Note: There is an option to attend this seminar virtually. Please email [email protected] for the Zoom information with the subject line “Qingxu Jin Zoom Link”.

Title: Bendable Concrete: Revolutionizing Resilient Urban Infrastructure

Abstract: To address the challenges of rapidly growing worldwide urbanization, this talk delves into the advancements in concrete technology. Globally, the concrete industry produces an estimated 12 billion tons annually, averaging about 2 tons per person, making it the second most consumed material by mass after water. However, conventional concrete’s brittleness poses safety and durability concerns, especially when subjected to tension-induced cracks. These cracks allow water and other aggressive chemicals to permeate, leading to the corrosion of embedded steel reinforcements.

In response to these challenges, an innovative cementitious composite known as “bendable concrete” has developed. This ultra-ductile material offers tensile ductility over 300 times greater than regular concrete. While retaining similar appearance and mechanical properties as conventional concrete, bendable concrete exhibits unique ductile behavior, producing cracks finer than human hair (<100 µm). Such properties facilitate a self-healing mechanism, analogous to minor paper cuts healing on our fingers. The exceptional ductility could potentially reduce or even eliminate the need for traditional steel reinforcements. This talk will delve deeper into the attributes of bendable concrete, highlighting its high fatigue resistance, self-sensing capabilities, and self-cleaning properties. Furthermore, through illustrative examples, the discussion will showcase how these innovative features pave the way for the next generation of resilient and sustainable concrete infrastructures.

Bio: Dr. Qingxu “Bill” Jin is currently an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University (MSU) within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is also the principal investigator of Resilient, Intelligent, Sustainable & Energy-efficient (RISE) Infrastructure Materials Lab at MSU. Dr. Jin earned his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, with a minor in Materials Science. He served as a guest researcher in the Materials and Structural Systems Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Jin holds dual M.Sc. degrees in Civil Engineering and Natural Resources and Environment from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. A passionate advocate for STEM education, he serves as a STEM Ambassador for MSU. Additionally, he is a member of Sigma Xi and Chi Epsilon. With certifications as a LEED Green Associate and as a licensed professional engineer (PE) in Michigan and Maryland, Dr. Jin is dedicated to advancing innovative sustainable technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the construction industry.