Collaborative Research: An Integrated Experimental and Computational, Multiscale Study of Geopolymers for Next Generation Soil Improvement

无机地质聚合物技术在可持续发展中的作用最近在大量的研究活动和出版物中得到了体现。迄今为止，已经探索了地质聚合物的各种可行应用，其中一些已经在现场试点项目中得到了证明。然而，其在岩土工程中的潜在应用，特别是作为一种胶凝材料用于土壤改良，很少被研究。该奖项下的合作研究将填补这一空白，探索地质聚合物作为下一代土壤稳定剂的岩土工程应用。研究计划包括：（1）研究地质聚合物用于土壤改良的可行性，以及（2）揭示纳米级地质聚合物-粘土相互作用的基础科学，从而揭示土壤胶结和稳定机制。这项研究还将创建多尺度化学微观结构力学建模地质聚合物改良土壤的使能知识。将进行综合实验和计算工作，包括材料合成和加工，微观结构表征，多尺度力学测试，分子模拟和多尺度建模，以实现上述目标，以便岩土工程师可以利用新兴的地质聚合物技术进行可持续建设。本研究通过将创新的“绿色”胶凝材料引入岩土工程研究和实践，具有潜在的变革性，并有可能演变成一系列新的技术和经济进步。该项目的成功完成将进一步推动当前全球在可持续基础设施建设、环境保护和节能方面的努力。地质聚合物被认为是一种“绿色”、能源和环境友好型材料，本研究的成功有望为基础设施材料和建筑、节能、废物利用和减少以及环境保护等各种行业带来益处。本研究还涉及全球可持续性问题的组合（例如，CO2排放、节能和环境保护），因此预计将产生重大的技术、环境和经济影响。同时开展的教育和外联活动将纳入研究，以传播知识、提供培训和促进技术转让。首先，将通过高中访问、演讲、参加科学博览会/研讨会以及其他特殊的“MA-Strive”和“La-STEM”计划来吸引更多的学生加入STEM。其次，本科生和研究生的培训和指导是本研究的一个组成部分，特别强调妇女，少数民族和/或弱势学生。第三，通过召开各种会议，积极参与地方工程学会的活动，迅速传播研究成果，扩大对民间企业和国家机关工程师的影响。

The role of inorganic geopolymer technology in sustainable development has recently been manifested in a great number of research activities and publications. To date, a wide array of viable applications of geopolymer has been explored, some of which have been demonstrated in field pilot projects. Yet, its potential applications in geotechnical engineering, particularly as a cementitious material for soil improvement, have rarely been studied. Collaborative research under this award will fill this gap, by exploring geopolymer as the next generation soil stabilizer for geotechnical applications. The research program includes: (1) studying the viability of geopolymers for soil improvement, and (2) revealing the fundamental science on the nanoscale geopolymer-clay interactions and hence the soil cementation and stabilization mechanisms. This study will also create the enabling knowledge on multiscale chemo-microstructural-mechanical modeling of geopolymer-improved soils. Integrated experimental and computational work, consisting of materials synthesis and processing, microstructural characterization, multiscale mechanical testing, molecular simulations, and multiscale modeling, will be conducted to achieve the aforementioned goal so that the emerging geopolymer technology can be exploited by geotechnical engineers for sustainable construction. This study is potentially transformative by introducing an innovative, "green" cementitious material to geotechnical engineering research and practice, with the potential to evolve into a series of new technological and economic advancements. Successful completion of the project will further advance currently ongoing worldwide efforts in sustainable infrastructure construction, environmental protection, and energy conservation. The success of this study is expected to result in benefits to diverse industries such as infrastructure materials and construction, energy conservation, waste utilization and reduction, and environmental protection, because geopolymer is regarded as a "green," energy- and environment-friendly material. This study also tackles a combination of global sustainability issues (e.g., CO2 emission, energy conservation, and environmental protection), and hence is expected to generate significant technological, environmental, and economic impacts. Concurrent education and outreach activities will be integrated into the research to disseminate knowledge, provide training, and facilitate technology transfer. First, outreach will be achieved by high school visits, presentations, attending science fairs/symposia, and other special "MA-Strive" and "La-STEM" programs to attract more students to STEM. Second, undergraduate and graduate training and mentoring are an integrated part of this research, with particular emphasis on women, minority, and/or disadvantaged students. Third, the project's impact will be extended, via meetings and conferences, to engineers in private industries and state agencies through proactive participation in local engineering societies' activities, and prompt dissemination of research findings.