Roads that self-repair, bridges filled with first-aid bubbles, buildings with arteries… not some futuristic fantasy but a very real possibility with ‘smart’ concrete.
̽»¨Ö±²¥construction industry could slash its carbon emissions by as much as 50% by optimising the design of new buildings, which currently use double the amount of steel and concrete required by safety codes.
A team from the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction has developed a mechanical amplifier which converts ambient vibrations into electricity more effectively, and could be used to power wireless sensors for monitoring the structural health of roads, bridges and tunnels.