Development and Characterization of Durable Geopolymer Composites for Truly Sustainable Infrastructure Applications

该研究项目的目标是为一类纤维增强复合材料开发一种新的设计方法，将地质聚合物的绿色性与工程水泥基复合材料（ECC）的增强耐久性相结合。 需要能源密集型、高碳足迹、基于普通波特兰水泥（OPC）的建筑材料的可持续替代品，以满足新建筑的需求并保持现有基础设施与自然环境的和谐。 真正的可持续性要求材料的绿色性和增强的耐用性，从而降低了对昂贵且不环保的维修工作的需求。 这些新的工程地质聚合物复合材料（EGCs）将为基础设施系统提供一种高度可持续的OPC基材料替代品，这是一种迫切需要的替代品，目前没有任何其他材料提供。在社会层面上，该项目将通过生产真正可持续的建筑材料，大大降低建筑和建筑行业的能源消耗和碳排放，从而触及每个人的生活。 用EGC取代哪怕百分之一的OPC材料，也相当于让数百万辆汽车离开道路。 此外，新的设计方法将适用于土木工程以外的许多领域，从而在其他地方实现更有效的材料开发。 在当地，高中生和大学生将受益于研究结果纳入课堂（在大学和通过远程学习）和示范项目。 这项研究还将纳入一个既定的地方大学预科工程计划，旨在增加工程少数民族学生的数量。

The objective of this research project is to develop a novel design methodology for a class of fiber-reinforced composite materials, combining the greenness of geopolymers with the enhanced durability of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). Sustainable alternatives to energy intensive, high carbon footprint, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)-based building materials are needed in order to meet the needs of both new construction and to maintain existing infrastructure in harmony with the natural environment. True sustainability demands both material greenness and enhanced durability, which lowers the need for costly and environmentally unfriendly repair work. These new Engineered Geopolymer Composites (EGCs) will provide a highly sustainable alternative to OPC-based materials for infrastructure systems, an alternative that is badly needed and not currently provided by any other materials. On a societal level, this project will touch the life of every person by producing truly sustainable construction materials that substantially lower the energy consumption and carbon production of the building and construction industries. Replacing even one percent of OPC-based materials with EGCs would be equivalent to taking millions of cars off of the road. Further, the novel design methodology will be adaptable to numerous fields beyond civil engineering, leading to more efficient materials development elsewhere. Locally, high school and college students will benefit as the results of the research are incorporated into classes (both at the university and through remote learning) and demonstration projects. The research will also be incorporated into an established local pre-college engineering program, intended to increase the number of minority students in engineering.