This research direction represents an interdisciplinary field developed in response to the national "Dual Carbon" strategy and green development requirements, targeting two pressing industry challenges: the enormous stockpiles and difficult disposal of bulk solid wastes in China, and the high energy consumption and high carbon emissions associated with conventional construction materials. The direction is dedicated to achieving high-value, large-scale, and harmless utilization of industrial and urban solid wastes — including fly ash, slag, steel slag, construction and demolition waste, and mine tailings — through the development of green, low-carbon, solid waste-based construction materials. The overarching aim is to reduce carbon emissions in the construction industry at the material source and to promote the sustainable development of the civil engineering sector.

Core Research Areas

1. Activation of Solid Waste Reactivity and Cementitious Mechanisms

The mineral composition, microstructural characteristics, and hydration reactivity of different types of solid wastes are systematically investigated. Multi-pathway synergistic activation technologies — physical, chemical, and biological — are developed. The hydration reaction kinetics, and the formation and evolution of hydration products in solid waste-based cementitious systems are elucidated, providing a theoretical basis for the high-volume utilization of solid wastes.

2. Design of High-Performance Solid Waste-Based Cementitious Materials

Materials genomics concepts and artificial intelligence technologies are applied to optimize the compositional design of solid waste-based cementitious materials. Novel green cementitious systems — including high-volume solid waste cements and alkali-activated cementitious materials — are developed. Key technical challenges associated with solid waste-based materials, such as low early-age strength, large shrinkage, and poor durability, are systematically addressed.

3. Synergistic Utilization of Solid Wastes in Concrete and Prefabricated Products

The synergistic interaction mechanisms of multiple solid wastes in concrete systems are investigated. Solid waste-based high-performance concrete, recycled aggregate concrete, and solid waste-based precast elements are developed. A performance evaluation framework and quality control standards for solid waste-based construction materials are established.

4. Life Cycle Assessment of Solid Waste-Based Construction Materials

Life cycle carbon emission and environmental impact assessment models are developed, covering the entire chain from raw material extraction, production, and engineering application to end-of-life recycling of solid waste-based construction materials. Their environmental, economic, and social benefits are comprehensively evaluated, providing a scientific basis for policy-making and industrial promotion.

Representative Research Foundation and Achievements

• Principal Investigator of multiple related research projects, including NSFC and Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation grants, conducting systematic fundamental and applied research on the resource utilization of bulk solid wastes.

• Published more than 40 SCI papers in leading international journals such as Cement and Concrete Research and Journal of Cleaner Production; holder of 2 authorized national invention patents in this area.

Research Outlook

Future work will further focus on high-value utilization technologies for difficult-to-process bulk solid wastes, and will promote the intelligent, standardized, and industrialized development of solid waste-based construction materials. A full industrial chain closed loop encompassing "solid waste generation — resource utilization — engineering application" will be established, providing core technical support for the construction industry in China to achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.