RII Track-2 FEC: Developing a Circular Bio-Based Framework For Architecture, Engineering and Construction Through Additive Manufacturing

不可再生资源支撑着我们国家的关键基础设施，因此，我们的许多可再生资源没有得到充分利用或浪费。目前的住房经济是以破坏环境的模式而不是与环境共存的循环模式运行的。例如，建筑物排放的温室气体占全球的三分之一以上，而生产住房建筑材料的木材米尔斯厂目前仅将40%的木材转化为木材，其余的都被丢弃。这项研究基础设施改进轨道-2重点EPSCoR合作（RII轨道-2 FEC）奖将允许爱达荷州和奥本大学项目团队创建一个基础框架，利用可再生和废物原料，为未来的先进住房制造业制造和利用100%生物基材料。该项目的研究活动和为该行业培养未来劳动力的活动将由一个多元化的跨司法管辖区和跨学科团队进行，为该国最大的行业之一住房建设的转型变革奠定基础。它将为高中化学学生提供外展服务，教育大学本科生和研究生，并指导博士后学者和早期职业教师。NSF EPSCoR的两个州，爱达荷州和亚拉巴马，将通过该项目的技术开发和行业合作关系，利用其强大的木材工业，体验经济的增强。该项目的总体目标是通过独特的跨学科合作的必要交叉，开发必要的科学，技术和教育框架，以实现未来的先进住房制造业。具体来说，爱达荷州大学和奥本大学的项目小组将：1）分形和表征（通过光谱学）生物油，将油化学转化为树脂，并掺入纳米原纤化纤维素以改善其性能; 2）开发与热固性类型的木材/生物树脂复合材料相容的增材制造技术，掺入增强剂，例如生物炭和长天然纤维，3）通过ASTM测试评估、模拟和预测复合材料性能，并将防火和耐久性测试数据纳入神经网络模型，以优化材料性能;以及4）通过为建筑、工程和建筑行业以及市政当局开发复原力评估工具，促进住房建筑市场向更具复原力的建筑模式转变，并制定教育这些利益攸关方的课程和教学战略。这些和其他项目活动将教育约100名高中生，40名本科生和9名研究生，以及培训三名博士后学者，并指导六名早期职业教师。该项目还利用导师网络的方法，以实现一个上级的指导经验，并促进团队的研究人员之间更广泛的合作。从这个项目中获得的科学知识将允许在两个EPSCoR州，爱达荷州和亚拉巴马更好地利用木材废料，从而提高住房的可负担性和可持续性，最终有助于缓解气候变化。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Nonrenewable resources underpin our country’s critical infrastructure and as a result, many of our renewable resources are underutilized or wasted. The current housing economy operates on a model that damages the environment rather than a circular one that coexists with it. For example, buildings emit more than one-third of greenhouse gases globally and lumber mills producing housing construction materials currently convert only 40% of wood volume to lumber, leaving the remainder to be disposed of. This Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2 Focused EPSCoR Collaboration (RII Track-2 FEC) award will allow University of Idaho and Auburn University project teams to create a foundational framework to utilize renewable and waste feedstocks to make and utilize 100% bio-based materials for the Advanced Housing Manufacturing Industry of the Future. This project’s research activities and those developing the future workforce for this industry will be performed by a diverse interjurisdictional and interdisciplinary team, laying the foundation for transformational change in one of the country’s largest industries, housing construction. It will provide outreach to high school chemistry students and educate college undergraduate and graduate students, as well as mentor postdoctoral scholars and early-career faculty members. Two NSF EPSCoR states, Idaho and Alabama, will experience economic enhancements from this project’s technology developments and industry partnerships that capitalize on their strong timber industries.The overall goal of this project is to develop the science, technology, and educational frameworks required to enable an Advanced Housing Manufacturing Industry of the Future through the necessary intersection of unique interdisciplinary collaborations. Specifically, project teams at the University of Idaho and Auburn University will: 1) fractionate and characterize (via spectroscopy) bio-oils, chemically transform the oils into resins, and incorporate nanofibrillated cellulose to improve their properties; 2) develop additive manufacturing technology that is compatible with thermosetting type wood/bio-resin composites, incorporate reinforcing agents, such as biochar and long natural fibers, evaluate the properties of the composites via rheometry, thermal analysis, and spectroscopy, and 3-D print prototype building wall panels for evaluation; 3) evaluate, simulate, and predict composite material performance through ASTM tests, and incorporate fire and durability test data into neural network models to optimize material performance; and 4) promote housing construction market transformation toward more resilient building paradigms by developing resilience assessment tools for the architecture, engineering and construction industry and municipalities, and to develop curricular and pedagogical strategies for educating these stakeholders. These and other project activities will educate approximately 100 high school, 40 undergraduate, and nine graduate students, as well as train three postdoctoral scholars, and mentor six early-career faculty members. This project also utilizes a mentor-network approach to achieve a superior mentoring experience for the and foster broader collaborations among the team’s researchers. The scientific knowledge gained from this project will allow for better use of timber waste materials in two EPSCoR states, Idaho and Alabama, thereby increasing housing affordability and sustainability, ultimately contributing to the mitigation of climate change.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.