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H2020Doctoral network2019–2024

SMARTINCS · Self-healing, Multifunctional, Advanced Repair Technologies IN Cementitious Systems

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2019-12-01 → 2024-05-31
EU contribution
€4,030,444
Participants
11
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Self-healing, Multifunctional, Advanced Repair Technologies IN Cementitious Systems

Cracks in concrete impair the durability as they form pathways for entrance of aggressive agents. The objective of SMARTINCS was to develop smart and eco-friendly mortar/concrete technologies and self-healing strategies to extend the service-life of concrete structures. This allows to reduce investments in maintenance and costly repair activities and reduces the use of resources and production of waste, in line with Europe’s Circular Economy strategy. The SMARTINCS consortium gathered 8 research institutes and 3 companies, based in 6 European countries, supported by additional partner organizations. SMARTINCS brought together pioneers in self-healing concrete and gathered experienced scientists from relevant disciplines such as concrete technology, polymer chemistry, microbiology, electrochemical corrosion monitoring, modelling, service life design, life cycle assessment and entrepreneurship. This strong consortium trained 15 young scientists in prevention of deterioration of new concrete infrastructure by implementing durability-based approaches in the design of concrete structures. They all participated in multiple secondments and four tailor-made training schools to broaden their background and stimulate collaboration. From all ESRs, 5 already successfully defended their PhD thesis and 8 more have their PhD defense scheduled later this year. SMARTINCS has contributed to transforming the ESRs into business-oriented researchers and enhanced their career perspectives.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

SMARTINCS will train a new generation of entrepreneurial early-stage researchers (ESR) in prevention of deterioration of (i) new concrete infrastructure by innovative, multifunctional self-healing strategies; (ii) existing concrete infrastructure by advanced repair technologies. The project brings together the expertise of research institutes pioneering in smart cementitious materials, strengthened by leading companies along the SMARTINCS value chain, as well as certification and pre-standardization agencies. They will train 15 ESRs to respond to the clear demand to implement new life-cycle thinking and durability-based approaches to the design of concrete structures, minimizing the use of resources and production of waste in line with Europe’s Circular Economy strategy. The new generation of researchers will be immediately employable to support the introduction of the novel technologies allowing the expected spectacular growth of the self-healing materials market to take place. By combined experimental research and coupled multiscale models, SMARTINCS moves beyond the state-of-the-art with respect to (1) the efficiency of self-healing concrete, at acceptable cost for real-scale applications; (2) the multi-functionality (corrosion inhibition, self-sensing) of the self-healing solutions, tailored to specific environments; (3) the technologies for local application of healing agents in high risk zones or in high value grouts and repair products. All ESR will receive an extensive entrepreneurial training including the development of dedicated business models. Together with the implementation of self-healing technologies in design codes and service life models and a full assessment of sustainability, the introduction of the novel technologies in the market will be facilitated, improving the European innovation capacity. An adequate gender balance of supervisors and trainers, should persuade female scientists to aspire leading positions in technology and engineering.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITEIT GENT · GentCoordinatorBelgium
  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridSpain
  • AVECOM · Gent-WondelgemBelgium
  • CARDIFF UNIVERSITY · CARDIFFUnited Kingdom
  • KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenBelgium
  • MICROPORE TECHNOLOGIES LTD · Hatton DerbyshireUnited Kingdom
  • POLITECNICO DI MILANO · MilanoItaly
  • RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CONCRETES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA · VALENCIASpain
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT · DelftNetherlands
  • THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE · CAMBRIDGEUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE CORDOBA · CORDOBASpain

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union