Each summer, MATC interns work with transportation professionals to provide themselves with experiences that will assist them when they enter the field of transportation research.

1. MATC Internship
Program 2018
William Seeger

2. About my internship
• Research involving geopolymer concrete

3. About Geopolymer Concrete
• Geopolymer Concrete
• Geopolymer concrete is a new eco-friendly
alternative construction material to
Portland cement concrete.
• Made from waste materials such as Fly-ash
or slag.
• Uses a different chemistry to that of
ordinary Portland cement

4. What Are Geopolymers
• Geopolymers are chains or networks of
inorganic molecules
• Rely on thermally activated natural materials
to provide a source of silicon and aluminum

5. Positive Impacts of
Geopolymer Concrete
• Has a CO2 footprint which is approximately
80% Lower than Portland cement concrete.
• Reduces stocks of waste and carbon
emissions.

6. How I
participated
in the
research
Making OPC concrete and
Geopolymer concrete sample.
Big Red summer camp.
Testing the concrete samples.
Help with academic writing.

7. Making Concrete
Samples
• Made over 40 concrete samples.
• Using OPC Concrete and
Geopolymer concrete and different
aggregates.

8. Big Red Summer Camp
• As part of our research team NSF outreach
project we participated in The Big Red summer
camp.
• High School students were given a
presentation about the basics of concrete and
geopolymer.
• Students were then able to design bridges
using OPC Concrete and Geopolymer concrete
and test their strength.

9. Testing the
concrete samples
• Destructive and non destructive
testing was done on the concrete
samples.
• E-meter
• Compression test
• UTM

10. Academic
writing
Help with writing the research paper

11. Conclusion
Great learning experience
A lot of fun

12. Thank You!