The Family Thomas Foundation (Familjen Thomas forskningsstiftelse) is a foundation with the aim to fund research on Sustainable concrete construction as the overarching theme.
In this initiative, we invited applications for research grants to support a PhD project within this theme, and a decision has now been taken regarding which project to finance.
The research grant of MSEK 7.5 has been awarded to the PhD project “Resource-Efficient Design of Concrete Floors with Prestressed CFRP”. The project is being led by Carlos Gil Berrocal, Senior Lecturer in Structural Engineering at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, and is designed to run over five years.
The financed project is part of the initiative “CarbonCore – Resource-efficient Design of Concrete Floors with Prestressed CFRP”, which started on May 5, 2025. The PhD candidate is Siri Salander, who holds a Master of Science in Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology. Prior to returning to Chalmers as a doctoral student, she worked for several years as a structural engineer at ELU.
Half-Year Summary
The project focuses on developing thinner and more resource-efficient concrete floor systems using prestressed CFRP tendons together with low-clinker high-strength concrete. During this first reporting period, the work mainly addressed the bond behavior between CFRP tendons and concrete, while also setting up the basis for later studies on prestress losses.
The main progress includes a focused literature review that confirms clear research gaps in prestressed CFRP systems, especially for high-performance concrete. Custom CFRP flat bars with embedded fiber optic sensors were successfully produced and verified, and the experimental program for pull-out testing was defined and prepared. In addition, a prototype anchorage system for prestressing the CFRP bars was designed. Project costs are in line with the budget. The next phase will concentrate on experimental testing, data evaluation, and publication of initial results.
To make concrete construction sustainable, the climate effects of concrete construction need to be drastically reduced, and by 2045 it should be “climate-neutral”. Several measures need to be combined to achieve this goal:
The Family Thomas Foundation focuses, primarily, on bullets b-d above, i.e., to optimize the concrete and the structural design.
Two subthemes are included in this call, first one focusing on design and second on material level:
A successful proposal addresses one, or both of, these subthemes. The subthemes are further described in the following:
Subtheme: Resource-efficient design solutions
The first subtheme focuses on smart, resource-efficient design solutions which increase the competitiveness of concrete from a sustainability perspective. Building with concrete has advantages in many aspects: sound insulation, thermal mass, fire-safety, durability, etc. Accordingly, concrete is used for many applications for both buildings and infrastructure, such as foundations, slabs, columns, and walls. To handle the carbon footprint associated with concrete structures, smart, resource-efficient design solutions which minimize the use of concrete in different applications are needed. The aim is to improve material utilization and minimize material consumption. Various methods can be applied, e.g., optimization of topology, shape, size, use of prestressing. A successful proposal addresses applications and methods with potential for large savings in total consumption.
Subtheme: Resource-efficient concrete
The second subtheme focuses on resource-efficient concrete, i.e., methods to reduce the climate footprint of the concrete material as such. Both alternative binders, and improved proportioning to reduce binder or clinker content, can be considered. The most explored alternative binders include coal combustion fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and natural pozzolans, such as calcined clays and volcanic ashes. The availability of coal fly ash and slag will soon be low, as the climate crisis calls for reduced use of coal in power plants and steel industry. Consequently, other alternatives are of main interest in this call. Examples of research questions concern quality control, high replacement levels, mechanical and durability properties. Optimization of the mix design can be reached using different methods, e.g. by utilizing materials with low water demand, adding filler material, or by optimizing the particle size distribution. Production is a major challenge; more advanced production plants are required, and production at large volumes exhibits uncertainties.
The Family Thomas Foundation (Familjen Thomas forskningsstiftelse) is a foundation with the aim to fund research on Sustainable concrete construction as the overarching theme.
We have invited applications for research grants to support a PhD project within this theme and a decision has now been taken regarding what project to finance.
The research grant of MSEK 7,5 has been rewarded to the PhD project: “Evolution of pozzolan incorporated concrete: Resistance to Carbonation (Carbo-Crete)”. The project is being led by Arezou Baba Ahmadi, Assistant Professor in Building materials, Chalmers University of Technology, and is designed for 5 years.
To make concrete construction sustainable, the climate effects of concrete construction need to be drastically reduced, and by 2045 it should be “climate-neutral”. Several measures need to be combined to achieve this goal:
The Family Thomas Foundation focuses, primarily, on bullets b-d above, i.e., to optimize the concrete and the structural design.
Two subthemes are included in this call, first one focusing on design and second on material level:
A successful proposal addresses one, or both of, these subthemes.
A successful proposal addresses one, or both of, these subthemes. The subthemes are further described in the following:
The subthemes are further described in the following:
Subtheme 1: Resource-efficient design solutions
The first subtheme focuses on smart, resource-efficient design solutions which increase the competitiveness of concrete from a sustainability perspective. Building with concrete has advantages in many aspects: sound insulation, thermal mass, fire-safety, durability, etc. Accordingly, concrete is used for many applications for both buildings and infrastructure, such as foundations, slabs, columns, and walls. To handle the carbon footprint associated with concrete structures, smart, resource-efficient design solutions which minimize the use of concrete in different applications are needed. The aim is to improve material utilization and minimize material consumption. Various methods can be applied, e.g., optimization of topology, shape, size, use of prestressing. A successful proposal addresses applications and methods with potential for large savings in total consumption.
Subtheme 2: Resource-efficient concrete
The second subtheme focuses on resource-efficient concrete, i.e., methods to reduce the climate footprint of the concrete material as such. Both alternative binders, and improved proportioning to reduce binder or clinker content, can be considered. The most explored alternative binders include coal combustion fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and natural pozzolans, such as calcined clays and volcanic ashes. The availability of coal fly ash and slag will soon be low, as the climate crisis calls for reduced use of coal in power plants and steel industry. Consequently, other alternatives are of main interest in this call. Examples of research questions concern quality control, high replacement levels, mechanical and durability properties. Optimization of the mix design can be reached using different methods, e.g. by utilizing materials with low water demand, adding filler material, or by optimizing the particle size distribution. Production is a major challenge; more advanced production plants are required, and production at large volumes exhibits uncertainties.
