NSF PATH - Functionally Graded Cement-Based Materials for Residential Construction

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Different techniques will be used in this project for different stages. Here are brief description of all these techniques used.

1. Co-extrusion technique is used to fabricate functionally graded cellular cement composites (FGCCC).

2. Extrusion and pressing is used to fabricate functionally graded fiber reinforced cement composites (FGFRCC).

3. For a successful extrusion of cement-based functionally graded material, the relative rheological properties of different layers need to be adjusted properly.

4. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image with image analysis technique enables clear view of porosity or fiber gradation in our two different material systems.

5. Two Parameter Method is used as a fracture testing method to characterize homogeneous FGCCC and FGFRCC.

6. Digital image correlation (DIC) data is used to inversely compute the cohesive properties of FRCC.

7. For numerical simulation, a cohesive-zone FEM failure model using measured cohesive properties will be used to simulate damage process of FGFRCC.

8. Optimization technique can be used to design optimal gradation of fiber volume fraction in FGFRCC subject to desired properties.