Smart, Durable, and Sustainable: Designing Concrete Structures for Tomorrow

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The benefits of using eco-efficient building materials are evident, yet relatively little is known regarding the long-term performance of sustainable structures subjected to combined realistic environmental and structural loading conditions in extreme Canadian climates. Structural concrete can be designed with reduced environmental footprints using recycled concrete aggregates and low cement content providing significant sustainability benefits compared to conventional concrete, but their use in the field has been limited due to concerns about structural performance and durability. New design methodologies need to be developed to overcome the prevailing perception that sustainable concrete is inherently inferior to conventional mix designs for structural applications. The proposed research program aims to address these important knowledge gaps to ensure that Canada continues to be a leader in sustainable development without compromising the long-term durability of its critical infrastructure. The long-term aim of the proposed research is to better understand and improve the overall performance of sustainable concrete in the context of Canadian infrastructure projects, and to contribute towards the improved management of resources and critical infrastructure through performance-based decision making. Sustainable concrete materials will be evaluated in terms of durability and structural behaviour, and guidelines will be developed for the design, monitoring, assessment and rehabilitation of concrete bridges. The research program will focus specifically on the following short-term objectives: 1) characterize the behaviour of sustainable concrete mix designs and optimize them for use in Canadian structures; 2) evaluate the short and long-term structural performance of sustainable concrete members, with and without common distress mechanisms and rehabilitation measures; 3) evaluate the structural performance of sustainable concrete members with corrosion-resistant fibre-reinforced polymer reinforcement; and 4) incorporate advanced and low-cost sensing technologies to improve our ability to collect accurate lab measurements and develop efficient low-cost field monitoring systems for concrete structures. A detailed training plan and methodology are presented to describe the use of the NSERC Discovery Grant funds over five years to support and develop 12 Highly Qualified Personnel who will become knowledge leaders in their field and able to take on the unique engineering challenges of the coming decades. The results of the proposed program will enable engineers to design concrete structures that are smarter, more durable and more sustainable, and able to meet the demands of future generations.