Turning Solid Wastes into Engineered Geopolymer Composites for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure

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• Mingzhong Zhang, University College London
• Friday 21 November 2025, 15:00-16:00
• CivEng Seminar Room (1-33) (Civil Engineering Building).

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Lowhikan.

Civil infrastructure assets, such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, roads, and dams, are vital to societal well-being and economic development. Achieving Net Zero by 2050 remains a major challenge for the construction industry that is expected to deliver cost-effective, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure within a circular economy framework. This talk introduces a new type of low-carbon concrete recently developed at UCL , following a materials–microstructure–property–performance approach. The material combines a cement-free geopolymer, produced from industrial by-products, with recycled fibres to enhance sustainability and performance. When paired with lightweight fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bars, it forms a novel reinforced concrete system that offers a viable alternative to conventional concrete. This innovation promises to extend infrastructure lifespan while reducing carbon emissions, as well as repair and maintenance costs, providing significant environmental and economic benefits.

This talk is part of the Engineering Department Structures Research Seminars series.

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