ProfessorHong Wong

Concrete is by far the most heavily used building material in the world. Current global production equates to over 4 tonnes for every person every year and demand will continue to rise. Because of the vast amounts used, the manufacture of cement currently accounts for ~8% of man-made global CO2 emissions. However, concrete structures undergo ageing and gradually deteriorate. Degradation of concrete structures is increasingly becoming a worldwide problem with major economic, social and environmental consequences. My research concerns the study of concrete at the microscopic level to understand the processes that govern its performance and deterioration mechanisms. This knowledge is important because it will help develop concretes with improved performance, lower environmental impact and greater resistance to degradation. It will also help develop more reliable methods to predict long-term performance.