I/UCRC Phase II: Center for the Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI)

高效的基础设施系统，如公路、桥梁、建筑物、管道、防洪系统和公用事业，都是健康的经济和舒适的生活水平所必需的。混凝土、钢铁和木材是有形基础设施的支柱。高强聚合物复合材料在航空航天结构中的应用已有近50年的历史，在民用基础设施中的应用也已有近20年的历史。为了加快聚合物复合材料在基础设施中的应用，西弗吉尼亚大学(WVU)、北卡罗来纳州立大学(NCSU)和迈阿密大学(University Of Miami)共同建立了NSF I/UCRC复合材料与基础设施集成中心(CiCi)。最近，国家科学基金会授予了一笔旅行补助金，用于在位于中国的南京工业大学建立一个额外的CiCi站点。NSF I/UCRC计划将大学、私营公司和政府机构聚集在一起，通过参与高度合作的研究，为各方利用研究资金。CiCi在民用基础设施方面的工作对日常生活产生了巨大影响，因此，作为一个整体，复合材料和混合材料带来了更高的安全性、更短的建设时间和更长的使用寿命，从而降低了总体成本，并通过创造新的和更高技能的就业机会提高了劳动生产率。会员公司和终端用户从与各自领域的其他人的互动中受益，其中包括训练有素的学生，预计未来5年将有超过100名学生通过CiCi。CICI是一台多产的技术转移机器，通过发表期刊论文和会议演讲来促进科学研究和知识传播，超过了大多数I/UCRC的产出。广义而言，CiCi的技术重点可以分为四个不同的领域。最初，开展基础研究项目是为了扩大基础设施复合材料的知识库。这包括生命周期性能、老化研究、复合材料内部和作为基材的结合强度评估，以及许多其他方面。通过这项正在进行的研究，正在开发可在基础设施市场大规模实施的产品，包括创新的中空或玄武岩纤维FRP钢筋、用于砖墙加固的无腐蚀或织物增强水泥复合材料的水道产品等。这些产品的实施是下一个重点领域，主要通过开发代码和规范来完成。CiCi参与了ASCE LRFD拉挤玻璃钢复合材料规范、ASTM规范、ACI建筑设计和施工规范、国际规范理事会和IIFC的工作。最后，CiCi有一个基于IAB成员反馈的评估组件，以确保现场实施的复合材料的性能符合我们长期性能计划的设计。因此，通过研究、开发、实施和评估，CiCi参与了复合材料产品演变的方方面面。

Efficient infrastructure systems such as highways, bridges, buildings, pipelines, flood control systems and utilities are all necessary for a healthy economy and comfortable standard of living. Concrete, steel and timber are the backbones of physical infrastructure. High strength polymer composites have been used for aerospace structures for about five decades and their use in civil infrastructure spans about 20 years. To accelerate the adoption of polymer composites into infrastructure, the NSF I/UCRC Center of the Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI) was established as a joint effort of West Virginia University (WVU), North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the University of Miami. Recently, NSF has awarded a travel grant to establish an additional CICI site at Nanjing University of Technology in China. The NSF I/UCRC program brings together universities, private companies and government agencies together to leverage the research dollars for all parties by engaging in highly cooperative research. CICI's work with civil infrastructure has a tremendous effect on daily life, thus the Nation as a whole benefits as composite and hybrid materials lead to infrastructure systems of higher safety, shorter construction times and longer life spans at a reduced overall cost and improved labor productivity with the creation of new and higher skilled job opportunities. Member companies and end users benefit from the interaction with others in their field including highly trained students, with over 100 students expected to pass through CICI in the next 5 years. CICI is prolific technology transfer machine, exceeding the output for most I/UCRCs through the publishing of journal articles and conference presentations to promote the scientific research and knowledge dissemination. Broadly speaking, the technical focus of CICI can be broken into four different areas. Initially, fundamental research projects are undertaken to broaden the knowledge base on infrastructure composites. This includes lifecycle performance, aging studies, evaluation of bond strength within a composite and as a substrate, and many others. From this on-going research, products are being developed that can be mass-implemented in infrastructure markets, including innovative hollow core or basalt fiber FRP rebar, waterway products that are noncorrosive or fabric reinforced cementitious composites for masonry wall strengthening and many others. The implementation of these products is the next focus area and is primarily accomplished through the development of codes and specifications. CICI has worked on the ASCE LRFD pultruded GFRP composites code, ASTM specifications, ACI building design and construction codes, the International Code Council and IIFC. Finally, CICI has an evaluation component based on IAB member feedback to ensure the composites that are implemented in the field are performing as designed as a part of our long-term performance program. Thus, through research, development, implementation and evaluation, CICI is involved in all facets of composite product evolution.