College of Engineering

An international team of researchers including members of the Department of Civil Engineering continue to develop building materials that will perform well when they are subjected to harsh environmental exposure. Various materials including reinforced concrete structures exist throughout the world, but their performance and sustainability is compromised in hot and humid climates, particularly salt water environments. In lieu of traditional metallic reinforcement, experiments are being performed on concrete that has been strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). A harsh saline environment is simulated with seawater splash tanks containing fully automated control systems to produce alternate wet-dry cycles. It is also linked with a remote weather station. When combined with high temperatures, it produces one of the most hostile environments for testing the suitability and service life of many materials. Initial results on CFRP samples subjected to high loads for 150 days reveal promising results. The service life of coastal infrastructure systems will be extended producing a more sustainable built environment.