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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S49193/01
Title: FIBRE REINFORCED CEMENT MATRICIES AS SMART, MULTIFUNCTIONAL STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
Principal Investigator: McCarter, Professor WJ
Other Investigators:
Chrisp, Dr C Banfill, Professor PF Chrisp, Professor T
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Dr G Starrs Dr D swift
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of the Built Environment
Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 September 2003 Ends: 31 August 2006 Value (£): 268,322
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Civil Engineering Materials Structural Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Construction
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The research comprises an experimental and theoretical investigation of the electrical and rheological properties of fibre (carbon and steel) reinforced cement composites, with the aim of exploiting these properties in the development of smart, multifunctional structural materials. The electrical response will be studied over a sufficiently wide frequency range (from d.c. to GHz) to allow evaluation of the full range of potential applications. Initial 'electrical' studies will centre on electrode configurations, measurement procedures, frequency effects and establishment of a correlation between mix formulation and fibre percolation threshold value. These investigations, together with Arrhenius relationships, will also allow evaluation of the nature of conduction and polarisation phenomena. This work will also form the basis for a detailed experimental programme to study the influence of stress and crack formation on electrical response, with electrical measurements taken in parallel with standard mechanical tests. This aspect of the testing programme will also reveal if certain frequencies, or frequency ranges, could be more informative with regard to crack monitoring etc. The rheological aspects of the work will establish practical conductive-fibre mix formulations.
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Organisation Website: http://www.hw.ac.uk