$1.2M National Science Foundation award backs self-healing concrete repair technology
Photo: Elena Forchielli and Mija Hubler in their CU lab.
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The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded $1,199,341 to a °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï research team developing Regenerative Concrete Repair (RCR), a bacterial nanocellulose composite that repairs both active and dormant cracks in concrete infrastructure. Ìýis through the Translate track of the , administered by NSF's .
Existing repair methods are often complex, labor-intensive and prone to failure, causing many agencies to defer needed maintenance; RCR is designed to tolerate real-world variability in crack behavior and installation conditions, making preventive maintenance feasible at scale for the nation's aging concrete infrastructure. As part of its public engagement plan, the team will place QR codes on municipal sidewalks so passersby can learn about the science behind the repairs as the technology moves toward commercialization.
RCR is being developed in the laboratory of , associate professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering at CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï, with co-principal investigators Wil V. SrubarÌý, professor of civil, environmental and architectural engineering at CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹ÏÌýand , co-founder and CEO of , the CU °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï startup commercializing the technology through the Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator.
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