Shiho Kawashima

Shiho Kawashima

Research Interest

Shiho Kawashima’s research interests are in cement and concrete science. In particular, she is interested in characterizing and tailoring the rheology (or flow behavior) of fresh cement-based systems to improve the concrete casting process. Over its lifetime, concrete transitions from behaving as a viscoelastic fluid-like material to a rock-like solid. And although the first phase is fleeting compared to the latter (hours versus decades), this earlier life period is intimately tied to materials processing. Therefore the corresponding rheological properties are critical in determining the feasibility and efficiency of the placement process during construction, as well as the eventual performance of the structure in place. In addition, Kawashima is interested in other materials science aspects of cement-based materials, including nano-/microstructural characterization and modification, to improve their properties for various applications.

In particular, Kawashima’s interest and expertise is in the development of characterization techniques to probe the viscoelastic properties of fresh cement-based systems and the design of these systems to facilitate various construction applications.  For instance, 3D concrete printing presents the advantage and challenge of casting form-free and vibration-free, compared to conventional static casting techniques. Therefore the rheological and solidification properties must be precisely controlled, which Kawashima’s work aims to do.

Kawashima received a BS in civil engineering and engineering mechanics from Columbia University in 2003, an MS in structural engineering and materials from Northwestern University in 2009, and a PhD in structural engineering and materials from Northwestern University in 2012. She is a member of American Concrete Institute, involved in committees 236, 237, 238, 238-A, and 241.

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Northwestern University, 2007 - 2012
  • Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University, 2013 – Present
  • American Concrete Institute (ACI)
  • American Ceramics Society (ACerS)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2017
  • Forbes’ 30 under 30: Science, 2015
  • American Concrete Industry’s Concrete Research Council; “Interaction of Admixtures and its Effect on the Evolution of Thixotropic Breakdown and Recovery of Cementitious Systems (ACI CRC #79)”; Sole-PI; 01/2014 – 12/2015; Total: $10,000.
  • U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety, Washington, D.C.; “Mitigating external corrosion of pipelines through nano-modified cement-based coatings (US DOT DTPH56-13-H-CAAP06)”; 01/2014 – 06/2015; Total: $135,774.
  • National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA; “BRIGE: Characterizing the rheological and microstructural evolution of oil well cement slurries under elevated temperature and pressure conditions (NSF EEC-1342377)”; Sole-PI; 09/2013 – 08/2015; Total: $171,796.
  • Provost’s Grants Program for Junior Faculty, Columbia University; “Elucidating the contribution of thixotropy on the flow curve and critical shear rate of fresh cement mortars”; Sole-PI; 08/2015 – 07/2016; Total: $25,000.
  • RPM Belgium & Vandex Group, Tielt, Belgium; “Investigation of the mechanisms underlying crystalline waterproofing”; Sole-PI; 08/2015 – 07/2017; Total: $220,175.
  • Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea; “Functional Nano-fibers for Smart Concrete (Sub-Award)”; Lead PI at Columbia University; 01/2017 – 06/2018; Total: $150,000.
  • National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA; “CAREER: Tailoring Rheological Behavior and Interlayer Properties of 3-D Printing Concrete (NSF 1653419)”; Sole-PI; 06/2017 – 05/2022; Total: $500,000.
  • Kawashima, S. and S.P. Shah. “Early-age autogenous and drying shrinkage behavior of cellulose fiber-reinforced cementitious materials,” Cement and Concrete Composites, 33(2): 201-208, 2011.
  • Kawashima, S., P. Hou, D. Corr and S.P. Shah. “Modification of cement-based materials with nanoparticles,” Cement and Concrete Composites, 36(0): 8-15, 2012.
  • Kawashima, S., J. Seo, D. Corr, M. Hersam and S.P. Shah. “Dispersion of CaCO3 nanoparticles by sonication and surfactant treatment for application in fly ash-cement systems,” Materials and Structures: 1-13, 2013
  • Kawashima, S., M. Chaouche, D. Corr and S.P. Shah. “Rate of thixotropic rebuilding of cement pastes modified with highly purified attapulgite clays,” Cement and Concrete Research, 53(0): 112-118, 2013.
  • Kawashima, S., M. Chaouche, D. Corr and S.P. Shah. “Influence of purified attapulgite clays on the adhesive properties of cement pastes as measured by the tack test,” Cement and Concrete Composites, 48(0): 35-41, 2014. 
  • Qian, Y. and S. Kawashima. “Flow onset of fresh mortars in rheometers: Contributions of paste deflocculation and sand particle migration,” Cement and Concrete Research, 90: 97-103, 2016.
  • Qian, Y. and S. Kawashima. “Use of creep-recovery protocol to measure static yield stress of fresh cement pastes,” Cement and Concrete Research, 90: 73-79, 2016.
  • Ma, S., T. Yu, M. Chaouche, Y. Wang and S. Kawashima. “Phase evolution of oil well cement slurries with nanoadditive at elevated temperature and pressure conditions,” ACI Materials Journal, 113(5), 2016.
  • Jang, S.H., D.P. Hochstein, S. Kawashima, & H. Yin. "Experiments and micromechanical modeling of electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube/cement composites with moisture." Cement and Concrete Composites, 77: 49-59, 2017.
  • Kim, J-H., S.H. Kwon, S. Kawashima, H.J. Yim and M. Choi. “Rheology of cement-based materials under pumping pressure,” Cement and Concrete Composites, 77: 60-67, 2017.