Prediction of biosourced concrete properties through artificial intelligence models

Meeting European goals in terms of carbon emissions rises important challenges for the construction industry. Within this context, three leading global materials experts have joined forces in order to propose an end-to-end 
predictive modeling tool that significantly speeds up the designing process of a new eco-material. This project is 
carried out in collaboration between three partners: CESI Ecole d’Ingénieurs, the Polytechnic University of Valencia 
(ICITECH laboratory) and AIMPLAS, academic and research leaders in Spain. 
The work to be carried out at AIMPLAS would involve studying the state of the art, specifically focusing on the 
search for scientific literature and patents to define the main challenges to be addressed in the project, related to the durability and development of new more sustainable fiber protection systems for concrete compared to current ones. Subsequently, an experimental design will be conducted to assess fiber protection using recycled polymers and the enhancement of their sizing with concrete. Various matrices and different types of surface modification or activation will be implemented for subsequent testing on concrete specimens, aiming at mechanical characterization and property evaluation. Additionally, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) will be employed to examine the fiber/matrix adhesion. The research at the UPV will focus on the development of concrete formulations adapted to optimizing the contribution of recycled fibers. The type of fiber (glass, carbon, natural...) and the surface treatment they receive as protection and to improve adhesion are considered as input variables. 
The property objectives will be adapted to the fiber material and its possibilities, considering as main goal properties those related to the influence on the fresh state (consistency and its evolution over time); the influence of protection/size on aspects related to setting time or entrained air; mechanical behavior (effects on compressive strength and tensile behavior in residual strength); and the evolution of properties over time analyzing the durability of the mechanical characteristics and compatibility with the matrix. To evaluate fibers bond on the matrix, a fiber pull-out tests will be proposed. 
During the development of the work, continuous contact with the team dedicated to the development of the fiber in terms of the material, its dimensions and its treatments, and with the group evaluating availability and data base analysis must generate a synergy, optimizing the type of product developed. 
The work carried out at CESI will consist of using the entire database accumulated from all the tests performed in the laboratory to create a predictive modeling tool that can predict the mechanical characteristics of the concrete 
This project is at the cross-road between numerical modeling, experimental characterization and material parameter identification. It is important to highlight that the partners of this project represent all the chain of research and 
development since it goes from the research center (ICITECH, UPV), the modeling tool (CESI) and the fibersmaker (AIMPLAS). 

Funding category: Autre financement privé
Aimplas
PHD title: Doctorat en génie civil
PHD Country: Espagne