Phase III IUCRC at University of Texas at Arlington: Center for Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI)

复合材料与基础设施整合中心（CICI）是一个NSF I/UCRC，利用西弗吉尼亚大学、北卡罗来纳州立大学、迈阿密大学和德克萨斯农工大学/德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校的专业知识，旨在通过广泛的行业合作，加速纤维增强聚合物（FRP）复合材料和土工合成材料在基础设施应用中的应用。美国土木工程师协会给美国基础设施的评级为D+， 10年资金缺口为1.44万亿美元，导致美国GDP损失3.9万亿美元，就业岗位减少250万个。玻璃钢复合材料和土工合成材料因其耐腐蚀、易于安装以及长达40年的现场演示概念验证而被基础设施所接受。复合材料的最大优点是耐用性，因为它们不会腐蚀或腐烂，从而延长了使用寿命，从而节省了纳税人的钱。在美国国家科学基金会的支持下，CICI目前由四所大学和31个行业成员组成，汇集了教师，学生，从业者，制造商，贸易组织和政府机构，以克服复合材料广泛部署的障碍，建立持久的合作伙伴关系，并教育学生，工程师和承包商。CICI专注于四个研究重点。首先，对材料开发、制造和表征的研究允许开发新的复合材料和回收废弃的聚合物复合材料，并清楚地了解其物理化学和机械性能。其次，在加速老化和检查现有结构的情况下，对复合材料的耐久性和老化进行评估，以确保复合材料在恶劣环境条件下具有较长的使用寿命。第三，复合材料在新建和现有结构修复中的设计、实施和评估。第四，CICI为开发新技术进入商业实践所需的标准、规范和指导性文件做出了贡献。德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校（UTA）将继续研究复合材料的应用，包括土工合成材料、包括土工聚合物在内的聚合物材料，以及其他土工复合材料在地下基础设施中的应用，包括路面、跑道、堤防、挡土墙、土坝和防洪堤。这些研究将讨论复合材料的生命周期成本分析和可持续利用。UTA CICI站点在土壤-结构相互作用方面具有强大的研究背景，并将与合作大学在材料，结构改造和海上土壤处理（包括土工合成材料）方面进行合作。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Center for Integration of Composites into Infrastructure (CICI) is a NSF I/UCRC that utilizes the expertise of West Virginia University, North Carolina State University, the University of Miami, and Texas A & M University/University of Texas at Arlington with an objective of accelerating the adoption of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites and geosynthetics into infrastructure applications by utilizing industry wide cooperation. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives U.S. infrastructure a grade of D+, with a 10 year funding gap of $1.44 trillion, leading to losses of $3.9 trillion to the U.S. GDP and 2.5 million fewer jobs. FRP composites and geosythentics are gaining acceptance for infrastructure due to their corrosion resistance, ease of installation, and proof-of-concept from field demonstrations in service for up to four decades. The biggest advantage to composite materials is durability, as they do not corrode or rot allowing for an extended service life thus extending taxpayer dollars. With the support of NSF, CICI currently consists of a consortium of four universities and 31 industry members, bringing together faculty, students, practitioners, manufacturers, trade organizations and government agencies to overcome the obstacles to widespread deployment of composites, forging lasting partnerships, and educating students, engineers and contractors. CICI focuses on four research thrusts. First, research on material development, manufacturing, and characterization allows for the development of new composite materials and recycling of discarded polymer composites with a clear understanding of the physico-chemical and mechanical properties. Second, the durability and aging of composites is evaluated under accelerated aging and by examining existing structures to ensure that composites can have long service lives under harsh environmental conditions. Third, design, implementation and evaluation of composites in new construction and rehabilitation of existing structures.. Fourth, CICI contributes to the development of standards, specifications, and guide documents required for the deployment of new technologies into commercial practice. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) will continue to examine the utilization of composites, including geosynthetics, polymeric materials including geopolymers, and other geocomposites in subsurface infrastructure including pavements, runways, embankments, retaining structures, earth dams and levees. Both life cycle cost analysis and sustainable utilization of composites will be addressed in these studies. The UTA CICI site has a strong research background in soil-structure interactions, and will work with the partner universities on materials, structural retrofits and offshore soil treatment including geosynthetics.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.