A Research Program for Autoadaptive Media in Complex Engineering Systems

该项目旨在组织两个研讨会，研究自适应媒体在土木工程中的潜力，并确定所需的基于大学的跨学科研究的目标和类型，以广泛应用于民用基础设施。自适应媒体是材料，机制，设备和结构，可以修改，监测或控制自己的特性，以适当地响应外部刺激。土木工程采用自适应媒体的速度缓慢主要归因于三个方面：缺乏相关信息，关注现场材料和设备的维护以及材料成本。一项有针对性的研究倡议将有助于减轻甚至可能消除前两种看法，并将充分利用这些媒体的巨大潜力。针对自适应材料的土木工程用途的研究倡议是可取的，因为（1）考虑到知识基础的“附加值”，它将产生实质性的影响，（2）将其留给偶然的发展是推迟任何可能的应用，（3）即使目前的解释是负面的，不去探索一个可能使土木工程的许多部分发生革命性变化的机会是一个战略性错误。该项目活动将探索自适应媒体在土木工程应用中的潜力，并制定适当的行动计划。它是基于这样一种信念，即材料科学家和控制工程师已经开发的知识库必须由熟悉土木工程应用需求的工程师挖掘和重定向。

This project is for organizing two workshops to study the potential of autoadaptive media in civil engineering and to define targets and types of needed university-based, cross disciplinary research for broad applications in civil infrastructures. Autoadaptive media are materials, mechanisms, devices, and structures that can modify, monitor, or control their own characteristics to respond appropriately to external stimuli. The slow adoption of autoadaptive media by civil engineering is attributed mainly to three perceptions; lack of relevant information, concern about maintenance of the materials and devices in the field, and cost of materials. A directed research initiative will help alleviate and possibly even eliminate the first two perceptions and will exploit the vast potential of these media fully. A research initiative targeting the civil engineering uses of autoadaptive materials is desirable because (1) in relation to consideration of `added value` to the knowledge base it will have a substantial impact, (2) to leave it to serendipitous development is to delay any possibly application, and (3) even if the current prognostications are negative, it is a strategic mistake not to explore an opportunity that may revolutionize many segments of civil engineering. The project activity will explore the potential of autoadaptive media for civil engineering applications and to develop a program of appropriate actions. It is predicated on the belief that the knowledge base already developed by material scientists and control engineers must be tapped and redirected by engineers intimately familiar with the demands of civil-engineering application.