In summer 2024, UCPRC launches the Sustainable Concrete Lab-to-Slab initiative. This initiative aims to advance sustainable concrete technology by accelerating the implementation of
more sustainable binders for structural, pavement, minor, and other concrete applications. Initial funding for the initiative comes from the American Concrete Institute Foundation
(ACI Foundation) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The Federal Highway Administration
is providing non-financial support.
The project focuses on evaluating low-carbon cements and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) beyond traditional coal fly ash and slag. Through prequalification testing,
constructability assessment, QA/QC testing, mid-term monitoring, and environmental and cost life cycle assessment. We are dedicated to evaluating the performance of these materials
and helping government and private project owners accelerate their implementation.
We invite SCM and cement suppliers to contribute their materials for test track construction. We also invite the construction industry to contribute concrete or get involved in the
test track construction. We are committed to sharing all performance and construction data transparently and openly, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration across the concrete
pavement value chain.
Our objective is to construct a series of three successive slabs, each utilizing a novel sustainable material for concrete, with a minimum requirement of approximately 2.5 cubic yards
of concrete per test section. The project will commence this summer, and testing and construction will continue to 2026 and beyond, depending on funding. This initiative aims to generate
invaluable insights using small-scale (no-traffic) test sections into the viability and efficacy of these materials for real-world applications in pilot projects and mainstream construction.
We recognize the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in driving innovation forward. If you have any interest or questions, please send us an
email: lab-to-slab@ucdavis.edu. Join us as we pave the way for the future of concrete technology, one slab at a time.