Enhanced Performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete with Atomic Polymer Technology

The atomic polymer technology in form of mesoporous inorganic polymer (MIP) can effectively improve material durability and performance of concrete by dramatically increase inter/intragranular bond strength of concrete at nano-scale. The strategy of MIP is fundamentally different from most additives currently on the market for industrial applications. When MIP is added to a concrete or masonry mix, this atomic-level bonding means that the strength of the cement is defined by the strength of its atomic bonds; these bonds are incredibly strong. Atomic-level bonding also translates the flexibility of the MIP molecule, which is built like a coil, lending strong tensile and flexural strength, thus reducing the vulnerability of concrete to cracking. On the other hand, the recycle concrete aggregates from the demolished structures, when reused in concrete, often exhibit relatively low mechanical performance. It is thus anticipated that the inclusion of MIP in recycle aggregate concrete (RAC) can effectively improve its performance and long term durability. The objectives of the proposed study are two-fold: (1) to evaluate the performance of RAC with MIP, and (2) to assess improved performance and condition of RAC using embedded smart piezoelectric sensors/actuators. The findings in RAC with MIP resulted from this study will promote the widespread application of recycled concrete in engineering, improve sustainability of RAC structures, and provide viable long term health monitoring techniques for RAC. 17.