News on nanotechnology

Researchers at the Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials (ACBM) carried a back-to-basics approach to address the increased traffic volume that generated an escalating need for high-performance, durable construction materials for roadway pavements. The group chose a systematic study of concrete at the micro- and nanoscales, to develop more effective solutions that achieve the desired performance. This research project, funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), involved a number of research themes. The first theme involved understanding the micro- and nanostructures of concrete; second, development of a new type of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) for slipform (SF) paving processes; third, the researchers are using nanofiber-reinforced concrete in developing the next generation of highway pavements; and finally, nanotechnology shows premise in the development of smart sensors.