CEE Seminar:The Search for New Supplementary Cementitious Materials for Concrete

Abstract: The concrete industry is under increasing pressure to reduce the energy used in production of portland cement and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. There are several possible ways to address this challenge, but an optimized balance must be achieved with respect to low cost, high production and high performance for the industry to thrive and grow to meet increasing demand. Material choices and new material development play important roles in this process. Of particular interest is the investigation of new supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), which have the potential for great impact with low disruption. This presentation focuses on the search to broaden resources for SCMs, including calcined clays, natural mineral byproducts from other industries, and reclaimed and remediated fly ashes. Some of the technical and scientific challenges in the development of new materials will be addressed.
Bio: Maria Juenger is a professor and Austin Industries Endowed Fellow in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where she has been since 2002. She received her B.S. degree in chemistry from Duke University and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University. After completing her Ph.D., she was a postdoctoral researcher in civil engineering at UC Berkeley. Juenger’s teaching and research focus on materials used in civil engineering applications. She primarily examines chemical issues in cement-based materials, including phase formation in cement clinkering; hydration chemistry of portland cement, calcium sulfoaluminate cement, geopolymers and supplementary cementitious materials; and chemical deterioration processes in concrete. In 2005, she received a Faculty Early CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation. She is a fellow of the American Concrete Institute and has received several of its awards for her research, teaching and service, including a Walter P. Moore, Jr. Faculty Achievement Award, a Young Member Award for Professional Achievement, a Wason Medal for Materials Research in 2011, and a Delmar L. Bloem Distinguished Service Award. Juenger is also a member of RILEM and ASTM and a fellow of the American Ceramic Society, where she serves as Trustee of the Cements Division.