Difference between revisions of "Team:SZU-China/HP/Silver"

Overview

ABOUT SAFETY CONCERNS

APPLICATION FOR REAL WORLD

We put the answers of three professors together and summarized them as follow:

Professor XIANFENG WANG:
Main research area: Self-healing concrete material. Durability of civil engineering materials. Etc.
Member of JSCE; RILEM; IALCCE.
MR.YAOCHENG WANG:
Main research area: Durability of civil engineering materials. Etc.
Professor NINGXU HAN:
Main research area: Civil engineering structures. Durability of civil engineering materials. Etc.
Editorial member of ICE Journal of Forensic Engineering; Member of RILEM;

• The questions involves all of the following:
  • Q1: On which public construction do you think the cracks happens the most.
    A1: Bridges and tunnels. You cannot find a single bridge or tunnel without any cracks. Cracks happen all the times. When it comes to tunnel, the cracks will cause leak which is really annoying.
    
    
  • Q2: What kind of mature techniques can be used to fix the cracks of concrete nowadays?
    A2: Grouting method is the one. Using high pressure to pump the Inorganic cement or other kind of adhesive into the cracks and wait for it to become solid so the cracks can be blocked. But it won’t be a onetime thing you might have to do over constantly.
    
    
  • Q3: We’ve read about Hendrik Jonkers from Technische Universiteit Delft has already invented a type of bio-concrete. Some says our project is so similar to his, What do you think of this.
    A3: Actually he is my friend and what you are doing is actually a very different thing. First, Hendrik’s bio-concrete is not self-healing like yours. His bio-concrete needs to be brushed on. Second he didn’t use the technique of microcapsule to protect his bacterium but you do. And actually I think he will be very interested in your project because you use synthetic biology to promote your bacterium in a certain way. I mean who wouldn’t want that？
    
    
  • Q4：Will there be any new invention of material that will take the place of concrete?
    A4: No, I don’t think so. There are more and more outstanding new materials being invented. But none of them can take the place of concrete. Because concrete is common and cheap. And sometimes what we need is the volume. For example, when we are building a dam. We need large amount of concrete to add up to a certain volume. Nothing else is better than concrete in this kind of situation. So I don’t think it can be replaced.
    
    

Professor XIANFENG WANG: Main research area: Self-healing concrete material. Durability of civil engineering materials. Etc.
Member of JSCE; RILEM; IALCCE.

• The key questions of the interview is presented as following:
  • Q1: How tough is it to build the HONGKONG-ZHUHAI-MACAO BRIDGE?
    A1: There is not a specific level to evaluate it. But the difficulty is highly depending on the environment. The construction environment for HONGKONG-ZHUHAI-MACAO BRIDGE is pretty harsh. It is in open seas beyond the coast. The ocean environment and geology is pretty complicated. What’s more, the area is our country’s protection zone for White Dolphin. And the HONGKONG-ZHUHAI-MACAO BRIDGE is consist of different constructions-bridges, subbottom tunnel, man-made island etc. So I’d say it’s one of the hardest.
    
    
  • Q2: What is the critical key to prolong the life of the HONGKONG-ZHUHAI-MACAO BRIDGE?
    A2: HONGKONG-ZHUHAI-MACAO BRIDGE is mainly consisting of steel reinforced concrete. Steel is something that we are familiar with. There are a lot of previous case proved great uses of steel which can last 200 years. But concrete on the other hand, is a new born material compared to steel. It is less than a hundred years not to mention the years it’s being put into use of great constructions. Thus enhancing the life of concrete is the critical key to prolong the life of the HONGKONG-ZHUHAI-MACAO BRIDGE. The cracks are the biggest threats to concrete. So what we should do is to prevent and fix the cracks.
    
    
  • Q3: After the HONGKONG-ZHUHAI-MACAO BRIDGE been put into use what measure will be taken to fix the cracks?
    A3: Let’s categorize them into three kinds. The first one is slow cracks: they happened slowly and infect long term; second is structural cracks: this kind of cracks happens when there is unexpected struck; Third is the cracks come from expansion and contraction. When they stir the concrete water will react with it and start to heat. So when it cools down, there will be cracks from contraction. If the crack is less than 2mm, we will brush a closing layer on the surface. If it is bigger than 2mm, we will use high pressure to pump the Inorganic cement or other kind of adhesive into the cracks which we call concrete injection.
    
    
  • Q4：How do you detect the micro cracks?
    A4: There are many techniques being used around the world nowadays. For example, high definitions photograph.
    
    
  • Q5：What do you think of our project this year?
    A4: It certainly represent the future, it can be used on many aspects of multiple constructions. I just wish that this doesn’t stop in the lab. I hope it can be put into use as soon as possible.
    

SZU-China iGEM team conducted an questionaire about concrete

REGIONAL TEAM CONFERENCE

In-depth communication with THU & BIT-China in Beijing

SZU-China iGEM team went to Beijing this summer. We shared our projects in detail with THU&BIT-China. We paid a visit to BIT’s labs. And had in-depth communicate about the management and inherit of iGEM teams. The friendship we got is the best treasure.

China Regional High School Meeting

We did a presentation and answered a lot of questions. And we also gave some advice to high school iGEMers.

Confernece of China iGEM's Community

SZU-China iGEM team went to FuZhou to take part in the 4th CCiC held by FAFU with our posters and presentations. We received a lots of new questions from iGEM teams all over China. It was pretty rewarding and communicates has broadened our horizon.