Scientists Develop Flexible Concrete, Making Homes Earthquake Proof

When we hear about concrete, we think about the material’s hardness and how it is used for house construction. But now, researchers are developing flexible concrete.

You may think that this is some kind of joke. But in fact, Swinburne University of Technology researchers, Melbourn have actually succeeded in making flexible concrete.

For conventional cement, Portland cement is used, resulting in the hard nature of the material that we are familiar with. Researchers then incorporate fly ash which is a byproduct of coal when coal is burnt for electricity generating.

With this flexible concrete, researchers put into the concrete mix synthetic fibers. What’s more is that the process does not heat, making it not only environmental-friendly but also requiring less energy (36%). The process also releases lower carbon emissions (76%).

Now, you might ask where flexible concrete can be used? The answer is concrete can be used in places that earthquakes happen frequently. The concrete can help build stronger homes that are capable of withstanding earthquakes. One of the researchers taking part in the process, Dr. Behazad Nematollah, said that the concrete could bend 100 times more than conventional concrete.

While people might have heard about flexible concrete, the mass production of the product and its application has been expensive. However, the material needed for the process can be found anywhere on the planet, making it easier to mass-produce the concrete and lowering the costs.

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