Living Materials Laboratory:
Projects
Research Projects
Our current research projects address questions at the nexus of materials science, architecture, and chemical, biological, environmental, and structural engineering.
Due to the breadth and depth of our materials research endeavors, we actively collaborate with colleagues both within and outside of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering in the areas of polymer synthesis, computational mechanics, materials science, sustainability, bioengineering, and architecture. We are always looking to strengthen our research through the multidisciplinary perspectives of our colleagues.
Project:
Biological Production of Carbonates for Sustainable Cementitious Materials
Current Challenge:
Traditional concrete processes contribute appreciably to greenhouse gas emissions. Finding new ways to create concrete-like materials can help reduce those emissions.
Research Goal:
The research goal of this project is to produce biologically precipitated calcium carbonate nanoparticles with distinct morphological architectures. To do this, we are quantifying and comparing the carbon storage potential of carbonates using process-based life cycle assessment. We are also investigating structure-property relationships of biogenic carbonate nanoparticle additions on both fresh- and hardened-state properties of cement paste, to inform engineering specifications for biomineral use in cement paste, mortar, and concrete.
Sponsor:
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Project:
A Photosynthetic Route to Carbon-Negative Portland Limestone Cement Production
Current Challenge:
Most cement-related CO2 emissions are caused by heating CaCO3 to produce CaO, which releases CO2 in the process. The technical premise of the proposed technology is to produce biogenic CaCO3 using coccolithophores, which are calcareous microalgae that sequester and store CO2 in mineral and organic polymer form through biological direct air capture via photosynthesis and calcification.
Research Goal:
The overarching goal of this project is to manufacture and commercialize a net-CO2-storing portland limestone cement using biogenic limestone produced from calcifying microalgae. The harvested biogenic CaCO3 will be used to produce portland cement clinker. Biogenic CaCO3 will then be blended with the biogenic portland cement to produce net-CO2-storing portland limestone cements. The economics of CO2-storing portland limestone cement will be optimized by maximizing biomass productivity of coccolithophore cultures through a combination of artificial strain selection, genetic engineering, and growth optimization and through the valorization of non-CaCO3 algal biomass into high-value co-products.
Sponsor:
Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E)
Project:
Bio-inspired Restoration of Aged Concreted Edifices (BRACE)
Current Challenge:
The DARPA Bio-inspired Restoration of Aged Concrete Edifices (BRACE) program aims to prolong the serviceability of Department of Defense structures and airfield pavements by integrating a self-repair capability into existing concrete.
Research Goal:
Recent years have seen an emergence of so-called living materials, or materials that have the properties of living things. The central hypothesis of BRACE is that concrete can be infused with self-repair capabilities typically found in living organisms, drawing inspiration from vascular systems found in humans and vast networks of filamentous fungi that can span acres of land similar in scale to concrete buildings. Such systems could provide a network of transportation for healing within the depths of the material to repair cracks before they reach the surface and before they cause failure.
Sponsor:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Project:
Benchmarking Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment
Current Challenge:
The results of this work will inform AEGB ratings and policy to advance the sustainable building and construction materials markets and design techniques to meet the City of Austin Sustainability Goals and Initiatives around equity, climate change, environmental quality, the local green economy, and capacity building within the green jobs market without negatively impacting building safety and durability.
Research Goal:
The purpose of this research is to analyze typical commercial and residential building types and local building materials markets to determine a local baseline for embodied carbon (kgCO2e/m2) based on standard local construction materials and techniques — and, ultimately, to develop a universal, simplified methodology for biogenic carbon accounting. This includes identifying areas of variation between local and global baselines to characterize opportunities for embodied carbon reduction, and identifying sound material and design approaches that result in lower embodied carbon quantities and fewer negative impacts on local air and water quality.
Sponsor:
City of Austin & Austin Energy
Project:
Process-Structure-Property Relationships of 3D Printed Earth Materials and Structures
Current Challenge:
Traditional cementitious materials processes are inextricably intertwined with transportation, chemical treatments, excess manufacturing, warehouse storage, and intermediary storages.
Research Goal:
Earthen materials are an emerging, sustainable alternative to cementitious materials because of their low embodied carbon, affordability, safety, and thermal characteristics. By using minimally processed materials and sourcing raw materials from construction sites, 3D-printed earth structures could substantially reduce the various costs of current cementitious materials. Using a range of bacterial and biopolymer binding agents, as well as bio-based fibers and nano-fibers reinforcing additives, this project will characterize printable mixtures of earth- and bio-based building materials and modernized versions of ancient technologies as a critical step for climate-friendly digital manufacturing of the built environment.
Sponsor:
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Project:
Living Light, Living Surfaces, and Living Structures for Space Architecture
Current Challenge:
Building structures on extraterrestrial planets and moons requires rethinking earth-based materials design and engineering.
Research Goal:
The primary objectives of this project are to engineer living materials that are capable of (1) producing living light by leveraging the natural process of bioluminescence, (2) removing H2O, CO2, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from indoor air, and (3) biomineralizing lunar and Martian regolith in microgravity for new applications in space architecture.
Sponsor:
Schmidt Futures
Project:
Reinforced Concrete Repair by an Evolving Visualized Internal Vascular Ecosystem (RC-REVIVE)
Current Challenge:
Repairing concrete, and preventing its deterioration, presents complex and expensive challenges.
Research Goal:
In this project, our goal is to vascularize cementitious materials with living biological materials to facilitate self-healing and regeneration of concrete infrastructure. The team will explore and study a co-culture of bacteria and fungi capable of self-sustainment and ongoing biological self-healing in cracked or deteriorated concrete.
Sponsor:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Project:
A Photosynthetic Route to Carbon-Negative Portland Limestone Cement Production
Current Challenge:
To help reduce the greenhouse gas contributions of the built environment, it would be advantageous to engineer building materials that store rather than emit CO2.
Research Goal:
The primary objective of this project is to manufacture and commercialize a net-CO2-storing portland limestone cement using biogenic limestone (CaCO3) produced from calcifying microalgae. The economics of the cement will be optimized by (1) maximizing biomass productivity of coccolithophore cultures through a combination of artificial strain selection, genetic engineering, and growth optimization and (2) valorization of non-CaCO3 algal biomass into high-value co-products.
Sponsor:
Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E)
Project:
Advanced Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA): Probabilistic LCA and Biogenic Carbon Accounting
Current Challenge:
Why is this new life-cycle assessment needed, and for what?
Research Goal:
Our team is applying advanced stochastic modeling techniques to life cycle assessment [of what?] to demonstrate new approaches for integrating variability and uncertainty [so that what?]. In addition, we are developing new methods for accounting for biogenic carbon storage.
Sponsor:
Austin Energy
Project:
FMRG: Eco: Process-Structure-Property Relationships of 3D Printed Earth Materials and Structures
Current Challenge:
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Research Goal:
This project aims to characterize optimal mix designs for 3D printed earth materials and structures, linking microstructural development and soil science with material and structural property characterization and optimization of 3D printing methods.
Sponsor:
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Project:
CAREER: Biological Production of Carbonates for Sustainable Cementitious Materials
Current Challenge:
[???]
Research Goal:
In this project, our objectives are (1) to use genetic engineering to exploit biological mechanisms of microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation to produce carbon-storing nano- and microscale minerals and (2) to study their effect on properties of cement paste and concrete. The research will be complemented by education and mentoring activities designed to educate the public on the benefits of low-carbon construction, while cultivating a new, inclusive, and diverse generation of interdisciplinary materials scientists and civil engineers.
Sponsor:
National Science Foundation (NSF)