Evaluating Structural Performance and Durability of Precast Elements Incorporating Nano-Engineered Concrete

Low-clinker concrete (LCC) offers a sustainable alternative by replacing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) with high volume of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and fillers. Limestone filler and clay deposits present promising options to prepare LCC due to their global abundance and consistent quality, offering a viable replacement for diminishing SCM supplies. Despite LCC having demonstrated potential in laboratory studies, one major concern is whether LCC can provide sufficient strength and durability to meet the requirements for precast structural members. Precast concrete elements, including beams, slabs, and columns, are essential in modern infrastructure, including bridges, tunnels, and highway barriers, due to their load-bearing capabilities, efficiency, and durability. Replacing high-clinker cement with SCMs alters hydration kinetics, setting time, and mechanical properties, which could impact load-bearing capacity, cracking resistance, deflection behavior, and fatigue performance of precast components. Additionally, shrinkage, creep, and early-age strength development are critical factors for precast applications, as these influence handling, transportation, and installation in real-world conditions. LCC has low reactivity, so there is a critical need to incorporate nanomaterials (NM) to accelerate hydration, enhance early-age strength, and densify the microstructure to ensure adequate performance for precast applications. In particular, NM can mitigate the slow hydration associated with high SCM/filler replacement and help restore early-age stiffness and strength, which are essential for demolding and early handling. This research aims to evaluate the feasibility of LCC made with high content of LF in precast structural elements by conducting a rigorous assessment of structural behavior, durability, and compliance with industry standards. Furthermore, the integration of NM is expected not only to refine the microstructure and reduce porosity but also to improve transport properties, mechanical performance, and long-term durability, addressing key limitations of current LCC systems. The potential of the role of NM improving the structural performance of LCC precast elements will also be assessed. Through experimental testing and mixture design optimization, the study will provide data-driven insights to ensure structural integrity while promoting sustainability. The findings will contribute to the advancement of resilient and high-performance transportation infrastructure.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $255,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348339

• Sponsor Organizations:

  University of Texas at Arlington

  Box 19308
  Arlington, TX  United States  76019-0308
• Managing Organizations:

  Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla

  Department of Engineering
  202 University Center
  Rolla, MO    65409
• Performing Organizations:

  Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla

  Department of Engineering
  202 University Center
  Rolla, MO    65409
• Principal Investigators:

  Khayat, Kamal

• Start Date: 20260601
• Expected Completion Date: 20270531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cement; Concrete; Durability; Nanostructured materials; Precast concrete; Structural analysis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01999120
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Durable and Resilient Transportation Infrastructure
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348339
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 13 2026 3:31PM