Research Mentor Information
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Primary Research Mentor Name: Qian Zhang
Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific?: Dr. 
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): qzhang@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Position Title: Faculty
FSU College (if applicable): FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Additional Research Mentor(s)
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Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above): Peizhi Wang
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated): {Empty}
Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable): {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns: {Empty}
Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific?: {Empty}
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Overall Project Details
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Title of the Project: Measuring Corrosion of Steel Rebars Inside Cracked Ultra-high Performance Concrete
Project Keywords: Civil engineering, concrete, corrosion, durability, infrastructure
Are you currently looking for research assistants?: Yes
Number of Research Assistants Needed : 2
Relevant Research Assistant Major(s):
Open to all majors

Project Location:: 2525 Pottsdamer St, Tallahassee, FL 32310 College of Engineering
If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation?: School buses to College of Engineering from FSU main campus
Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s):: In-person
Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work?: 5-10 hours
Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work?: During business hours
Overall Research Project Description:
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is an advanced concrete material with superior structural and durability performance. UHPC shows much higher compressive strength (above18 ksi), tensile strength and post cracking ductility as compared to normal concrete. In addition, UHPC has very dense microstructure, effectively preventing harmful substances, such as chloride ions, to penetrate into the interior of the material, therefore offering excellent protection for steel rebars inside the UHPC. The exceptional corrosion resistance leads to widespread interest by civil engineers in implementing this advanced material in infrastructures, such as bridges, in coastal regions, where reinforcement corrosion is the major deterioration mechanism.

However, when UHPC cracks under service loadings, these cracks may serve as pathways through which deleterious substances penetrate, potentially reducing the protection for steel rebar against corrosion. This research aims to employ an in-situ testing approach to monitor the corrosion of steel reinforcement within cracked UHPC specimens to establish a meaningful relationship between the patterns of cracks and the corrosion progression of the steel rebars. This will help to aid the design and maintenance practices of UHPC infrastructures.

Throughout the project, students are anticipated to acquire the subsequent knowledge and skill sets in the following area: 1) a foundational understanding of the corrosion science; 2) proficiency in corrosion measurement through electrochemical techniques; and 3) competence in both the formulation and characterization of ultra-high performance concrete materials.

Research Tasks:
The students are expected to conduct the following tasks with close guidance of the graduate students:
1)	Preparation of UHPC specimens
2)	Conducting flexural testing on UHPC specimens
3)	Characterizing crack patterns
4)	Use electrochemical techniques to measure the corrosion of steel rebars


Skills that research assistant(s) may need::
Recommended: 
1)	Basic knowledge of statics 
2)	Basic knowledge of chemistry 


Mentoring Philosophy:
As a mentor, my goal is to create a supportive and empowering environment where mentees feel valued, heard, and encouraged to explore their interests. I strive to foster open communication, active listening, and mutual respect, aiming to guide mentees in setting and achieving their goals. I view mentoring as a collaborative journey, where I provide guidance, share insights from my experiences, and facilitate skill development, all while recognizing the importance of adaptability and understanding in meeting each mentee's distinct needs and aspirations. 
Through this project, the mentees will be involved in hands-on experimental research about preparing and testing UHPC, observing and documenting the crack patterns, and measuring the corrosion. By embracing these tasks, mentees gain a comprehensive perspective on UHPC's behavior, contributing not only to their personal growth but also to the advancement of materials science and engineering as a whole. The students will work closely with the faculty and graduate student mentors, who will share their experiences with the students to facilitate their learning experience. The students will also have opportunity working with other graduate students in the research group, attending the group meetings, and be included in the related publications if applicable. This will give the students a full research experience.  


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UROP Program Elements
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Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication: Yes
UROP Performance Evaluation: Yes
Materials Grant: Yes
UROP Poster Presentation: Yes

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Year: 2023
update url: https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=TCYwjAitIJ2d-S9z0zlkbkaCTB-5V76rLW8ZpGwGP3g