Skip to main content

Maunfacturing & Construction

Latest Innovations
Semantic Natural Language Processing (NLP)-Based Automated Compliance Checking (SNACC) Dr. Nora El-Gohary from the University of Illinois has developed an automated building compliance checking system (called SNACC) that automatically processes and extracts... Read More Dr. Nora El-Gohary from the University of Illinois has developed an automated building compliance checking system (called SNACC) that automatically processes and extracts the building design and regulatory information, checks the compliance of the design with the regulations, and detects compliance and noncompliance cases. The system is fully automated and no manual effort is required. It does not have limitations of the state-of-the-art software with information extraction and transformation. Compared to the manually-developed gold standard, 98.7% recall and 87.6% precision in noncompliance detection were achieved.
Optimal Toolpath Generation System and Method for Additively Manufactured Composite Materials Prof. Daniel Tortorelli and Mr. Felipe Fernandez Ayala from the University of Illinois have developed a system and method for optimal toolpath generation for additively... Read More Prof. Daniel Tortorelli and Mr. Felipe Fernandez Ayala from the University of Illinois have developed a system and method for optimal toolpath generation for additively manufactured composite structures. With this techniques, it is easy to impose Direct Ink Writing (DIW) manufacturing constraints such as no overlap, no sag of just-printed material, minimum radius of curvature of each toolpath, and toolpath continuity. In addition, to minimize manufacturing cost, the system formulates and solves a travelling salesman problem to obtain the shortest continuous toolpath for each layer that avoids overlap and crossing holes.
Self-Compacting Geopolymer Concretes This geopolymer was developed through a collaboration between Professor Waltraud Kriven at the University of Illinois and the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory... Read More This geopolymer was developed through a collaboration between Professor Waltraud Kriven at the University of Illinois and the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (an entity of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). The concrete alternative is made from a geopolymer-based flowable binder, the supplementary cementitious materials fly ash and blast-furnace slag, alkali metal silicate, and added water. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion, while slag is a byproduct of steel manufacturing. Repurposing fly ash and slag, which are considered raw waste materials, reduce emissions of CO2 by reducing the proportion of clinker produced in the Portland cement manufacturing process. Use of fly ash and blast-furnace slag in this concrete alternative is environmentally friendly and enhances the performance of key concrete properties including strength, set time, and workability. The geopolymer concrete mixture is ideal for applications requiring a short set time and high strength development, including roadway repair and general construction within warmer climates. This invention is patent pending (application number 16/255,131). The flowable geopolymer binder may be deployed and mixed in a drum for increased flexibility in a range of applications. The flowable mortar is distributed over a bed of coarse aggregate, curing rapidly to create a stronger, more environmentally-friendly concrete alternative.
Software for Analysis of ASTM C457 Air Void Parameters Dr. Lange from the University of IL has developed a deep learning algorithm that can analyze scanned images of concrete samples in order to determine traverse lengths in... Read More Dr. Lange from the University of IL has developed a deep learning algorithm that can analyze scanned images of concrete samples in order to determine traverse lengths in the aggregate, paste, and void contents on the polished surface of a concrete sample This approach ensures the freeze-thaw parameters of concrete meet the required ASTM C457 standards. Benefit This method allows one to perform an ASTM C457 analysis in a quick and cost proficient manner. Applications Manufacturing, construction, highways/roads
Precast Prestressing Plate (PPP) for Local Repairs of Civil Structures Dr. Andrawes at the University of Illinois has developed a unique method for localized concrete repair and strengthening. A precast plate of concrete or mortar, which... Read More Dr. Andrawes at the University of Illinois has developed a unique method for localized concrete repair and strengthening. A precast plate of concrete or mortar, which contains a curved, self-anchored SMA wire, can be attached to an area of concrete in need of repair. Upon heating or passing electric current through the exposed ends of SMA wire, the restrained wire induces compressive force in the center of the plate. Since the SMA wire is self-anchored, there is no need for an external anchorage system. Additionally, since the prestressing is activated by the application of heat or electricity, there is no need for hydraulic jacking. These characteristics make this technology a flexible, and cost-saving method for localized structural repairs. Primary application: Precast/prestressed concrete products