Advanced Materials
Research in Advanced Materials explores novel processing, characterization and design techniques for construction materials to build, repair, monitor, and even power our surrounding infrastructure. Material systems include polymers, composites, cement-based materials and concrete, and asphalts.
Led by Professors Yin and Kawashima, the department’s research in advanced materials has recently focused on the following representative projects:
- Development of 3D printing concretes through rheological characterization and processing;
- Alternative aggregates/clinkers/binders for concrete to reduce carbon footprint by sourcing from by-products of waste-to-energy, mineral carbon sequestration, and harvesting metal hydroxides from seawater;
- Multifunctional building envelope materials for energy harvesting and storage, thermal management and temperature conditioning, and smart sensing and control.
- Virtual experiments and manufacture of novel advanced materials including multiphase flow, nanocomposites, and multilayered materials and structures.