University of Houston System

Yi-Lung Mo

Gangbing Song

Mithun Singla

Hermant Dhonde

Luyu Li

Yiqun Yan

Rachel Howser

Haichang Gu

A carbon nanofiber aggregate (CNFA) system and method provides self-sensing capabilities that can be used to detect strain, moisture, and temperature changes. The CNFA may include cement, aggregate, silica fume, high-range water reducer (HRWR), and/or carbon nanofibers. The metal meshes in the CNFA may be utilized to monitor the electric properties of the CNFA to detect strain, moisture, and temperature changes. The CNFA may be embedded in concrete structures to allow detection of strain, moisture, and temperature changes that may cause damage to structures. Several metal meshes may be embedded in the CNFA.

Systems and methods utilizing carbon nanofiber aggregate for performance monitoring of concrete structures

A vibration dampener, including, a first beam comprising a first mounting end portion and a first peripheral end portion, wherein the first peripheral end portion comprises a tunable mass, and the first beam is configured to vibrate in tune with a vibrational frequency of a structure supporting the first beam at the first mounting end portion, a second beam comprising a second mounting end portion and a second peripheral end portion, wherein the second peripheral end portion comprises a ring disposed about the first beam, and a viscoelastic material disposed between the first beam and the ring, wherein the viscoelastic material is configured to dampen vibrational energy as the first beam vibrates toward the ring until the viscoelastic material becomes compressed between the first beam and the ring during the course of the impact.

Pounding tune mass damper with viscoelastic material

Periodic material-based seismic isolation systems and methods are a new and innovative means to mitigate the potential damage to structures due to earthquakes or the like. The periodic materials are arranged in a periodic way in one, two and three directions, which are defined as one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) periodic materials. With this periodic material, the pattern of the earthquake event energy can be completely obstructed or changed when it reaches the periodic foundation of the structural system. This may result in a total isolation of the foundation from the earthquake wave energy.

Periodic material-based seismic isolation system

A system for monitoring the health of a structure, e.g., a concrete wall, bridge, pillars, using a smart aggregate is disclosed. The smart aggregate includes a piezoceramic transducer(s) and associated communication links. The transducer is embedded into the structure prior to the manufacture of the structure. The disclosed system can monitor internal stresses, cracks and other physical forces in the structures during the structures' life. The system is capable of providing an early indication of the health of the structure before a failure of the structure can occur.

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Pearland, TX, United States of America

Yi-Lung Mo