Invited Speakers

Karen Scrivener is a full professor at School of Engineering, Institute of materials and the Laboratory of Construction Materials at EPFL in Laussane, Switzerland. She is a founder and the leading person of Nanocem consortium.

Her works and research concern the following fields: Identification of microstructural development during hydration of cement, development of a multitechnical approach for studying of cement and concrete microstructure with an emphasis on quantification by analysis of electron backscatter images, characterization of aureole of cement paste transition around grains, understanding of processes of concrete degradation, particularly, swelling associated with the delayed formation of ettringite in concrete.

Research activities at the Laboratory of Construction Materials (LMC) are focused on cementitious materials and on the micro-mechanics and processing of wood.The complexity and heterogeneity of cementitious materials make difficult the establishment of microstructure-property relationships. Within the LMC, quantitative microstructural characterization and microstructural modeling provide a unique capability to study, understand and improve cementitious materials and their applications, ranging from mixing and placing to long-term performance (durability). Two principal techniques are used: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction coupled with Rietveld type analysis to quantify the development of crystalline hydration products (and by difference amorphous products). These techniques are complemented by the use of other classic and new techniques (e.g. TEM, TGA, NMR) available within EPFL or through international collaborations. The LMC studies also special cementitious materials which respond to severe environments thanks to properties such as increased resistance to chemical attack or mechanical abrasion, rapid hardening or shrinkage compensation. Moreover, the LMC carries out testing and contract work related to its competence.

Innovation in use and research on cementitious material, Karen L. Scrivener, R. James Kirkpatrick (University Illinois, USA), Cem. Concr. Res. (2007), doi:10.1016/j. cemconres.2007.09.025
Backscattered electron imaging of cementitious microstructures: understanding and quantification , Scrivener KL, CEMENT & CONCRETE COMPOSITES 26 (8): 935-945 NOV 2004
The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between cement paste and aggregate in concrete , Scrivener KL, Crumbie AK, Laugesen P, INTERFACE SCIENCE 12 (4): 411-421 OCT 2004
Relation of expansion due to alkali silica reaction to the degree of reaction measured by SEM image analysis , Ben Haha M, Gallucci E, Guidoum A, Scrivener KL., CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH 37 (8): 1206-1214 AUG 2007
What causes differences of C-S-H gel grey levels in backscattered electron images?, Famy, C., K. L. Scrivener, et al. , Cement and Concrete Research 32(9): 1465-1471., 2002
Si-29 and Al-27 NMR study of alkali-activated slag., Wang, S. D. and K. L. Scrivener , Cement and Concrete Research 33(5): 769-774., 2003

Plenary lecture: "The Colloid/Nanogranular Nature of Cement Paste and Properties"

Hamlin M. Jennings is a full professor at Northwestern University, Illinois, USA.

After 30 years of studying the variable and illusive microstructure of cement-based materials, Jennings has developed the first successful, fully quantitative model of the nanostructure of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), the major component of hydrated cement. The model was originally based on highly scattered and contradictory surface area and density data mostly published in the 1950's and 60's.

The model has been further developed to form a basis for quantitatively predicting static properties, as measured for example by nanoindentation techniques, and linking these relationships to the design of new materials. Also, the model is being extended to larger scales, greater than 100 nm. It accounts for observation obtained by sophisticated techniques - cutting edge electron microscopy and small angle neutron scattering - that reveal a specific complex fractal structure. New phase diagrams have been proposed that rationalize disparate data published by Jennings' research group and by other workers during the last 50 years.

In addition, our research has laid the foundation for solving the 100-year-old question about the mechanism that controls the rate of hydration of cement.Jennings has also developed an analogy between the structure of C-S-H and a gel or precipitate. This facilitates an interpretation of changes in the microstructure induced during drying, as well as opening the door to applying new research results to colloids in general.

Professor Peter JM Bartos is a Director of the Advanced Concrete Technology Centre & Scottish Centre for Nanotechnology in Construction at the University of Paisley. The group’s activities focus on the characterization of construction materials at a range of scales from the nano to the macro-scale. The aim is to improve our fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationship and processes within materials, that control mechanical and durability behaviors across these scales. The staff expertise is complimentary to permit an expansion of such research work focusing on the cycle of characterization through modeling to design of new materials. Additional research focuses on the properties of natural geomaterials and their relationship to performance in construction environments.

His work covers research of cement based materials, he is a chair the International Technical Committee on Nanotechnology and Construction Materials (TC-NCM), especially self-compacting concretes. He is an author of several books and prestigious publications (the most recent is: “Self-compacting Concrete” by Gert De Schutter, Peter J. M. Bartos, Peter Domone, Whittles Publishing (United Kingdom), 2008).

