Cementitious materials (advanced)

Summary

This course provides students with the scientific and engineering foundations to develop next-generation low-carbon cementitious materials. It links composition, processing, microstructure, performance, durability, and environmental impact to advance sustainable construction.

Content

Keywords

Cementitious materials, hydratin, durability, characterisation methods

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

MSE 322 - Building Materials and Laboratory work

Recommended courses

Building materials

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Explain the fundamental mechanisms governing the behaviour of cementitious materials
• Assess / Evaluate the role of SCMs and emerging low-carbon binders in sustainable construction
• Assess / Evaluate the durability and long-term performance of cementitious materials
• Analyze environmental impacts using life cycle thinking and sustainability assessment tools
• Discuss current strategies for decarbonizing cement and concrete production

Transversal skills

• Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
• Evaluate one's own performance in the team, receive and respond appropriately to feedback.
• Negotiate effectively within the group.
• Make an oral presentation.
• Write a literature review which assesses the state of the art.

Teaching methods

The course combines lectures, literature-based learning, case study work and student presentations. Lectures delivered by academic and industrial experts provide fundamental scientific knowledge as well as insights into current research and industrial practice. Throughout the course, students actively engage with the scientific literature, critically evaluate published research, and apply their knowledge to a real or fictitious case study. Interactive discussions and presentations foster critical thinking and encourage students to assess emerging challenges and innovative solutions for the development of sustainable cementitious materials and construction practices.

Assessment methods

Students will work in small groups and be assigned a real or fictitious case study in which they will identify and evaluate sustainable cementitious material solutions to reduce the environmental impact of a structure. Assessment is based on continuous evaluation through three oral presentations, each focusing on a different aspect of scientific inquiry and critical thinking.

Presentation 1 (25%) – Topic Definition and Scientific Background
Students introduce their case study, define the engineering challenge, explain its relevance to sustainable construction, and present the scientific background needed to understand the problem.

Presentation 2 (25%) – Critical Literature Review
Students conduct a structured review of the scientific literature using appropriate databases and search tools, identifying current knowledge, limitations, and remaining challenges.

Final Presentation (50%) – Synthesis and Sustainable Solutions
Students propose and justify sustainable material and design strategies for their case study. Solutions should be supported by scientific evidence and critically evaluated in terms of technical performance, environmental impact, feasibility, and implementation challenges. The final presentation should demonstrate the ability to integrate scientific knowledge into practical engineering solutions.

Resources

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/MSE-420