4D Monitoring of Concrete Alteration (4DMoCA)

This project will investigate the alteration processes of concrete, mortar and cement under the extreme conditions met by our infrastructures in contact with the geosphere. In numerous environments, such as underground infrastructures, oil and gas boreholes or geothermal power plants, concrete is the first interface between engineered structures and the geological media.

The damage, physical-chemical-thermal and hydraulic alterations are common issues limiting the lifetime and efficiency of the infrastructures. Thanks to in situ experiments performed with 4D microtomography, direct visualisation of transient processes in concrete and cements is now enabled at realistic conditions (pression, temperature and chemistry).

Using new testing devices developed by the PI, the contact between these materials and aggressive geological fluids can be performed and visualised in situ using laboratory and synchrotron microtomography techniques. These datasets will help assess in 4D alteration mechanisms such as carbonation, dehydrations or sulphate attacks. The student will via these experiments and using damage theory analyses be able to quantity the mechanisms and their contribution at microscale.

Upscaling to engineered infrastructure will be enabled by multi scale modelling and aims to provide guidance to extend the durability of our concrete infrastructure for Georesources exploitation. EPSRC research areas:

This project is interdisciplinary, mainly based on Gound Engineering sciences which will draw benefits for Carbon capture and storage / energy storage / hydrogen and alternative energy sectors.