Transformation of Engineering Tools to Increase Material Efficiency of Concrete

The research will identify critical relationships for advanced development of concrete systems in the face of unprecedented need. Specifically, this work will advance concrete research for application in sustainable transportation infrastructure by leveraging the integration of materials, structural, and environmental themes. This work will be addressed through the formulation of life cycle inventories and life cycle assessments for concrete to provide a database for informed decision‐making, followed by the formulation of multi‐criteria selection tools for selecting appropriate amounts of cement in concrete mixtures and tools for efficient design of concrete based on performance with other materials. Finally, models will be formulated to assess the effects of material longevity on improved sustainability of concrete transportation infrastructure systems. The proposed work will create new paradigms of how concrete systems can be engineered to synergistically mitigate GHG emissions while lowering cost and improving functionality. This work will lead to development of robust datasets and decision‐making tools to better quantify the environmental impacts and costs associated with green concrete infrastructure decisions as well as permit comparisons of most efficient improvements. The findings will be used to inform how performance variables can be used to target materials selection and improve the design of concrete infrastructure systems. This work will improve tools available to public and private decision makers that can aid in guiding policy and planning decisions for concrete production and use.

• Record URL:
  https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/project/transformation-engineering-tools-increase-material-efficiency-concrete

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $94554
• Contract Numbers:

  65A0686 TO 027

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

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

  California Department of Transportation

  1227 O Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95843
• Managing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  University of California, Davis

  Institute of Transportation Studies
  Davis, CA  United States  95616
• Project Managers:

  Iacobucci, Lauren

• Performing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  University of California, Davis

  1 Shields Ave
  Davis, California  United States  95616
• Principal Investigators:

  Miller, Sabbie A

• Start Date: 20200101
• Expected Completion Date: 20210930
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Admixtures; Cement; Concrete; Decision support systems; Environmental impacts; Greenhouse gases; Materials; Performance based specifications; Pollutants; Reinforcement (Engineering); Service life; Tools
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Materials; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01717661
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: 65A0686 TO 027
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 19 2019 8:07PM