AUS researchers and SRTI Park innovate, unveil conductive concrete shielded precast building

Sharjah: A team of researchers from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) is about to unveil a remarkable achievement after 16 years of dedicated exploration and testing: a precast building constructed with conductive concrete designed for shielding.

Situated at SRTIP, this innovative building employs a special concrete mix to protect against electromagnetic pulses (EMP), commonly known as electronic sabotage. The technology has already garnered two patents filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The project’s masterminds are Dr. Sherif Yehia from the AUS Department of Civil Engineering and Dr. Nasser Qaddoumi from the AUS Department of Electrical Engineering. Their collaboration, which began in 2009, initially focused on the applications of conductive concrete for heating purposes but later expanded to explore its shielding capabilities.

According to Dr. Yehia, while conductive concrete has found various applications globally, this precast building represents a pioneering use of the technology for shielding. The building’s unique attributes make it impervious to energy pulses, mitigating the risk of damaging electronic equipment and ensuring a complete signal blockade. This breakthrough has the potential to safeguard critical facilities such as data centers, power stations, and security centers.

The researchers received significant support from AUS, its Office of Research and Graduate Studies, and industry stakeholders. Funding, land for construction, and advisory board formation were facilitated by Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTI Park. ALEC Engineering Contracting, overseeing construction, played a pivotal role.

Throughout the process, the researchers acknowledged the invaluable contributions of their students at both undergraduate and graduate levels, engaging them in various aspects of the project.

Looking ahead, the researchers plan to collaborate with industry partners, broadening the application of their work. The project’s outcomes include the creation of innovative concrete materials to benefit the construction industry and contribute to the protection of electric grids, generators, and buildings with sensitive equipment from EMP. Collaboration with precast and ready-mix producers will facilitate knowledge transfer to the construction sector.

Conductive concrete offers several advantages, including EMP shielding without special additions, improved mechanical properties, relatively lower costs compared to alternative shielding techniques, and the ability to be produced as precast units.

Also read: Sharjah Light Festival starts from February 7

Precast building AUS Precast building AUS Precast building AUS