Collaborative Research: An Integrated Experimental and Computational, Multiscale Study of Geopolymers for Next Generation Soil Improvement

无机地聚合物技术在可持续发展中的作用最近在大量的研究活动和出版物中得到了体现。迄今为止，已经探索了一系列可行的地聚合物应用，其中一些已在现场试点项目中得到证实。然而，它在岩土工程中的潜在应用，特别是作为土壤改良的胶结材料，很少被研究。该奖项下的合作研究将填补这一空白，通过探索地聚合物作为岩土工程应用的下一代土壤稳定剂。研究内容包括：(1)研究地聚合物对土壤改良的可行性；(2)揭示纳米级地聚合物-粘土相互作用的基础科学，从而揭示土壤胶结和稳定机制。本研究还将为地聚合物改良土壤的多尺度化学-微观结构-力学建模创造有利的知识。综合实验和计算工作，包括材料合成和加工，微观结构表征，多尺度力学测试，分子模拟和多尺度建模，将进行实现上述目标，使新兴的地聚合物技术可以被岩土工程师用于可持续建设。这项研究通过将一种创新的“绿色”胶凝材料引入岩土工程研究和实践，具有潜在的变革性，并有可能演变成一系列新的技术和经济进步。该项目的顺利完成将进一步推动目前正在进行的全球可持续基础设施建设、环境保护和节能工作。由于地聚合物被认为是一种“绿色”的能源和环境友好型材料，因此这项研究的成功有望给基础设施材料和建筑、节能、废物利用和减少、环境保护等多个行业带来好处。本研究还解决了全球可持续性问题的组合（例如，二氧化碳排放，能源节约和环境保护），因此预计将产生重大的技术，环境和经济影响。同时进行的教育和外展活动将纳入研究，以传播知识、提供培训和促进技术转让。首先，将通过高中访问、演讲、参加科学博览会/专题讨论会以及其他特别的“MA-Strive”和“La-STEM”计划来吸引更多的学生参与STEM。第二，本科生和研究生的培训和指导是本研究的一个组成部分，特别强调女性、少数民族和/或弱势学生。第三，该项目的影响将通过会议扩大到私营企业和国家机构的工程师，通过积极参与当地工程学会的活动，并迅速传播研究成果。

The role of inorganic geopolymer technology in sustainable development has recently been manifested in a great number of research activities and publications. To date, a wide array of viable applications of geopolymer has been explored, some of which have been demonstrated in field pilot projects. Yet, its potential applications in geotechnical engineering, particularly as a cementitious material for soil improvement, have rarely been studied. Collaborative research under this award will fill this gap, by exploring geopolymer as the next generation soil stabilizer for geotechnical applications. The research program includes: (1) studying the viability of geopolymers for soil improvement, and (2) revealing the fundamental science on the nanoscale geopolymer-clay interactions and hence the soil cementation and stabilization mechanisms. This study will also create the enabling knowledge on multiscale chemo-microstructural-mechanical modeling of geopolymer-improved soils. Integrated experimental and computational work, consisting of materials synthesis and processing, microstructural characterization, multiscale mechanical testing, molecular simulations, and multiscale modeling, will be conducted to achieve the aforementioned goal so that the emerging geopolymer technology can be exploited by geotechnical engineers for sustainable construction. This study is potentially transformative by introducing an innovative, "green" cementitious material to geotechnical engineering research and practice, with the potential to evolve into a series of new technological and economic advancements. Successful completion of the project will further advance currently ongoing worldwide efforts in sustainable infrastructure construction, environmental protection, and energy conservation. The success of this study is expected to result in benefits to diverse industries such as infrastructure materials and construction, energy conservation, waste utilization and reduction, and environmental protection, because geopolymer is regarded as a "green," energy- and environment-friendly material. This study also tackles a combination of global sustainability issues (e.g., CO2 emission, energy conservation, and environmental protection), and hence is expected to generate significant technological, environmental, and economic impacts. Concurrent education and outreach activities will be integrated into the research to disseminate knowledge, provide training, and facilitate technology transfer. First, outreach will be achieved by high school visits, presentations, attending science fairs/symposia, and other special "MA-Strive" and "La-STEM" programs to attract more students to STEM. Second, undergraduate and graduate training and mentoring are an integrated part of this research, with particular emphasis on women, minority, and/or disadvantaged students. Third, the project's impact will be extended, via meetings and conferences, to engineers in private industries and state agencies through proactive participation in local engineering societies' activities, and prompt dissemination of research findings.