Nano-modified Concrete Incorporating Industrial Waste for Sustainable Infrastructure

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Durable concrete is essential for restoring/upgrading Canada’s aging infrastructure. Replacing part of the cement in concrete with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), which are typically industrial waste such as fly ash and slag, generally improves the durability of concrete with significant ecological benefits such as preservation of natural resources and conservation of energy. However, higher volumes of SCMs are not commonly used in concrete infrastructure due to performance issues including delayed setting time, slow strength development and surface scaling. Application of nano-materials (size scale of 1-100 billionth of a meter) in concrete (nano-modification) has the potential to mitigate limitations associated with higher volumes of SCMs and create sustainable concrete with superior performance. This research program will (i) develop innovative concretes incorporating nano-particles with high volumes of fly ash or slag and investigate their early-age and long-term properties under simulated field conditions, (ii) build intelligence-based models for predicting their field performance, and (iii) initiate field studies for demonstrating/monitoring their actual performance. This novel research program stems from a paradigm shift, which employs nanotechnology to engineer the next generation of concrete. The significance of the proposed methodology lies in capturing the role of nano-materials in shifting cementitious systems and testing their stability under harsh service conditions, thereby enhancing the reliability of assessment and modeling to appropriately select materials for repair or new applications. The program will effectively contribute to the wider acceptance and use of innovative concretes with less cement and higher volumes of industrial waste (i.e. low carbon footprint) in various infrastructural applications, with an anticipated measurable impact on standards and specifications for concrete and transfer of the technology to the construction industry. If engineered carefully, such novel concrete will have extended service life, without issues of premature failure or costly rehabilitation, thus effectively contributing to the sustainable development of infrastructure in Canada and beyond.