Advanced materials science, which provides a robust understanding of the performance of commonly used and innovative new materials, helps the construction industry to create more efficient, resilient and effective new structures. These will address the challenges presented by increasing resource scarcity, a changing climate and zero carbon goals.
The facilities include a range of lab-scale exposure facilities, coupled with large-scale environmental chambers and state-of-the-art characterisation techniques. These facilities will allow accelerated ageing of common and novel materials under a range of simulated environments, and ground energy research. The Centre will also include a field exposure site with full meteorological monitoring for the long-term exposure of materials. In addition, a large-scale geo-energy facility is to be installed, enabling real-time monitoring of ground source heat pumps and heat exchangers.
The evidence generated will ultimately lead to an improvement in whole-life infrastructure material performance and the development of innovative materials to reduce material use, monetary and energy (carbon) costs and maintenance requirements.
The Centre for Infrastructure Materials is due to launch in a new building in early 2022. However, much of its equipment is already available for use in the School of Civil Engineering and will be relocated to the Centre once it is built.
| Who can use the facility | Functions/facilities available |
|---|---|
|
Industry (research and consultancy) |
All equipment |
|
PhD Studentships, Fellowships and MSc (Leeds) |
All equipment; study space |
|
Academic researchers (research and consultancy) |
All equipment |
Facility Highlights
Find out more
Contact Professor Leon Black,
l.black@leeds.ac.uk
Watch the Centre for Infrastructure Materials presentation or download the slides as a PDF.