Project description
An affordable low-carbon solution for seismic strengthening
Recent earthquakes have called attention to the need for seismic strengthening of substandard buildings. While fibre reinforced polymers (FRPs) are effective for structural fortification, their practical application is inhibited by high production costs, fire safety requirements, and potential health and environmental risks. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the STRENGTH project aims to develop an innovative retrofitting system with customised functionalities using a novel mortar-based composite called GTRGM. Enhanced with eco-friendly materials and industrial by-products, this fire-resistant composite is far less expensive and has a much lower carbon footprint than conventional FRPs. Using a systematic and multiscale empirical approach, STRENGTH will optimise the mechanical properties to suit performance requirements for safer and more seismic-resistant structures.
Objective
Recent major earthquakes (e.g. Turkey (2023), Morocco (2023), Iran (2022)) have highlighted the vulnerability of substandard buildings resulting from poor design and construction practices. Although Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) are effective for structural strengthening, their high cost, fire protection requirements, and potential health and environmental risks limit their widespread use, particularly in developing countries. This underscores the urgent need for more sustainable, durable, and cost-effective retrofitting solutions and improved design regulations for practical application.
STRENGTH addresses these challenges by developing an innovative, low-carbon retrofitting system using a novel mortar-based composite called GTRGM. This composite integrates AR-glass textiles within a geopolymer matrix, providing a fire-resistant and sustainable solution that is approximately 40% more cost-effective and has up to 8 times lower CO2 emissions and environmental impact compared to traditional FRPs. The GTRGM system is designed for flexural, axial, and shear strengthening of reinforced concrete beam and column members.
The project builds on state-of-the-art retrofitting techniques, enhancing them with eco-friendly materials and industrial by-products to achieve optimal mechanical properties. Through a systematic, multi-scale experimental and analytical approach, STRENGTH aims to develop an innovative retrofitting solution with tailored functionalities to meet a wide range of performance requirements for substandard structures. The outcomes of the project will contribute to safer, more resilient structures and reinforce Europe's leadership and competitiveness in the retrofitting sector. By addressing existing knowledge gaps, the project will generate fundamental insights, develop advanced design models, and establish performance-based guidelines to promote the adoption of this innovative strengthening technique, resulting in significant economic and societal benefits.
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.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology materials engineering textiles
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geology seismology
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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-2024-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.
S10 2TN SHEFFIELD
United Kingdom
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.