
Coordinator: José Barroso Aguiar
The general objectives assumed by the Strategic Programme comprise the production of new knowledge in the Research Area of Competence of “Construction Materials and Technologies” (CMT), between others, contributing to the general vision of Sustainable Built Environment & Energy Efficiency, as well as of Sustainable and Resilient Systems and Infrastructures. CMT area will make research in the field of materials and technologies, mainly in its eco-efficiency. Their contributions to increase the quality of life in territories, without compromising the future generations, will be studied during all the phases of the life-cycle. Environmental, economic and social aspects need to be considered in order to fulfil the mentioned objectives.
Mainly, CMT area will develop research on “innovative ecomaterials & technologies” with connections to “energy efficiency & sustainable built environment” and “risk management and health”. The main projects to be developed are:
- New technologies for smart materials, involving the study of phase change, photocatalytic and self-healing materials The use of nanomaterials will be fundamental to increase the efficiency of the new technologies;
- Eco-efficient mortars and concretes, involving the study of high performance pozzolans that can replace part of Portland cement, a material with low sustainability. The resulting mortars and concretes will have advantages related with economy, energy efficiency, durability and environment;
- New composites for rehabilitation of constructions, involving the study of composites with incorporation of natural or artificial fibres for structural and non-structural applications. The durability of these composites will be an important aspect to be considered;
- Functional materials for lightweight construction, involving the study of polymeric membranes to be used mainly in lightweight covers. Their resistance to environmental conditions is fundamental to be analysed.
Academic Staff
Research Staff
Technical staff
No items found
Main Equipments
The CompactRIO system (cRIO) is a DAQ system with an incorporated computer (with its own operating system) capable of dedicatedly running one single LabVIEW program at a time. The cRIO has standard memory and an integrated real-time processor for control, data logging, and analysis, and able to run the program at much higher speed than a laptop (which is multitasking). The cRIO uses Ethernet to connect to its peripherals which enables it to communicate data fast. The cRIO connects to the electronic hardware via reconfigurable I/O field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology.
Available NI modules:
- NI cDAQ-9172: legacy NI CompactDAQ chassis (without an incorporated computer)
- NI cRIO-9074: integrated 400 MHz Real-Time Controller and 2M Gate FPGA
- NI 9205: 32 channels, ±10 V to ±200mV, 16-bit analog input
- NI 9234: 4 channels, ± 5 V, 24-bit, SW selectable IEPE & AC/DC
- NI 9237: 4 channels, 24-bit, half/full bridge analog input
- NI 9263: 4 channels, ±10 V, 16-bit analog output
- NI 9421: 8 channels, 24 V, sinking digital input
- NI 9472: 8 channels, 24 V, sourcing digital output
These pieces of equipment were acquired with fund that result from specialized services carried out by this Research Group to the Centre for Waste Valorisation.



Construction Materials Laboratory covers destructive and non-destructive testing of construction materials such as fresh and hardened pastes, mortars and concretes and the assessment of their durability and mechanical properties. The equipment housed in Construction Materials Laboratory will allow the characterization, development and testing of high performance sustainable materials for a wide variety of applications in the construction industry.
The Construction Materials Laboratory performs various tests in the following areas:
•Admixtures for mortar and concrete
•Aggregates;
•Mortars and concretes;
•Hydraulic and aerial lime;
•Alkali-activated materials;
•Earth based materials;
•Injection pastes;
•Cements and mineral additions;
•Wood;
•Ceramic materials;
•Paints and varnishes.