/Wraps/wrap09/controls/api/event_system/render has no handler for Purdue Event Documents of type 'Gilbreth Fellowship Research Proposal'

Data-Driven Design of Upcycled Internal Curing Additives for Durable, Low-Carbon Concrete

September 10, 2026

Share:

Project Description

Concrete shrinkage and cracking remain major barriers to durable, low-carbon infrastructure, particularly as modern mixtures use lower water-to-cement ratios and reduced-clinker binders. Internal curing can mitigate these problems by storing water within the concrete and releasing it during hydration, but conventional approaches rely on costly superabsorbent polymers or pre-wetted lightweight aggregates that complicate batching. This project will develop multifunctional internal-curing additives from clean absorbent manufacturing scrap containing superabsorbent polymer particles and cellulosic fibers. The fellow will establish processing–structure–property relationships linking feedstock composition, particle–fiber architecture, water absorption and release, and dispersion to fresh-state rheology, shrinkage, cracking resistance, strength, and durability. Experimental characterization will be integrated with computational and data-driven methods to model additive–cement interactions and identify formulations that balance multiple competing objectives, including flowability, internal-curing efficiency, mechanical performance, cost, and environmental benefit. Particular emphasis will be placed on rheological modeling and AI-assisted multi-objective optimization to accelerate formulation design and translate laboratory results toward ready-mix and precast concrete applications. The project will advance fundamental understanding of coupled particle, fiber, and cementitious systems while creating a circular-economy pathway for absorbent manufacturing byproducts and enabling more durable, resource-efficient infrastructure. Life-cycle and technoeconomic analyses will quantify benefits relative to internal-curing and shrinkage-mitigation technologies across applications.

Start Date

Spring, Summer, or Fall 2027 

Postdoc Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
Candidates should have research experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • Cementitious materials and concrete durability
  • Internal curing, shrinkage, or cracking mitigation
  • Polymer hydrogels, superabsorbent polymers, or fiber-reinforced materials
  • Rheology of fresh cementitious materials or other concentrated suspensions
  • Computational materials modeling, machine learning, or multi-objective optimization
  • Sustainable construction materials, industrial byproduct utilization, life-cycle assessment, or technoeconomic analysis

The successful candidate should be interested in integrating experimental and computational approaches and working across materials science and construction engineering. Experience with rheometry, concrete mixture design, microstructural characterization, statistical experimental design, or Python-based data analysis is desirable. Candidates must demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations and should be able to work both independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team.

Co-advisors

Kendra A. Erk
Professor of Materials Engineering
School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University
erk@purdue.edu

Chengcheng Tao
Assistant Professor
Bowen School of Construction, Purdue University
tao133@purdue.edu

Bibliography

Schröfl, C.; Erk, K. A.; Siriwatwechakul, W.; Wyrzykowski, M.; Snoeck, D. “Recent Progress in Superabsorbent Polymers for Concrete.” Cement and Concrete Research 151 (2022): 106648. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106648.

Bose, B.; Davis, C. R.; Erk, K. A. “Microstructural Refinement of Cement Paste Internally Cured by Polyacrylamide Composite Hydrogel Particles Containing Silica Fume and Nanosilica.” Cement and Concrete Research 143 (2021): 106400. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106400.

Hiller, D. S.; Seshadri, A. N.; Schröfl, C.; Erk, K. A. “Shrinkage Mitigation and Mechanical Properties of Cement-Based Mortar with Silane-Functionalized Hydrogels.” Journal of Applied Polymer Science 143, no. 14 (2026): e70420. doi: 10.1002/app.70420.

Tao, C.; Massoudi, M. “On the Flow of a Cement Suspension: The Effects of Nano-Silica and Fly Ash Particles.” Materials 17, no. 7 (2024): 1504. doi: 10.3390/ma17071504.

Tao, C., Watts, B., Ferraro, C. C., & Masters, F. J. (2019). A multivariate computational framework to characterize and rate virtual Portland cements. Computer‐Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 34(3), 266-278.

Yan, H., Ding, J., & Tao, C. (2025). A physics-informed neural network solution for rheological modeling of cement slurries. Fluids, 10(7), 184.