PFI:AIR - TT: Development of Tools and Methods for Extended Maturity Analysis of Concrete

PFI:AIR - TT：混凝土扩展成熟度分析工具和方法的开发

• 批准号: 1500261
• 负责人: Abraham Stroock
• 金额: $ 20万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-04-01 至 2017-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1500261&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PFI; AIR; TT; Development; Tools

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating a microscale sensor of water stress and temperature for real-time monitoring of the chemical state within concrete during curing, and for refined predictions of the concrete's mechanical properties. The HydroT sensor of water status and temperature, and the Extended Maturity Analysis that it will enable, are important because they will allow for improved control of the properties of concrete during curing. Improper curing of concrete structures can cause stress that may lead to cracking and ultimate failure. Real-time sensing and monitoring of concrete curing will lead to improved functionality, increased lifetime, and a reduction in the global use of this energy-intensive material. The project will result in prototypes of the HydroT sensor, initial development of Extended Maturity Methods using these sensors in concrete curing, and an improved understanding of the priority markets for the commercialization of this technology. The HydroT sensor has the following unique features: 1) unprecedented sensitivity for the measurement of water stress in the range that is relevant in concrete. This capability will allow for water status to be incorporated, for the first time, into methods of tracking and controlling concrete properties during construction. 2) Integration of water and temperature sensing using microfabrication techniques. This approach will allow for simple, low-cost scaled-up and production by leveraging the existing capabilities of microfabrication foundries. 3) Small format and simple integration with electronics and communication. These characteristics will make the barrier for adoption by industry low. Taken together, these features mean that the HydroT technology will provide the concrete industry an important new functionality (sensing of water status) in a device that can replace the temperature probes used in conventional Maturity Analysis with similar costs and technical complexity. To translate the HydroT Probe and Extended Maturity Analysis toward commercial application, the team will pursue advances in the understanding and technical approaches on both hardware and application fronts. These developments will involve fundamental advances in the ability to manipulate the properties of critical materials such as the porous membrane and deeper understanding of the coupling of moisture and temperature in defining maturation in important classes of concrete. Additionally, the team will pursue a deeper understanding of the market, competitors, and potential partners for manufacturing and distribution. Throughout, the team will aim to reinforce its intellectual property position and to build a core group of entrepreneurs and technical staff to carry the project into a successful start-up company. As part of the project, the personnel involved - undergraduates, graduates, and post-docs - will gain experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology translation through participation in the patent application process with Cornell's technology transfer office and activities such as Cornell's Pre-Seed Workshop and technology accelerator program, eLabs.

该 PFI：AIR 技术翻译项目的重点是翻译微型水应力和温度传感器，以实时监测混凝土在固化过程中的化学状态，并精确预测混凝土的机械性能。 HydroT 水状态和温度传感器以及它所支持的扩展成熟度分析非常重要，因为它们可以改善对固化过程中混凝土性能的控制。混凝土结构养护不当会产生应力，从而导致裂缝和最终失效。混凝土固化的实时传感和监控将改善功能、延长使用寿命并减少这种能源密集型材料的全球使用。该项目将产生 HydroT 传感器原型、在混凝土养护中使用这些传感器的扩展成熟度方法的初步开发，以及对该技术商业化的优先市场的更好了解。 HydroT 传感器具有以下独特功能： 1) 在混凝土相关范围内测量水应力时具有前所未有的灵敏度。该功能将首次将水状况纳入施工期间跟踪和控制混凝土性能的方法中。 2) 使用微加工技术集成水和温度传感。这种方法将利用微加工铸造厂的现有能力，实现简单、低成本的放大和生产。 3) 尺寸小，易于与电子和通信集成。这些特征将降低行业采用的门槛。总而言之，这些功能意味着 HydroT 技术将为混凝土行业提供重要的设备新功能（水状态感应），该设备可以取代传统成熟度分析中使用的温度探头，且成本和技术复杂性相似。 为了将 HydroT 探针和扩展成熟度分析转化为商业应用，该团队将在硬件和应用方面追求理解和技术方法的进步。这些发展将涉及控制多孔膜等关键材料性能的根本性进步，以及对水分和温度耦合在定义重要类别混凝土的成熟度方面的更深入理解。此外，该团队还将更深入地了解市场、竞争对手以及制造和分销的潜在合作伙伴。自始至终，该团队的目标是巩固其知识产权地位，并建立一支由企业家和技术人员组成的核心团队，以将该项目打造成一家成功的初创公司。作为该项目的一部分，相关人员（本科生、研究生和博士后）将通过参与康奈尔大学技术转让办公室的专利申请流程以及康奈尔大学种子前研讨会和技术加速器项目 eLabs 等活动，获得创新、创业和技术转化方面的经验。