Joseba Maruri | Staff Writer
From 3D-printed concrete, category five hurricane simulations to advancements in artificial intelligence, FIU’s continues further research into sustainable solutions.
PantherNOW toured three of the largest testing facilities the campus has to offer, consisting of the Wall of Wind, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, capable of simulating a category five hurricane meant to test the stability of structures.
According to Steven W. Diaz, the site’s Operations Manager, “…the wind tunnel is run by an electrical system that’s cost is dependent on the researcher using it and what kinds of grants they have.”
Raoul Salas, a Ph.D student, focuses his research on maintaining, recording, and analyzing the condition of infrastructure. He specifically focuses on the use of artificial intelligence to detect weathering patterns in structures, lightening the workload in detecting cracks, damage, and potential future collapses.
The system has twelve fans connected to two power stations, pointing through a tunnel towards a rotating platform meant to better measure the wind’s effect and its scalability in its tests.
Another area tests different kinds of concrete, designed to withstand differing forms of stress. Rafael Camilo Gutierrez, a current Ph.D student, focuses on UHPC (Ultra-High Performance Concrete), a concrete solution with metal fibers running through it.
When building with certain materials, especially when drying or mixing concrete, they have the potential to change in different ways over time due to different factors.
Additionally, the concrete’s dependence on metal fibers rather than traditional aggregate, or small stones inside of concrete that hold it together, strengthens its ability to withstand pressure.
Gutierrez mentioned there is a significant amount of attention around this concrete among the engineering community, but for it to be properly implemented within current infrastructure, its normal behaviors need to be recorded to understand how UHPC will react under different conditions.
“UHPC is capable of withstanding 4-6 times the force traditional concrete is capable of holding up,” said Gutierrez.
PantherNOW was given the opportunity to take a look at the concrete testing lab to observe how FIU’s engineering students and faculty take on this task. The concrete testing lab consists of different levels of testing on both small and large scales along with alternative methods of stress application in smaller, cylindrical pods, and in larger pillars.
When Gutierrez put a smaller deposit of UHPS concrete under a large press, it held for about a minute before a small pop was heard, before returning back to normal. A few moments later after more pressure was applied, the concrete pod broke.
Gutierrez pointed out that the UHPC concrete tested at FIU’s facility had different qualities when reacting to high levels of pressure unlike regular concrete.
Firstly, UHPC lasted longer, and secondly, it returned to normal condition momentarily before completely collapsing after initial indications of deterioration unlike the traditional concrete. With this development, Gutierrez believed it could be possible to detect broken or potentially collapsing infrastructure before the structure completely collapses. Both results were visible through line charts on the compression machine.
These innovations contribute to a more weather-resistant and stable future, especially admist Florida’s hurricane-soaked seasons.
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