Seminar Time: 04/07/2026 11:00-12:00

Title: New Material Technologies for Life Cycle Maintenance of Concrete Infrastructure

Expert: Professor Jianguo DAI (City University of Hong Kong )

Expert's Profile: Professor DAI is Chair Professor of Structural Engineering and Head of Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). Before joining CityU, he was a full professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He also had eight years of research and industry experience in Japan. Professor DAI’s research focuses on "Emerging Materials and Structural Systems for Sustainable Concrete Infrastructures." His work has garnered numerous academic awards, including the "Best Basic Research Paper Award" from the Journal of Composites for Construction by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the "Outstanding International Collaboration Award" from the Japanese Society of Civil Engineers, the "Structural Excellence R&D Award" from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, and the "Second Prize of the Chinese National Technology Invention Award," among others.  Professor DAI is a Fellow of several organizations, including International Institution of FRP in Construction, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Hong Kong Concrete Institute, International Association of Advanced Materials, and Asian Concrete Federation. He has published over 300 SCI papers, attracting over 25,000 citations, with an h-index of 89 according to Google Scholar. He is also listed among Stanford's top 2% most cited scientists. Additionally, Professor DAI is a co-founder of a startup and received a Gold Medal at the Geneva Inventions Expo 2022 special edition. His research on multifunctional coatings for buildings was highlighted by “Science” in its Editor’s Choice and has been widely covered by the media.

Abstract:The effective maintenance and management of concrete structures is one of the most pressing challenges in contemporary civil engineering and transportation, given the substantial infrastructure and high costs associated with construction and upkeep. Recently, the design of concrete structures has transitioned from traditional limit state design approaches to a holistic life cycle design perspective. A crucial factor in achieving this life cycle design and maintenance management for concrete structures is the development and application of innovative civil engineering materials. This lecture presents the research conducted by the speaker's team over recent years, focusing on fiber-reinforced resin composites (FRP), multifunctional surface coatings for concrete, high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites, and low-carbon artificial geopolymer aggregates. Additionally, it will explore the potential applications of these materials in various maintenance and management strategies for concrete infrastructure.

Thanks to Professor Jianguo DAI for the wonderful Seminar!