Novel concretes made using supplementary cementitious materials and seawater (UM)

The production and curing of concrete utilizes billions of tons of freshwater every year. This is a major concern, especially in regions with water shortfalls. The research team has previously explored seawater-mixed concretes, and shown promising performance of such concrete, as long as steel reinforcement is not used. The objective of this research project is to show a proof-of-concept of using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and seawater. Specifically: (1) Cement pastes will be designed with 60% PLC, 20% limestone, and 20% fly ash as binder. Freshwater and seawater will be compared. Cement paste hydration will be studied using isothermal calorimetry (7 days), thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (up to 91 days). (2) Cement mortars will be made and the flow measured in fresh state; and strength and bulk resistivity will be measured up to 91 days. (3) Concretes will be made and their slump, air content, and density measured in fresh state, and strength, and bulk resistivity will be measured up to 91 days. (4) In total four mixtures with varying water types will be tested to develop concrete utilizing SCMs and seawater that maintains performance with respect to control concrete mixtures.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $46,986.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348330

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Coastal Research and Transportation Education (CREATE) University Transportation Center

  Texas State University
  San Marcos, TX  United States  78666

  University of Miami, Coral Gables

  Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
  Coral Gables, FL  United States  33146
• Managing Organizations:

  Coastal Research and Transportation Education (CREATE) University Transportation Center

  Texas State University
  San Marcos, TX  United States  78666
• Project Managers:

  Bruner, Britain

  Kulesza, Stacey

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Miami, Coral Gables

  Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
  Coral Gables, FL  United States  33146
• Principal Investigators:

  Suraneni, Prannoy

  Nanni, Antonio

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20261231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Admixtures; Alternatives analysis; Cement; Fresh water; Materials selection; Mix design; Seawater
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01978097
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Coastal Research and Transportation Education (CREATE) University Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348330
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 31 2026 11:06AM