Project description
Untangling the long-term behaviour of ultra-high-performance concrete
Concrete is the most used engineered material in the world. However, for each kilogram produced, an almost equivalent mass of CO2 is emitted. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), used for a couple of decades, is characterised by superior durability and excellent mechanical properties, offering a 26 % reduction in carbon emissions and a 24 % cost advantage according to comparative LCA and LCC analysis on benchmark structures. Increasing its use, particularly in civil infrastructure, will require a greater understanding of its long-term performance. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the InCreeGuIng project aims to comprehensively characterise and predict UHPC's response to creep and fatigue and the creep-fatigue coupled effect (cyclic creep). To that end, it will employ multiscale experimental tests and multi-physics and mesoscale numerical methods.
Objective
Concrete, as the most widely used construction material, is responsible for about 7% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Addressing this environmental challenge within the construction sector necessitates urgent development and adoption of multi-beneficial materials characterized by low carbon emissions, superior durability, and excellent mechanical properties. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) emerges as such a material, offering a 26% reduction in carbon emissions and a 24% cost advantage according to comparative LCA and LCC analysis on benchmark structures. UHPC is the ideal candidate material for broad application, particularly in construction of new and retrofitting existing aging infrastructure subjected to cyclic and sustained actions, including bridges, tunnel linings, wind turbine towers, roads, and aircraft runways.
However, the lack of knowledge regarding UHPC's long-term performance, including creep and fatigue behaviour, hinders its widespread use in infrastructure projects. The objective of this project is to unlock this critical knowledge gap and develop structural design guidelines aimed at driving the construction sector's transition towards carbon neutrality through the use of high-performance materials that enable us to build better, for longer and employing lower material volumes, which all imply reduced consumption of raw resources and reduced environmental impacts in the short and long term. Employing multiscale experimental tests, multi-physics and mesoscale numerical methods, the project aims to comprehensively characterize and predict UHPC's response to creep and fatigue, and the creep-fatigue coupled effect (cyclic creep).
InCreeGuIng's breakthrough will fill the current knowledge gaps in understanding UHPC's long-term performance. This initiative will enhance Europe's competitiveness in constructing eco-friendly, resilient, and durable infrastructure by providing practical design tools to expedite their widespread adoption.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy wind energy
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science multiphysics
- engineering and technology civil engineering transportation engineering highway engineering
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics numerical analysis
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
20133 Milano
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.