Sensing Intrinsic Nano-Microstructural Characteristics of Hardening Concrete with High-Frequency Transverse Waves

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Sensing Intrinsic Nano-Microstructural Characteristics of Hardening Concrete with High-Frequency Transverse WavesTo assure high quality of concrete construction, reliable sensors are needed to monitor the setting and hardening process. This proposal presents a high frequency wave reflection (HFWR) technique, which uses ultrasonic shear waves to monitor the hydration process of cementitious materials. The proposed investigations are aimed at studying the fundamental relationships among evolving microstructure, mechanical properties, and HFWR-measurements. It is intended to draw synergies by combining experimental techniques, which probe nano and microstructure and numerical modeling. The collaboration with a world-wide network of researches will involve undergraduate and graduate students. The research plan is to develop a sensor that reads the information stored in the evolving nano and microstructure and immediately use this data to infer the intrinsic mechanical properties. The procedures and models to be developed have a high potential to be generalized to other materials that undergo percolation processes.