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

复合材料与基础设施集成中心（CICI）是一个NSF I/UCRC，利用西弗吉尼亚大学、北卡罗来纳州州立大学、迈阿密和德克萨斯A M大学/德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校的专业知识，旨在通过利用行业广泛的合作，加速将纤维增强聚合物（FRP）复合材料和土工合成材料应用于基础设施。美国土木工程师协会给美国基础设施的评级为D+，10年的资金缺口为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由于其耐腐蚀性、易于安装以及长达四十年的现场使用示范的概念验证而获得基础设施的认可。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，从而延长了纳税人的钱。 在NSF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，从业人员，制造商，贸易组织和政府机构，以克服广泛部署复合材料的障碍，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，在加速老化条件下评估复合材料的耐久性和老化，并通过检查现有结构来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，设计，实施和评估复合材料在新的建设和现有结构的修复。第四，CICI致力于制定将新技术应用于商业实践所需的标准、规范和指导文件。西弗吉尼亚大学进行研究，包括拉挤复合材料的特性，从而产生设计指南;对现有领域应用的评估的合作努力;并且，在本发明中，西弗吉尼亚州公路部和美国陆军工程兵团以传统维修成本的一小部分修复桥梁。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会知识分子的评估被认为值得支持优点和更广泛的影响审查标准。

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. West Virginia University conducts research including characterization of pultruded composites resulting in design guides; collaborative efforts on the evaluation of existing field applications; and, rehabilitation of bridges the WV Department of Highways and US Army Corps of Engineers at a fraction of the cost of traditional repair.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.