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Gaochuang CAI

Dr. Gaochuang CAI

Email address: cai[at]kumamoto-u.ac.jp
*Please replace "[at]" with @.

Research Fields
Structural safety and sustainability (SSS), Seismic resilience,
High-performance simulation, AI for structural engineering, Digital pattern

Research interest

Cai’s Lab.@IROAST, KU, Japan

Introduction of Cai’s Lab.@IROAST

Dr. Gaochuang Cai, PI, Ph.D.
Associate professor, IROAST, Kumamoto University, Japan
Adjunct professor, Ecole Centrale de Lyon – ENISE, Université de Lyon, France

Since 2006, Dr. Cai has participated in many projects at national and international levels
as either Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI or collaborator. As shown in the figure, his
research activities ranged from structural design, evaluation, and optimization, building
materials, and construction sustainability, all of which are expected to contribute to the
sustainable development GOALS adopted by the United Nations. The main outcomes of
Cai’s Lab mainly consist of new structural systems, high-performance concrete technology
and theory, and structural dynamic evaluation and damage control technology.

The main topics of Cai’s group at IROAST are,
(1) Performance and evaluation of structures subjected to strong earthquakes
The disaster loss caused by strong earthquakes is hard to estimate, not only at the level of life and property but also at the psychological level. This is of great significance to Japan, a major earthquake country. This research group mainly focuses on the structural safety and optimization of reinforced concrete structures and concrete composite structures under cyclic reversed loads caused by Near-Fault Ground Motion (NFGM) and Long-period ground motion (LPGM). The current work is to establish a constitutive model of the structural elements through experiments to develop more effective elastoplastic models, structural dynamic analysis models. For structural engineering, the two most important characteristics of NFGM, are the impulsive character of the velocity and long-period displacement ground motions. LGPM will also a large amplitude horizontal displacement of the structure exist for a long time thereby increasing the probability of collapse of the structure, especially high-rise structures.

Various faults and main characteristics of NFGM loads

 

(2) Next generation structural design and assessment
At present, the research group is carrying out a series of studies, to establish a complete Design for safety and sustainability (DSS) theory to make contributions to the safety and sustainability of future structures. The object structures mainly include Resilient structures, sustainable structures, modular structures, demountable structures, and sustainable materials. Most of the structures use reinforced concrete materials. The objectives of the research are to ensure the safety of structures at external loads or environmental impacts, at the same time, to consider structural sustainability such as demountable or reusability.

Seismic behaviour of special structures subjected to large deformation

 

(3) Application of advanced materials in structural and material engineering
High-performance and high-durability composite materials and functional materials increasingly are being used to produce high-performance structures, functional structural materials, and structural repairs after disasters or environmental corrosion. The research group is studying the application of ultra-high-strength steel bars in reinforced concrete structures, studying the application of fibre composite materials, phase change materials and carbon nanofibers in high-strength concrete, and studying the application of large-fracture FRP materials and high-strain hardening materials in structural repair such as textile reinforced mortar thin layer.

Concrete beams strengthened with textile reinforced mortar thin layer

 

(4) Theory and advanced technology of eco concrete and high-performance concrete
This research focuses on the optimization of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM)-cement materials system, including volcanic ash, fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (BS) in Portland cement composite systems, by researching several key indexes, by chemical, physical and mechanical tests. At the same time, the research group is also developing zero-cement high-performance concrete materials and looks forward to contributing design for materials sustainability in construction.

Research Activities

JST Sakura Science Exchange Program.
Advanced technology and risk analysis of structures under extreme loads or environments (極端な負荷または環境下にある構造物の高度なテクノロジーとリスク分析)
2024.1.22-2024.1.28 (→NEWS)

 

Visit of ENISE (France) in Nov. 2023

Members

Postdoctral Researcher Prafulla Bahadur MALLA

Achievement

Publications
in press
2024
2023
2022
Grants

  • Ohata Foundation FY2022, "Seismic Performance and AI-based Evaluation Method of SRC Rectangular Columns Subjected to Multiple Repeated Cyclic Loads" October 2022-September 2023

  • The Obayashi Foundation FY2022, 高温下でのTRC補強層-コンクリート界面の剥離挙動の数値解析法の開発, April 2022-March 2023

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