fracture: crack initiation and growth.
Mac M
(2021)
Analysis of autogenous shrinkage-induced microcracks in concrete from 3D images
in Cement and Concrete Research
Dieckmann E
(2020)
Analysis of Barriers to Transitioning from a Linear to a Circular Economy for End of Life Materials: A Case Study for Waste Feathers
in Sustainability
Yio M
(2022)
Analysis of cement paste and aggregate content of concrete using micro X-ray fluorescence
in Magazine of Concrete Research
Fernández-Sousa R
(2020)
Analysis of the influence of microstructural traps on hydrogen assisted fatigue
in Acta Materialia
Wu Z
(2019)
Anomalous water absorption in cement-based materials caused by drying shrinkage induced microcracks
in Cement and Concrete Research
Kristensen P
(2020)
Applications of phase field fracture in modelling hydrogen assisted failures
Kristensen P
(2020)
Applications of phase field fracture in modelling hydrogen assisted failures
in Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics
Kristensen P
(2020)
Applications of phase field fracture in modelling hydrogen assisted failures
Mujdeci A
(2022)
Axial and bending behaviour of steel tubes infilled with rubberised concrete
in Thin-Walled Structures
Bompa D
(2021)
Behaviour of confined rubberised concrete members under combined loading conditions
in Magazine of Concrete Research
Shah IH
(2022)
Cement substitution with secondary materials can reduce annual global CO2 emissions by up to 1.3 gigatons.
in Nature communications
Muslim F
(2020)
Combined effects of vertical spacers and segregation on mass transport properties of reinforced concrete
in Materials and Structures
Zafra A
(2022)
Comparison of hydrogen diffusivities measured by electrochemical permeation and temperature-programmed desorption in cold-rolled pure iron
in Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering
Bompa D
(2020)
Compressive behaviour of fired-clay brick and lime mortar masonry components in dry and wet conditions
in Materials and Structures
Mujdeci A
(2021)
Confinement effects for rubberised concrete in tubular steel cross-sections under combined loading
in Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Bompa D
(2021)
Constitutive modelling and mechanical properties of cementitious composites incorporating recycled vinyl banner plastics
in Construction and Building Materials
Krueger BC
(2021)
Critical analytical parameters for faecal sludge characterisation informing the application of thermal treatment processes.
in Journal of environmental management
Sadowski A
(2020)
Critical Buckling Strains in Thick Cold-Formed Circular-Hollow Sections under Cyclic Loading
in Journal of Structural Engineering
Huang C
(2022)
Cross-sectional behaviour of wire arc additively manufactured tubular beams
in Engineering Structures
Xu B
(2020)
Cyclic stress-strain rate-dependent response of rubberised concrete
in Construction and Building Materials
Pamenter S
(2021)
Decarbonizing the cementitious materials cycle: A whole-systems review of measures to decarbonize the cement supply chain in the UK and European contexts
in Journal of Industrial Ecology
Kia A
(2018)
Defining clogging potential for permeable concrete.
in Journal of environmental management
Hadjipantelis N
(2022)
Description of anisotropic material response of wire and arc additively manufactured thin-walled stainless steel elements
in Thin-Walled Structures
Ding T
(2022)
Developing circular concrete: Acid treatment of waste concrete fines
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Zhang K
(2024)
Development of more accurate methods for determining carbonation depth in cement-based materials
in Cement and Concrete Research
Auwerter L
(2019)
Development of porous glass surfaces with recoverable hydrophobicity
in Materials Letters: X
Yio M
(2021)
Effect of autogenous shrinkage on microcracking and mass transport properties of concrete containing supplementary cementitious materials
in Cement and Concrete Research
L'Hermitte A
(2023)
Effect of surface functionalization on the moisture stability and sorption properties of porous boron nitride
in Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
Carraro J
(2017)
Encyclopedia of Maritime and Offshore Engineering
Bompa D
(2020)
Experimental and numerical assessment of the shear behaviour of lime mortar clay brick masonry triplets
in Construction and Building Materials
Elzeadani M
(2022)
Experimental assessment and constitutive modelling of rubberised One-Part Alkali-Activated concrete
in Construction and Building Materials
Elghazouli A
(2022)
Experimental cyclic response of rubberised concrete-filled steel tubes
in Journal of Constructional Steel Research
Allam S
(2018)
Exterior reinforced concrete beam column joint subjected to monotonic loading
in Alexandria Engineering Journal
Krueger BC
(2021)
Faecal sludge pyrolysis: Understanding the relationships between organic composition and thermal decomposition.
