Inventors say they will demonstrate an improved, more environmentally friendly Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) in “Understanding and Using Bendable Concrete” during a short course set for June 24-26 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
This new material – which is up to 40 percent lighter than regular concrete and resists cracking 500 times better – bends but does not break because specially coated microscopic polymer fibers slide past each other instead of snapping under stress.
Reducing the brittle nature of concrete opens a new world of possibilities for commercial construction and civil infrastructure by enhancing durability, safety and sustainability, says a press release about the educational session.
The course will be taught by inventors Victor Li, E; Benjamin Wylie, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Michigan; and Michael D. Lepech, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University.
They will cover materials, applications and economics of bendable concrete.
More information about “Understanding and Using Bendable Concrete” and how to register is available at InterPro.engin.umich.edu/Bendable Concrete or (734) 647-7200.
Applied using traditional methods, this advanced synthetic fiber-reinforced material offers unique properties. It reduces or eliminates steel reinforcement, trims project cost, allows faster precast or on-site construction, minimizes maintenance costs, and reduces environmental impacts.
