CD Laboratory for Performance-Based Optimization of Binder Composition and Concrete Manufacturing

The research work here is dedicated to the improvement and further development of concrete as a building material. Based on experimental characterisation on the one hand and modelling of the relevant chemical and physical processes on the other, application-oriented basic knowledge in the field of cement and concrete technology is being expanded for the development of innovative solutions.

As there is a very wide range of binders and additives available for concrete production, there are many possibilities for developing new types of concrete in terms of workability, durability and achievable mechanical properties. However, this requires detailed knowledge of the properties of the concrete components, the material structure and the processes involved. A hybrid research approach supplements the experimental characterisation of the properties of the material components by modelling the processes that take place. For this purpose, an experimentally validated multi-scale model is used, which establishes the relationship between the concrete properties and the material composition. Based on this, sensitivities of the material behaviour with regard to a change in the composition and/or the components used can be identified and ultimately the concrete can be optimised in a targeted manner.

The application-specific optimisations include, for example, improved heat resistance and durability of concrete, improved mechanical properties and optimised processes in concrete production, taking into account the interaction between concrete and formwork. In addition, the multi-scale approach enables alternative aggregates and additives to be taken into account, whereby their effect on the physical properties of the concrete is analysed. Attention is also paid to the hydration kinetics and their control with the help of the composition of the binder.

Thanks to the new methods for mapping concrete behaviour, knowledge is being gained that can be used to develop new types of cement-bound building materials. With regard to targeted optimisation, it should be possible in future to find the optimum composition and the best possible combination of concrete components for specific applications.