Collaborative Research: Understanding Mechanism of Internal Frost-Induced Damage of Concrete from Microstructure Aspects

“这项奖励是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。”本项目将研究和教育相结合，以推进冻融循环下波特兰水泥混凝土冻害机制的知识状态。本研究项目的主要目标是结合基于微结构的计算建模和创新传感器技术的专业知识，研究混凝土冻损的基本机制。研究将包括不同长度尺度下混凝土微观结构的实验表征，开发一种创新的时域反射（TDR）传感器，以准确确定冻融状态，以及霜致损伤模型的制定和验证。这项研究预计将产生一个模型，可以清楚而简洁地描述霜冻对混凝土造成的损害。该模型将为评估各种防冻策略和产品的潜在成功提供有价值的工具。这项研究将有助于开发耐久混凝土，并使寒冷地区的混凝土设计和施工行业受益。混凝土的耐久性在这些地区赖以发展的整个基础设施系统的可持续性中起着核心作用。在这个项目中，研究和教育活动将整合在一起，以促进K-12学生和教师、工程和科学专业的本科生和研究生以及专业工程师的教学、培训和学习。此外，该项目中开发的用于理解混凝土冻损机制的方法将适用于解决其他耐久性问题，如盐结垢和化学反应。

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."This project integrates research and education to advance the state of knowledge of the mechanism of frost-induced damage in Portland cement concrete under freeze-thaw cycles. The primary objective of this research project is to combine expertise in microstructure-based computational modeling and innovative sensor technologies to study the fundamental mechanisms of frost damage in concrete. Research will include the experimental characterization of concrete microstructure across different length scales, the development of an innovative Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensor to accurately determine the freeze-thaw status, and the formulation and validation of a frost-induced damage model. This research is expected to result in a model that can clearly and concisely describe the damage that frost can inflict in concrete. This model will provide a valuable tool to assess the potential success of various frost damage prevention strategies and products. This research will help develop durable concrete and benefit the industries involved with concrete design and construction in cold regions. The durability of concrete plays a central role in the sustainability of the whole infrastructure system on which such regions depend for their development. In this project, research and educational activities will be integrated to promote teaching, training, and learning for the K-12 students and teachers, undergraduate and graduate students in engineering and science, and professional engineers. Additionally, the methodology developed in this project for understanding the frost damage mechanisms of concrete will be applicable for solving other durability issues such as salt scaling and chemical reaction.