Browse all of our concrete science related research briefs below, or explore by topic via the links in the right side bar (on desktop browsers) or at the bottom of this page (on mobile browsers).
Research efforts are underway to better understand nanoparticle packing density at the scale of hundreds of micrometers in cement paste, where a binary mixture of clinker grains and saturated pore...
Certain aggregates that are used to make concrete contain amorphous silica. This silica can react with alkalies in the cement paste pore solution and form a gel. This reaction is called alkali-...
The Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) causes expansion and cracking in concrete which can result in structural problems in concrete infrastructure. ASR gel, formed from a chemical reaction between...
Creep is the gradual structural deformation in concrete under a load. While creep does not necessarily cause concrete to fail or break apart, it is known to impact on the durability of concrete...
Freeze-thaw damage is a potentially serious deterioration process that occurs in concrete structures in cold climates. While it is known that using certain deicing salts can aggravate the damage,...
Alkali–silica reaction (ASR) occurs in some concretes between the highly alkaline pore solution and reactive silica components of certain aggregates. An alkali-silica gel forms that may expand...
The energy entering, reflected, absorbed, and emitted by the earth are components of the earth's radiative budget. Modifications to surface albedo, a measure of the solar energy the earth’s...
A new white paper summarizes the first five years of research results from the Concrete Science Platform (CSP) of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub. Concrete sustainability begins at the most...
Drying shrinkage, resulting from the action of water and dissolved ions in the various pores in cement paste, can cause substantial problems in the use of concrete, such as surface cracking. This...
Applying glass science tools to cement provides new insights into the relationship between nanoscale composition and macroscopic properties. Our analysis predicts a family of compositions at which...