Nanotechnology and the Concrete World: Small Science for a Big Future
4,588 views · Published 1 April 2014 · 5:05 · Indexed 20 October 2026
Channel: Vanderbilt University · 2014 · Education
Dr. Florence Sanchez, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University (www.cee.vanderbilt.edu) specializes in the study of interfacial interactions (chemical and mechanical) and mass transport processes coupled with chemical reactions as applied to advanced, cement-based composites and environmental systems. Professor Sanchez's research interests include multi-scale experimental characterization (mechanical, chemical, and physical across nano to macro length scales) and computational modeling (molecular dynamics modeling and coupled reactive mass transport modeling) of the nano-engineering, performance, and durability of cement-based composites. Dr. Sanchez is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award in 2006. From 2009 to 2010, she served as Chair for the American Ceramic Society's Cements Division. She is currently a member of the Transportation Research Board Task force on Nanotechnology-Based Concrete Materials (AFN15T), the RILEM technical committee on Reinforced Concrete in the Context of Nuclear Waste Management (TC 226-CNM), and the American Concrete Institute's committee on Materials Science of Concrete (ACI 236) and subcommittee on Nanotechnology of Concrete (ACI 236D). Civil engineering infrastructures include concrete structures (e.g., buildings, dams, bridges, waste treatment plants, waste disposal sites, and nuclear power plants) whose long-term performance and function are critical. The deterioration of these structures with time increases maintainance costs and adversely impacts their operating conditions and increases the risk to public safety. Concrete degradation is one of the most important problems faced by civil infrastructure (ASCE, 2009) and is a large burden on the US economy. Conventional cement-based materials suffer from numerous deficiencies such as lack of ductility, low tensile strength, poor impact resistance, low electrical conductivity, and concerns over long-term durability. To learn more about Vanderbilt, visit http://www.vanderbilt.edu.
