Materials and Structures Laboratory

The Materials and Structures Laboratory (MatSLab) is a research center focused on improving the knowledge base of
materials and structures in the built environment and reengineering them for the future. The laboratory consists of
experimental and computational facilities capable of evaluating the performance of existing and emerging construction
materials and structures from the nanometer to the meter scale. Recent research has focused on the behavior of
sustainable materials, such as recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), and resilient and damage-tolerant materials, such as
high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC). Recent laboratory upgrades allow for testing, characterization and
modeling of other sustainable and resilient materials and structures. RCA materials are being used in pavement design,
such as for the Illinois Tollway, to increase sustainability and reduce cost; HPFRCs are being deployed in bridge structures,
such as the Pulaski Skyway Project, to decrease construction time, and in earthquake-resistant buildings, such as the
Lincoln Square Expansion in Bellevue, Washington, to increase ductility and damage tolerance. Recent research at the
MatSLab has been funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s University
Transportation Center, the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the American Concrete Institute.