PhD Student in Civil Engineering
Dushadhi Athapaththu is a PhD student in Civil Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) investigating the behaviour of mineral carbonation incorporated silicate as a manufactured pozzolan addition in cementitious systems. She graduated with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, where she also served as an Instructor and Assistant Lecturer for three years. Eager to complete her PhD at UTS and significantly contribute to scholarly research, she aspires to transition into the concrete industry, applying her expertise as a researcher.
University of Technology Sydney
Associate Professor Kirk Vessalas
I am involved in the research collaboration on the development and engineering assessment of manufactured silicates for use in cement and concrete. The main industrial partner of this project is MCi Carbon who manufactures silicate materials as part of their CO2 mineralisation technology.
This project investigates the behaviour of MCi silicates as a manufactured pozzolan addition in cementitious systems, such as concrete and blended cements. Specifically, the project aims to identify pathways to optimise concrete performance to significantly value add to decarbonising the cement and concrete industry by taking anthropogenic CO2 and using it to manufacture silicate materials. The project will focus on studying the mechanistic behaviours of the MCi silicate compared to other supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash and slag. Also, the MCi silicate will be used as a manufactured pozzolan in concrete for evaluating conformance against Transport for NSW B80 and R83 and Australian Standard AS 3582.4 criteria.
This research project will provide a technical foundation for the acceptance of MCi silicate products as SCMs with cement replacement levels up to 30% to mitigate the carbon footprint.
Undertaking an industry-led research project like this offers an incredible opportunity to build connections and work alongside peers within the industry, from whom I hope to learn extensively. They provide valuable insights and resources that may not be readily available within an academic setting. Also, I never know what kind of new doors it could open down the road for my career.
Given the gap between academic knowledge and real-world applications, this industry-led research project can also help me apply theoretical concepts to practical scenarios and address real-world industry challenges, enhancing my understanding of my research’s potential impact.
Although I just started my PhD a few months ago, it’s already been an exciting journey. I am carrying out several experimental investigations to study MCi Silicate materials characterisation while continuing my literature review. Right now, I’m diving into a literature review for a conference publication and a journal article and conference and publication with my experiment results. I’m really looking forward to participating in conferences, webinars, and workshops, which I know will be great for my professional growth.
Once I have completed my PhD, I hope to become a postdoctoral research fellow. Afterward, I see myself joining the research and development in the industry. At the same time, I hope to engage in teaching to share my knowledge and experience with research students.
My project primarily focuses on developing low-carbon concrete to reduce carbon footprint. It will provide higher-performance concrete that meets New South Wales’ transportation requirements and will significantly minimise the carbon footprint of crucial transport infrastructure
