Even though concrete is a great invention, it has the negative aspect of being a weaker material when it comes to bending or tension when compared to ECC. This enhanced engineered cement composites is like regular concrete but with enhanced properties, for example, bending without breaking. Instead of ECC cracking or breaking with weather
damage or when weight is applied, micro cracks appear that are self-controlled
and won’t breakdown like regular concrete. Overall concrete
becomes brittle and overtime will need maintenance more frequently then ECC. ECC
has a longer life expectancy, because it is made to be flexible and does not
break down as concrete would. This technology has changed the field of
engineering in many ways and helps my field operate with more productivity. For
a civil engineer, if they can get the same job done and have this structure last longer with
less maintenance needed in the future, this will increase their work productivity
greatly. The durability of engineered cement composites is more reliable then
regular concrete. In the article “Engineered Cement Composites: Bendable Concrete” it states, “The 40% lighter ECC is also 500 times more resistant to cracking, 37% less expensive, consumes 40% less energy, and produces 39% less carbon dioxide than regular concrete.”
This new material has been used in the core of many high-rise buildings. The ECC core is so durable it is used in tall buildings in areas with high risk for earthquakes. (The purpose of this core is to help absorb the energy made from these earthquakes.) Another way ECC has helped my field operate is the safety this material insures when used. Everything a civil engineer builds will be used daily by a human, and our main goal is to build a useable and safe structure. When using ECC there is no new equipment necessary when applying it to the construction site. You would apply ECC as you would regular concrete with the same equipment, therefore the operating cost are the same. Another aspect to look at with this development that changes how my field operates, are the future planned enhancements to ECC. Professor Li has been working on adding to ECC a self-healing function that heals its self after it has been damaged. He also plans on adding a "smart function" where the ECC knows when it has been damaged, and alerts a monitoring system. It’s a civil engineers dream to work with a material that doesn’t crack, break, and requires minimum maintenance. The field of civil engineering is unbelievable and there is always something new being developed. This invention of engineered cement composites discovered by a civil engineer is an amazing technological development. Why wouldn’t you choose a material more durable, safer, cheaper and that requires minimum future maintenance?
This sounds like an extremely important technological advancement, since cement is used for countless applications in our world, and a lot of those applications support people, and therefore our lives depend on its reliability. It is also obvious that cement is not an ideal material, since we frequently see cement with cracks in it, and crumbling. ECC sounds like a great alternative, and it sounds like it doesn’t really have any downsides as opposed to regular cement. Since civil engineers are constantly facing the issue of safety, reliability, and durability of materials, this seems like a huge development for the profession. The application of ECC cores in high-rise buildings is very interesting, and really shows that ECC is playing an important role in making the world a safer place. I like how you pointed out that “When using ECC there is no new equipment necessary when applying it to the construction site,” since with most new technological development, there is usually an issue with how to obtain the infrastructure to implement the technology. This can sometimes be a crippling issue for new technology, but it is good to hear that ECC does not face this issue, and can be used with the same materials that we already use for regular concrete. ECC sounds like a perfect alternative to concrete that will benefit our world greatly.
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ReplyDeleteConcrete is a component used in virtually every structure built in the last 50 years, yet, until recently it has had little advancement in technology. Yes, methods and techniques have evolved over the years, but the basis of concrete and cement has remained relatively untouched. It seems very odd to me that as much as technology has advanced, this building product has not.
ReplyDeleteFor this reason, the development of Engineered Cement Composites is extraordinary! The fact that this new product is lighter, cheaper, and better for the environment is an added bonus. With former concrete products there was almost 100% guarantee that the product was going to crack. The solution was just to control the cracking through the use of control and expansion joints. With the material properties of Engineered Cement Composites these methods may soon be a thing of the past.
In the end, if every future structure was built with this new technology it would not only make the job of civil engineers easier, but the world would be a much safer place. With preventative maintenance periods extended longer than previously imagined, the overall life expectancy could become very long. This advantage alone could save everyone money in the long run.
I really enjoyed reading this review of engineered cement composites. I’ve heard of them briefly before, as I too am a civil engineering major, but I have not really heard a full description of engineered cement composites. I was unaware of all the benefits. I liked how you cited articles and gave some percentages. It really helped make the point that engineered cement composites are more practical, cost efficient, and environmentally friendly than normal concrete.
ReplyDeleteAs for the applications of this new technology, you mentioned its use in buildings. I think it’s wonderful that a material has been invented that could help buildings withstand earthquakes. This helps with damage costs and better ensures the public’s safety. I wonder how engineered cement composites could be applied to the transportation sub field of civil engineering. Though there could be less maintenance on roads, I wonder if ECC is the right choice for roads. The more flexible material could have a negative impact on the environment. Cars’ tires push off the surface of the road, and a harder material is better in this circumstance. When the road material is harder, cars are able to use the energy (gas) they expend more efficiently. With ECC’s bendability, it could decrease the efficiency of cars. This in turn could have a negative impact on the environment as cars get less gas mileage, thus expelling more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
With that in mind, I do think that engineered cement composites are a great invention and will have many applications in the future.