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).
MIT News: Exploring the effects of moisture and drying on cement
May 7, 2019
A highly porous material, cement tends to absorb water from precipitation and even ambient humidity. But according to research conducted by the Hub, as cement dries, its structure also changes...
Research Brief: Simulating the Formation of ASR Gels
April 24, 2019
Alkali-silica-reaction (ASR) is a significant cause of premature concrete deterioration. While it has recieved significant scholarly attention, questions still remain about how the ASR gel can...
Research Brief: Evolving the C-S-H Packing Density at the Microscale
October 2, 2017
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...
Research Brief: Mechanical properties of Alkali Silica gels
August 17, 2017
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-...
Research Brief: Atomistic Modeling of ASR Gel
August 14, 2017
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...
Research Brief: Towards Understanding Cement Paste Creep
January 4, 2017
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...
Research Brief: Examining Freeze-Thaw Damage at the Microscopic Scale
August 31, 2016
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,...
Research Brief: Bottom-up Modeling of ASR in Concrete
March 30, 2016
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...
Research Brief: The Impact of Changes to Surface Albedo on Radiative Forcing
January 27, 2016
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...
Concrete Science - Phase I Summary White Paper
December 9, 2014
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...