Collaborative Research thru NSF I/UCRC Full Grant: Center for the Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI)

复合材料与基础设施集成中心（CICI）西弗吉尼亚大学（GangaRao）北卡罗来纳州立大学（NCSU）里兹卡拉（Rizkalla）罗格斯大学（RU）巴拉古鲁（Balaguru）迈阿密大学（UM）南尼该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该提案的目的是启动一个新的I/UCRC“将复合材料整合到基础设施（CICI）”，重点是在民用和军事结构中引入复合材料的应用和具有成本效益的修复方案。拟议中心的牵头机构是西弗吉尼亚大学，研究合作伙伴是RU、NCSU和UM。这个新的IUCRC将专注于为特定应用创造新产品，如预制复合桥面和铺装面板，以及保护系统，以增加受地震和恐怖袭击等自然和人为灾害破坏的基础设施的使用寿命。复合材料加工方面的进步将带来环境效益，据估计，以天然纤维为基础的复合材料的生产成本可以达到类似钢材的四分之一英热单位水平，类似的自清洁结构复合材料将有助于氧化汽车尾气。该中心将整合四所大学的科研成果，互补优势，推进复合知识库和应用。该中心的活动将增强美国工业在复合材料领域的国际竞争力，包括使用天然和生物材料的模块化结构和快速部署技术；从而减少向大气中的碳排放。整个国家都将受益，因为复合材料和混合材料的使用通常会带来更高安全性的结构，更短的施工时间和更长的寿命，同时降低总成本，创造新的就业机会。该中心计划通过接触每所大学的本科生，从代表性不足的群体中招收研究生，包括少数民族和女性。此外，历史上的黑人学院和大学将被联系，以招募他们的学生参加中心活动。pi还计划在各种期刊和会议上发表文章，以促进科学研究和知识传播，并将利用单独的资助机制来教育不熟悉复合材料的实践工程师和最终用户。

Center for the Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI) IIP-0934097 West Virginia University GangaRao IIP-0934182 North Carolina State University (NCSU) Rizkalla IIP-0933996 Rutgers University (RU) Balaguru IIP-0933537 University of Miami (UM) Nanni This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The purpose of this proposal is to start a new I/UCRC "Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI)" with a focus on ushering applications and cost-effective rehabilitation schemes using composites in civil and military structures. The lead institution of the proposed Center is WVU with RU, NCSU and UM as research partners. This new IUCRC will focus on creating new products for specific applications such as pre-cast composite bridge decks and pavement panels, and protection systems to increase the service life of infrastructure damaged by natural and man-made disasters such as earthquake and terror attack. Advances in processing of composites will lead to environmental benefits, as estimates indicate that natural fiber based composites can be manufactured at one-fourth the BTU level of comparable steel sections, and similarly self-cleaning structural composites will help oxidize car exhaust. The Center will integrate scientific endeavors complementing the strengths of all four universities to advance the composite knowledgebase and applications. The center activities will enhance the international competitiveness of the American industry in the area of composites including modular construction and rapid deployment techniques using natural and bio-materials; thus reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The Nation as a whole would benefit as composite and hybrid material use would, in general, lead to structures of higher safety, shorter construction times and longer life spans at a reduced overall cost with the creation of new job opportunities. The Center plans to recruit graduate students from under-represented groups, including minorities and women by reaching out to the undergraduate student population at each university. In addition, Historically Black Colleges and Universities will be contacted to recruit their students for center activities. The PIs also plan to publish in various journals and conferences to promote the scientific research and knowledge dissemination, and will utilize separate funding mechanisms to educate practicing engineers and end users who are not familiar with composites.