Research

Research

The Applied Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Structures develops the materials, systems, and design methods for civil infrastructure that is more resilient to earthquakes and more sustainable over its life.

Resilient infrastructure
01

Smart Materials & Shape Memory Alloys

Shape memory alloys and other smart materials for self-centering, damage-resistant structures in earthquake engineering.

  • SMA-based energy-dissipating devices and applications
  • Novel SMA–FRP and SMA-wire-mesh isolation bearings
  • SMA–steel hybrid hollow-tube bridge piers
  • Optimized SMA bracing for retrofitting steel moment frames
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02

Seismic Resilience & Rehabilitation

Assessing, retrofitting, and designing structures and bridges so infrastructure recovers quickly after major earthquakes.

  • Seismic fragility assessment of SMA-restrained multi-span bridges
  • Seismic resiliency of self-centering steel structures
  • Structural health monitoring of highway bridges
  • Self-centering Energy-absorbing Dual Rocking Core (SEDRC) systems
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03

Green & Low-Carbon Construction

Low-carbon and sustainable construction materials that cut the embodied carbon of the built environment.

  • Novel cementing materials from mine tailings
  • Recycled and carbon-cured rubberized green concrete
  • Replacing cement with wood ash for sustainable concrete
  • 3D printing of concrete from recycled aggregate
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04

Performance-Based & Data-Driven Design

Performance-based and life-cycle design, with machine learning to model, predict, and optimize structural performance.

  • Machine-learning prediction and design of self-centering buildings
  • AI-based design solutions for complex structural systems
  • Life-cycle cost analysis of SMA-LRB isolated bridges
  • Climate-resilient bridge design under multi-hazard environments
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Patents & Innovation

  • Piston-based self-centering brace apparatusU.S., Japan & Canada patents (2017)
  • Geopolymer compositions comprising mine tailings and crushed glassInternational PCT patent application (2015)
  • Spring-based piston bracing deviceU.S. provisional patent application (2018)

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See how these themes translate into publications and the people behind them.

View publications Meet the team