Are you interested in new materials that can revolutionize structural design, architecture and sustainability of infrastructure? Have you ever wondered about applications of 3-D printing to Civil Engineering, and sought out approaches to make this technology scalable for large-scale applications? This webinar provides a glimpse into exciting new technologies that address the demand for high-performance materials with superior properties, flexibility, and durability, as a new design paradigm from the molecular scale upwards fundamentally transforms our ability to create novel materials. This webinar covers basic tools and applications in multiscale modeling, synthesis and characterization of structural materials with features at multiple length-scale, including the application of additive manufacturing (3-D printing) and its link to computer optimization. This webinar presents a case study to cover modeling, design, 3-D printing and material characterization of hierarchical bio-inspired composites. It discusses new concepts in autonomous construction through automated 3-D printing of complex material systems. The webinar, accessible to a broad audience, concludes with an outlook to future challenges and opportunities for the Civil Engineering profession in the context of material innovation.

Primary Discussion Topics

• Basic tools and applications in multiscale modeling
• Synthesis and characterization of structural materials
• New concepts in autonomous construction through automated 3-D printing of complex material systems

Learning Outcomes

• Find out the latest developments in material modeling, optimization and synthesis using additive manufacturing techniques such as 3-D printing
• Learn new approaches to practical problem-solving computational tools paired with a detailed discussion of experimental techniques to probe, understand and design the ultimate structure of materials
• Critically evaluate & apply the use of computational tools in materials design (synthesis & testing) for structural materials
• Avoid costly errors in material and structural failure under extreme conditions such as mechanical load, vibrations, moisture, and corrosion
• Examine the possibilities due to revolutionary advances in conventional technologies and how they apply to Civil Engineering
• Assess the emergence of critical tools in design and manufacturing of large-scale infrastructure materials
• Determine precise measures of material properties such as toughness, strength, modulus and environmental effects

Webinar Benefits

• Learn how to critically and apply computational tool usage in material designs for structural materials
• Gain a greater understanding of the advances in conventional technologies and how they apply to Civil Engineering
• Understand how automated 3-D printing of complex material systems can revolutionize structural design

Intended Audience

• Structural Engineers
• Policy Makers
• Material Engineers
• Transportation Engineers
• Architects
• Designers
• Concrete Industry
• Innovation
• Research & Development

Webinar Outline

• Module 1: Introduction
• Basic technology and opportunity (multiscale materials - the basic ideas, modeling, and practical aspects such as chemistry and how assembly can be controlled via different mechanisms)
• Simulation, experiment and integration (focus on the emerging tools of multiscale modeling, starting from the chemistry scale/quantum mechanics to micro/meso modeling, finite element methods, and how they are coupled; the description of these will be more of a survey nature due to time constraints but I will include references to books and book chapters and pertinent literature for those who want to follow up)
• Additive manufacturing: History, critical assessment, future outlook (a new opportunity presents itself to connect modeling and optimization to realize materials and structures directly from a computer model to reality; with new levels of fidelity. The part contains a discussion on the lengthscales that can be controlled, printing techniques, materials that can be printed, etc.
• Self-assembly of bulk materials, 3-D printing, model-to-specimen technologies (MOST) - this part includes a specific description of MOST and its opportunities
• Autonomous construction through automated 3-D printing of complex material systems (scanning a geometry and microstructure, to enable the optimization and creating of new materials based on those that exist and how it can be improved through computation)
• Module 2: Applications
• Structural materials design at multiple length scales (applied aspects and examples of relevant civil engineering materials)
• Case study: Hierarchical composites: Optimization, design, 3-D printing and testing (optimization for fracture toughness, to visualize the interplay of structure and performance and how simulation is used to optimize and then print and subsequently test; including microstructural aspects, micromechanics, etc.)
• Translation to responsive materials, durability, and bio-inspired materials (transfer)
• Module 3: Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities
• Scalability (broad discussion on technical challenges today, material platforms that can be used [silica, organic wood, etc.]
• Material selection and composites (Ashby like charts)
• Environmental impact & sustainability (discuss sourcing to product and cost, circular economy)
• Miscellaneous 

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