Smart high performance concrete composites for developing robust and resilient infrastructures

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The recent deteriorating condition of the infrastructure in Canada has motivated authorities and researchers to seek new concrete technology for enhancement of material properties. The modern day concrete frontiers can be defined by "high durability, high ductility and smart self-healing/sensing ability". During the last decades, tremendous progress has been made on the high performance concrete (HPC) technology. One such emerging HPC technology involves the family of fibre reinforced engineered concrete (EC). With intrinsically tight crack width, high tensile ductility and self-healing potential, EC offers significant potential to resolve durability problems of concrete structures and to be used either in new construction or as repair material. Despite progress in EC technology, there is an urgent need to conduct research on developing much greener smarter ECs. The proposed research is uniquely positioned to make ground breaking advances in revolutionizing EC technology addressing challenges towards sustainable civil infrastructures. This research involves an integrated study consisting of experimental, theoretical and numerical investigations. The long-term objective of the proposed research is to develop new generation of smarter greener GP/GO-ECs incorporating zero-cement based geopolymers (GPs) and emerging graphene oxide (GO) based nano-carbon materials with improved strength, durability, micro-structural and self-healing/sensing properties for building/bridge infrastructures. The short-term objectives are to: (i) conduct experimental investigation to develop different classes of GP/GO-ECs through evaluating fresh state/mechanical/durability properties with self-healing/sensing characteristics, (ii) investigate structural performance of GP/GO-ECs based building and bridge elements under different loadings combined with evaluating self-healing/sensing abilities, (iii) investigate the use of GP/GO-ECs as repair material and performance of such EC-made structural elements subjected to aggressive environment and (iv) develop design specifications for proposed GP/GO-ECs for production, formulate design guidelines for EC based structural elements and asses their viability through life cycle analyses. This research will allow researchers/engineers to perfect their knowledge of GP/GO-ECs /proposed structural systems and evaluate the potential of the new technology. This research is very relevant to Canada where proposed GP/GO-EC technology can play a vital role in the future construction, renovation and self-health monitoring of structures. This research is a highly viable initiative and there is no doubt that smart GP/GO-EC technology will lead to the construction of robust resilient sustainable structural systems (with enhanced strength, ductility, durability, service life and economy) for the 21st century. By supporting this research, Canada can play a significant role in the development and worldwide transfer of this novel technology.