Low-Cost Sustainable Engineered Geopolymer Composites (EGCs) for Repair and New Construction of Transportation

Engineered Geopolymer Composites (EGCs) are ductile strain-hardening geopolymer (GP) based materials that have been recently introduced as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs). While EGCs exhibit mechanical properties exceedingly superior to those of conventional Portland cement concrete (PCC), mass adoption of these emerging composites is expected to be hindered by their cost, which is mainly driven by the use PVA reinforcing fibers, silica fume, and manufactured microsilica sand. To address this key shortcoming, the multidisciplinary team form Louisiana State University and Texas A&M university will develop and characterize novel low-cost EGC materials for repair and new construction of transportation infrastructure in Region 6 by evaluating the use of: (1) calcined clays and fly ash as replacements of commonly used silica fume for GP binders; (2) low-cost PP fiber, PVA fiber, and hybrid systems of PP and PVA fiber; and (3) natural sand instead of commonly used manufactured microsilica sand. To achieve this objective, several GP matrices, and fiber-reinforced GP composites will be developed and comprehensively studied to identify fundamental relationships between materials composition, properties, and microstructure. In turn, this will allow for rational material design and optimization.

• Record URL:
  https://transet.lsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2021/08/21CLSU19.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 21CLSU19

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $300000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Mousa, Momen

• Performing Organizations:

  Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

  P.O. Box 94245, Capitol Station
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Principal Investigators:

  Arce, Gabriel

  Radovic, Miladin

• Start Date: 20210801
• Expected Completion Date: 20230201
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Composite materials; Fiber reinforced materials; Fly ash; Geopolymer concrete; Polyvinyl acetate; Repairing
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01833046
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 20 2022 2:56PM