Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Sanket Rawat is a postdoctoral research fellow at University of Technology Sydney (UTS). He received his PhD in civil engineering from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Prior to his role at UTS, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Western Sydney University on an ARC project investigating the fire performance of magnesia-based cements. His research interests include development and characterisation of low-carbon concrete, engineered cementitious composites, and the performance of cementitious materials under elevated temperatures.
Currently, he is part of a team conducting experimental research on Australian calcined clay for low-carbon concrete production, focusing on mechanical and durability properties as well as life cycle analysis.
Boral, Transport for NSW, Calix
University of Technology Sydney
Dr Paul Thomas
Applications of Calcined Clay in Lower Carbon Concrete
The project goal is to explore calcined clay (CC)-based binders as an alternative route to producing low-carbon concrete. In the project, CC-based binders will be compared with existing binder materials in terms of both environmental and economic impact, and their performance will be assessed against standard construction specifications.
As part of the experimental team at UTS, I am involved in designing CC-based concrete mixes that are suitable for field trials and long-term durability studies. With the results obtained, we aim to demonstrate this as a proof of concept, proving its suitability for the Australian market so that it can be adopted as a traditional supplementary material in the future.
I was drawn to this project by the fantastic team at UTS and the opportunity to work with industry leaders like Boral, Calix, and Transport for NSW. Considering the large scope of the project, from the planning phase through to execution, it offered a valuable opportunity to gain a comprehensive perspective on product development.
I have been involved in concrete materials research for over eight years, contributing to various studies ranging from core material development to structural-scale investigations. One of the key highlights during my PhD was developing engineered cementitious composites (also known as bendable concrete), which not only has high compressive and tensile performance but also offers superior fire resistance. I achieved this by incorporating over 50% ground granulated blast furnace slag, making the material environmentally friendly as well.
In my previous postdoctoral work at Western Sydney University, I focused on developing magnesia-based cements for cladding applications, which are gaining popularity in the Australian market due to their versatile properties. We also developed a cost-effective, lab-based spalling test to assess fire resistance, and the results were promising. During this period, I was also successful in a grant application which I submitted as a principal scientist with my team to use the IR beamline at ANSTO, Australia.
While academia has been very fulfilling, I’m excited about the opportunity to work closely with industry partners to implement cutting-edge research and tackle real-world challenges. Specifically, I see myself contributing to the future of concrete material development within an industry R&D setting.
There is growing pressure in Australia to reduce carbon emissions, and as demand for low-carbon construction materials increases, the country is facing significant challenges with the availability of traditional supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as fly ash and GGBFS, due to the closure of coal-fired power stations and import limitations. My research has been centered around addressing these issues. In previous work, I focused on developing low-carbon cements and engineered cementitious composites, with a particular emphasis on fire performance— both of which are critical areas for Australia. In the current project, we are exploring calcined clay as a viable alternative binder. This project represents a crucial step towards ensuring a sustainable and reliable supply of SCMs for the local construction industry.
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