Henri Van Damme is a physicist, Professor at l'Ecole supérieure de physique et chimie industrielle (ESPCI). He is a specialist in nanotechnologies who is active in several domains of physics and physicochemistry of structured materials and interfaces with strong interdisciplinary openings to chemistry, engineering science and especially to biology.

Henri Van Damme was a member of Comité national de la recherche scientifique (Natinal committee for scientific research), president of division "Matière Condensée : Structure et dynamique" (condensed materials: structure and dynamics) (1995-2000), and member of scientific council of Société des ciments français (Society of French cements) (between 1990 and 1993). He is currently member designated by committee of program “Génie des procédés chimiques, physiques et biotechnologiques” (Engineering of chemical, physical and biotechnological processes) of CNRS, member of scientific council of central laboratory of Bridges and Roads, member of scientific council of Italcementi Group, member of scientific council of Scientific and technical center of building (CSTB) and member of committee oriented to National network materials and processes (RNMP), ministry of research, ministry of industry.

He is an author of more than hundred of scientific publications in specialized national and international journals and three patents.

Clay-based formulations of metolachlor with reduced leaching
Applied Clay Science, Volume 18, Issues 5-6, May 2001, Pages 265-275, Arno Nennemann, Yael Mishael, Shlomo Nir, Baruch Rubin, Tamara Polubesova, Faïza Bergaya, Henri van Damme, Gerhard Lagaly

Fractales, M. Daoud and H. Van Damme, Les Editions de Physique, pp. 43-84 (1995); translated to English 1999 : Soft Matter Physics, M. Daoud and C. Williams Eds., Springer, pp. 46-85.

Plenary lecture: "Probing Nano-Structure of C-S-H by Micro-Mechanics Based Indentation Techniques"

Nowadays, Franz-Josef Ulm is a professor at M.I.T., Boston. His education includes engineering studies at TU Munich (1990), doctorate at ENPC, Paris (1994) and habilitation at ENS de Cachan (1998).

Professor Ulm's research interests are in the mechanics and structures of materials. His research group is looking at the nano- and micromechanics of porous materials, such as concrete, rocks and bones; in the durability mechanics of engineering materials and structures; in computational mechanics; and in the bio-chemo-poromechanics of high-performance composite materials.

He has authored and co-authored many scientific papers in refereed international journals and 3 books:

1.Ulm, F.-J and Coussy, O., Mechanics and Durability of Solids – Vol. I: Solid Mechanics, 389 pages, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003.

2.Acker. P, Torrenti, J.-M., Ulm, F.-J., Comportement du béton au jeune âge, Traité MIM – Mécanique et Ingénierie des Matériaux, série Matériaux de construction, 192 pages, Hermes–Lavoisier Science Publications, Cachan, France, 2004.

3.Dormieux, L., Kondo, D. and Ulm, F.-J., Microporomechanics, 328 pages, J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 2006.

1. Constantinides, G., and Ulm, F.-J. (2007). `The nanogranular nature of C-S-H.' Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 55 (1), 64--90.

2. DeJong, M.J. and Ulm, F.-J. (2007). `The nanogranular behavior of C-S-H at elevated temperatures (up to 700C)', Cem. Concr. Res., 37 (1), 1--12.

3. Ulm, F.-J. and Abousleiman, Y. (2006). `The nanogranular nature of shales.' Acta Geotechnica, 1 (3), 77--88.

Plenary lecture: “Potential Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Nanomaterials Used in the Construction Industry”

Prof. Alvarez is the Department Chairman of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.

His research focuses on bioremediation of contaminated aquifers, fate and transport of hazardous substances, permeable reactive barriers, microbial-plant interactions, and environmental implications and applications of nanotechnology. He is affiliated to AAEE, ACS, AEESP, ASCE, ASM, IWA, WEF, SEPM, SHPE.

Alvarez, P.J.J. and W. Illman "Bioremediation and Natural Attenuation of Groundwater Contaminants: Process Fundamentals and Mathematical Models." (2006): 608.

Alvarez P.J.J. (2006). Nanotechnology in the environment – the good, the bad and the ugly. ASCE. J. Environ. Engrg. (editorial). 132(10)1233.

Alvarez P.J.J., R.C. Heathcote, and S.E. Powers (1998). Caution against interpreting gasoline release dates based on BTEX ratios in ground water. Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation. Fall, 69-76.

Alvarez, P.J.J. (1996). Caution against the inappropriate use of analytical fate and transport models to estimate the age and risk of petroleum product releases. Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation. Spring, 72-76.