in Journal of environmental management
Huang C.
(2023)
Flexural behavior of wire arc additively manufactured tubular sections
in Proceedings of the Annual Stability Conference Structural Stability Research Council, SSRC 2023
Description | This grant provided funding to establish new facilities for producing, processing, imaging, analysing and testing infrastructure materials. These were delivered on time and to budget, were successfully commissioned and are now being used heavily. While funding was not provided to undertake research, the facilities have been used in a wide range of projects (funded by other sources) as evidenced by the large number of publications (75 at March 2023) reporting research that utilised the new facilities. |
Exploitation Route | Research utilising the facilities of the new Advanced Infrastructure Materials Lab has ranged from basic science that is already being cited and built upon by other researchers (for example the work of Martinez Paneda) through to the development of engineering solutions that have won awards, formed the basis of spin-out companies and are being trialed by industry - for example Permia permeable paving (www.permiapave.com) and Seratech Cement (www.seratechcement.com). |
Sectors | Construction |
Description | Cambridge Electric Cement: Zero-emissions cement from old concrete paste replacing flux in electric-arc furnaces |
Amount | £1,470,057 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/W026104/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2022 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | Decarbonising cementitious materials through carbon capture and utilisation |
Amount | € 1,499,916 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start |
Description | Deep-Tech (DT) Prime, Delivering carbon negative concrete for net zero infrastructure |
Amount | £127,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2022 |
End | 07/2022 |
Description | Delivering carbon negative concrete for net zero infrastructure |
Amount | £84,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2022 |
End | 06/2022 |
Description | Engineered UK clays for production of low-carbon cements |
Amount | £997,934 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/W022583/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 06/2026 |
Description | Engineered UK clays for production of low-carbon cements |
Amount | £165,356 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/W021765/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2022 |
End | 06/2026 |
Description | Long-term performance of PO4-based backfill cements in repository environments for DNLEU disposal |
Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RWM504 |
Organisation | Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2022 |
End | 09/2025 |
Description | Nanovoids for Developing New Hydrogen-resistant Materials (NanoHMAT) |
Amount | £202,160 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V04902X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2021 |
End | 06/2023 |
Description | Next Generation Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Models for Hydrogen Embrittlement (NEXTGEM) |
Amount | £457,832 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V009680/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2021 |
End | 09/2024 |
Title | HIGH STRENGTH POROUS CEMENT-BASED MATERIALS |
Description | The present disclosure is related to a method of forming a cement-based material pad comprising a plurality of drainage holes and forms for use in such a method. |
IP Reference | WO2020099868 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | Spinout company |
Title | Silica supplementary cementitious materials |
Description | Silica supplementary cementitious materials |
IP Reference | GB2200676.1 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2022 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | Shanks, B., Draper, S., Wong, H.S., Cheeseman, C.R., "Silica supplementary cementitious materials", GB patent application no. 2200676.1, filed on 19 Jan 2022 |
Company Name | SERATECH LIMITED |
Description | Mineral supply;liers and wholesalers |
Year Established | 2021 |
Impact | - |
Website | https://opengovuk.com/company/13498658 |
Company Name | PERMIA LTD |
Description | See permiapave.com |
Year Established | 2019 |
Impact | Early days |
Website | http://permiapave.com |