Nanotechnology in Construction: A Roadmap for Development

Abstract

Abstract. Roadmaps were originally developed as tools for finding surface routes for getting from one place to another. Recently, the scope of a roadmap has been extended to cover tools used for indication of pathways for reaching predicted future developments, for assessing progress and indicating trends. This was applied to developments in application of Nanotechnology within the broad domain of Construction. The Roadmap for Nanotechnology in Construction (RoNaC) was first developed in 2003 as an aid for forecasting research and investment directions, with a timescale of 25 years. Five years have elapsed and progress has been achieved along a few pathways indicated in the original RoNaC. However, construction industry continues to lag behind in both the awareness of the potential and the expected commercial exploitation of nanotechnology. This paper provides an updated version based on the three original sectorial charts, indicating where tangible progress has been made, where research is active and where advance along the predicted pathways has slowed down or stopped altogether.

Context, drivers, and future potential for wood-frame multi-story construction in Europe

“…Future of construction sector 15 references: (Kim et al, 2009;Arora et al, 2014;Cowie et al, 2014;Shatkin et al, 2014;Hanus and Harris, 2013;Pacheco-Torgal and Labrincha, 2013;Hasanbeigi et al, 2012;Imbabi et al, 2012;Miorandi et al, 2012;Ali et al, 2011;Pacheco-Torgal and Jalali, 2011;Sanchez and Sobolev, 2010;Bartos, 2009;Wegner and Jones, 2009;Harty et al, 2007) 11 references: (ECTP, 2005;ECORYS, 2010;ENBRI, 2005;Vokes and Brennan, 2013;Danish Technological Institute, 2009;Abrahamsen, 2014;Linturi et al, 2013;EC, 2012;WBCSD et al, 2009;Goodier et al, 2008; European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 2005)…”

“…That is, rather than functional properties, the improvements on the bulk materials focus on the lightness, strength, and durability (Arora et al, 2014;Hanus and Harris, 2013;Pacheco-Torgal and Jalali, 2011;Sanchez and Sobolev, 2010;Bartos, 2009). For concrete, the main advances so far have been in understanding structures and processes on the smallest possible scale, which again paves way for engineering applications, most notably nanoreinforcements (Sanchez and Sobolev, 2010).…”

Experimental investigations of aerogel-incorporated ultra-high performance concrete

“…It is determined that other than thermal insulation, nanotechnology is also essential in addressing the needs of other building applications. In general, nanotechnology in buildings and construction has been researched upon [50][51][52][53][54][55], and a development roadmap for utilizing nanotechnology in construction has also been given [54][55]. Various nanoparticles [56][57][58][59][60][61] and carbon nanotubes [62][63][64][65][66][67] have been applied in different cement and concrete materials, typical for studying and attempting to enhance the mechanical properties.…”

Characterization of Engineering Properties of Active Soils Stabilized With Nanomaterial for Sustainable Infrastructure Delivery

“…The stabilization characteristics of Nanomaterials and the reaction chemistry are based Feynman's phenomenal work on: "manipulating and controlling things on a small scale" (Feynman, 1960). Some of the application and/or potential application areas discussed in extant literature include; design and construction, processes (Sobolev and Gutiérrez, 2005a,b;Rana et al, 2009), transportation engineering (Steyn, 2008), general construction applications (Bartos, 2006), concrete technology, (Sobolev and Gutiérrez, 2005a,b;Zydex Industries, 2010;Agrawal and Agrawal, 2011), general civil engineering applications (Boyd, 2010;Lee et al, 2010), geotechnical engineering (Taha, 2009;Ugwu et al, 2013), civil engineering materials (Kennep, 2006), and highways infrastructure: pavements (Liu et al, 2007;Ugwu et al, 2013). Ugwu et al (2013) discuss the reaction chemistry of Nanomaterial with the aim of facilitating a better understanding of the fundamental science that underpins the observed changes in soil geotechnical properties (i.e., hydrophobicity, plasticity, and swell potential).…”