Magnetorheological Cementitious Nanocomposites Tuned for Active Control and Digital Construction

On Friday 16 June 2023, the event entitled "Magnetorheological Cementitious Nanocomposites Tuned for Active Control and Digital Construction" will be held in the Aula Albenga of the Politecnico. The seminar will focus on new cement matrix materials, 'smart materials' and their printing by 3D Concrete Printing, and will have as guest speaker Professor Konstantin Sobolev - PhD Concrete Sustainability and Resilience Center Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering and Applied Science University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Abstract

This research developed the Magnetorheological Cementitious Inks based on compositions incorporating various proportions of Portland cement, ferrous Class-F fly ash, nanosilica, and nanoalumina. The inks were characterized for rheological response under a magnetic field in order to better understand the effects of doping cement with magnetic material for application in "4D-printing" of cementitious "smart materials". Control groups doped with industrial-grade magnetite powder (primarily used as a pigment) were likewise mixed and characterized to provide contrast to coal-combustion by-product fly ash. Mixtures supplemented with ferromagnetic particles showed increased yield stress when exposed to the applied magnetic field, leading to non-Newtonian rheological models exhibiting ‘sticky particles’ patterns, as discussed herein. These results suggest that the principle of utilizing an applied magnetic field to modify the flow and slump of cementitious materials tuned for active control and extrusion through 3D-printing apparatus is worthy of further pursuit and development.

Biography

Doctor Konstantin Sobolev is a Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI (USA). Dr. Sobolev has been developing innovative and effective technologies for advanced materials, including high-performance cement and concrete. Dr. Sobolev has published more than 200 articles in research journals and proceedings of scientific conferences in English, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. Doctor Sobolev is a member of Mexican Academy of Sciences (AMC), a fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), a founding chair of ACI committee 241(236D) "Nanotechnology of Concrete," and a former chair of “Nanotechnology-Based Concrete Materials” subcommittee AFN10(1) of TRB - Transportation Research Board of National Academies (USA).

Event organised by the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering - DISEG of the Politecnico