materials | National Center for Sustainable Transportation

"Closing-the-loop" for More Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure Materials: A framework for maximizing mineral resource usage to advance more sustainable cement-based materials

Principal Investigator Patrick R. Cunningham
University of California, Davis

This dissertation will present an evaluation framework, using material from California as a case study, to prioritize the adoption of SCM by concurrently considering (1) material performance, (2) resource availability, and (3) environmental impact reduction.

Project Status

Complete

A framework for considering resource availability, experimental performance, and environmental impacts to advance alternative mineral admixtures

Research Product Type

Dissertation / Thesis

Insights from material flow analysis, material performance, and environmental impacts were coupled together to evaluate alternative mineral flows in comparison to conventional mineral admixtures (i.e., fly ash, GBFS, limestone, metakaolin, and silica fumes).

Circularity of Lithium-Ion Battery Materials in Electric Vehicles

Research Product Type

Associated Publication

Researchers undertook a dynamic global material flow analysis of pack-level materials that includes scenario analysis for changing battery cathode chemistries and electric vehicle demand.

High Percentages of Reclaimed Asphalt Affect the Performance of Asphalt Binder

Research Product Type

Research Brief

This research brief summarizes findings from a study in which researchers investigated the use of higher percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement and asphalt roofing shingles as a partial replacement for the virgin binder in new asphalt mixes.

Material Efficiency as a Means to Lower Environmental Impacts from Concrete

Research Product Type

Policy Brief

Researchers at UC Davis developed an initial methodology to evaluate implications of design decisions on the environmental impacts of concrete systems using a multi-criteria selection process to assist decision-makers.

Towards a Just Electric Vehicle Transition in North America: Analysis of Regional Trade and its Effects on Supply and Life Cycle Impacts

Principal Investigator Francisco Parés Olguín
University of California, Davis

With increasing electric vehicle (EV) demand, EVs have entered the international second-hand (SH) vehicle market, risking economic and environmental burdens through spent batteries. This research addresses challenges associated with the EV transition in North America.

Project Status

In Progress

Transformation of Engineering Tools to Increase Material Efficiency of Concrete

Principal Investigator Sabbie Miller, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis

The research will advance concrete research for application in sustainable transportation infrastructure by leveraging the integration of materials, structural, and environmental themes.

Project Status

Complete

Transformation of Engineering Tools to Increase Material Efficiency of Concrete

Research Product Type

Research Report

This report demonstrates how considerations across concrete material design and infrastructure design can be used together to change environmental impacts and costs by targeting appropriate constituents, materials, and system longevity.