Materials and Environment

The mission of the section is to accumulate and transmit knowledge relating to the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of materials that may be used for architectural and civil engineering applications. Special attention is devoted to the sustainability and environmental aspects. Research is therefore conducted on self-healing materials, extending the lifecycle of structures, high-performance materials, reducing volumes of raw materials used, innovative fabrication techniques, additive manufacturing, and more. In order to reduce the carbon emissions associated with construction, materials with low-impact binders are developed, such as geopolymers made from waste materials or calcined-clay-based binders.

The research is on many topics done in close collaboration with other groups, e.g., machine learning and advanced sensors for material health monitoring to ensure safe and low-maintenance structures, multifunctional structures, heat-absorbing facades, green concrete structures, and low-impact construction technologies for an adaptive and resilient built environment.