Research Direction 1: Recycled concrete and recycled binder
Facing the strategic needs of carbon emission reduction and solid waste recycling in the field of civil engineering, this research direction focuses on the preparation of high-performance recycled cementitious materials and concrete using local characteristic ground materials (such as volcanic ash materials, tunnel slag, waste concrete sleepers, etc.). The multi-scale physicochemical properties and activity excitation mechanisms of volcanic ash materials, waste concrete powders and aggregates were systematically analyzed, and the reconstruction law and rehydration kinetics of aluminosilicate phases in multi-source solid wastes under the coupling effect of thermal activation and chemical excitation were revealed. In-depth study of the interface compatibility, ion competitive adsorption and synergistic hydration effect of recycled components and local ground materials in multiple systems, and establish the design theory and performance control method of recycled concrete mix based on the "gene" characteristics of ground materials, so as to realize the high-value utilization of all components from tunnel slag, waste sleepers to new low-carbon cementitious materials, and provide green building material solutions for regional infrastructure construction.

        Research Direction 2: Multifunctional Anti-Corrosion Coatings, Self-Sensing/Self-Healing/Maintenance-Free Smart Materials

This research focuses on addressing bottleneck issues such as cracking and difficult maintenance of engineering materials in extreme environments, including extremely cold, dry and hot, high radiation, and high salt spray conditions, as well as the need for emergency repairs and durability enhancement of existing concrete structures. The aim is to develop highly corrosion-resistant multifunctional anti-corrosion coatings for extreme environments, along with self-sensing, self-healing, and maintenance-free smart materials. Based on atomic layer deposition and molecular self-assembly technologies, multifunctional smart anti-corrosion coatings with synergistic mechanisms of superhydrophobicity, self-healing, barrier, and corrosion inhibition are developed. Self-sensing materials with built-in sensor networks and self-healing materials with microcapsules/vascular networks are developed to create an intelligent response system of 'damage sensing - autonomous repair - performance recovery.' On this basis, following the materials genome concept, low-shrinkage, high-crack-resistant, ultra-corrosion-resistant maintenance-free engineering materials are designed and developed to provide key material and technical support for the long service life of major projects in special environments such as the western plateau and deep seas, as well as for existing infrastructure in China.

        Research Direction 3: AI-designed biomimetic high-strength and tough composites  
Aiming at the common problems of insufficient toughness and easy cracking of traditional cement-based materials, this research direction breaks through the inherent limitation of the inverted relationship of "strength-toughness", and draws on the multi-scale structural design principle of biomineralized materials (such as shell nacre "brick-mud" structure) to develop biomimetic composites with mortar-brick characteristics. By introducing machine learning algorithms, a quantitative structure-effect relationship prediction model of material components, microstructures, and macroscopic properties is established, and the geometric configuration, interface transition zone characteristics and organic-inorganic hybrid interface combination mode of bionic units are intelligently optimized. Integrating 3D printing fine molding technology, the controllable fabrication of bionic hierarchical structures is realized, and the multiple toughening mechanisms of crack deflection, bridging and energy dissipation are systematically studied, and finally a new composite material with high strength, high toughness and excellent crack resistance is developed, providing a material basis for the long-life safety of major engineering structures.