RheoShape
Rheology of suspensions of particles with complex shapes
Concrete and cement-based materials are responsible for a significant share of global CO2 emissions. One way to reduce their environmental impact is to improve how these materials flow during processing, allowing the use of less cement and fewer chemical additives. This PhD project aims to understand how the shape of solid particles influences the flow behavior of dense suspensions used in construction materials. Unlike ideal spherical particles, real materials contain grains with complex shapes that can interlock and strongly affect how the material flows.
Using modeled experiments, based on microfluidic and 3D-nanoprinter, the project will design suspensions of particles of complex shape. We aim to study the interplay between microscopic particle organization and macroscopic flow properties. The results will provide new design principles for construction materials that are easier to process, more efficient, and more sustainable, contributing to the development of low-carbon building technologies.
