Former SAIT team nominated for provincial STEM award for graphene sidewalk project

04, Oct, 2024

EDMONTON, Oct. 4, 2024 – Can sidewalks in four-season cities like Calgary and Edmonton be made more durable and cost-effective so that they don’t crack as easily as china in a shop patronized by bulls? A former team of SAIT civil engineering technology students has found a potential answer for this and, as a result, been named a finalist for the 2024 ASET Capstone Project of the Year Award.

The provincial award is given out annually by the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET), the professional self-regulatory organization for engineering technologists and technicians in Alberta.

The former team of Derrick Leung, Tony Ly, Pinyo Sirisettanan, and Chi Kin Wong investigated the impact of adding graphene to conventional concrete with the goal of producing a more resilient, crack-resistant sidewalk or pathway. Graphene-reinforced concrete has been known to increase compressive and flexural strength, and has other unique capabilities, such as better water impermeability.

The brainstorm for the project came to mind for Leung during his first year of studies on his walks back and forth to the SAIT campus. On the way, he would notice changes to the sidewalks throughout the seasons.

“Part of the project’s idea emerged from this as well as a continuation from a previous research project regarding asphalt mixes,” said Leung. “This led to the focus on sidewalks and pathways and the inspiration to find ways to improve their durability through rough climates.”

The former team sought to prove graphene reinforcement as a viable alternative to current concrete sidewalk mixes by utilizing compressive concrete tests, a modified freeze-thaw test, a slab comparison, and a cost/environmental product declaration (EPD) comparison.

According to Leung, test results confirmed that adding graphene to concrete does enhance its compressive strength. He believes that this bodes well for its high durability performance in cities subject to rapid temperature changes in winter (e.g. Calgary and Edmonton). An added bonus is that its use could ultimately reduce the amount of concrete required in sidewalk and pathway construction and, in turn, lessen the overall cost and CO2 being produced.

“In the case of the former SAIT team, the path to success was literally that: a sidewalk whose composition was adapted to take into account environmental changes,” said ASET CEO Barry Cavanaugh. “Economics and climate factor into municipal decisions, including around different forms of infrastructure. These issues have been addressed in a highly practical, relevant and inventive Capstone project.”

Three other former teams from Alberta polytechnics were recognized provincially as finalists for the award due to their outstanding innovation.

The winner of the 2024 ASET Capstone Project of the Year Award will be announced later this autumn.

The ASET Capstone Project of the Year Award was established by ASET in 2017 in response to overwhelming member interest in stories about Capstone Projects undertaken by teams of engineering technology students from NAIT, SAIT, Red Deer Polytechnic, and Lethbridge Polytechnic as part of their end-of-program requirements.


About ASET
ASET is the professional self-regulatory organization for engineering technologists and technicians in Alberta. ASET currently represents over 17,000 members, including full-time technology students, recent graduates and fully certified members in 21 disciplines and more than 120 occupations across a multitude of industries.

Media Contact:
Michele Penz, Calico Communications for ASET
1.778.888.2249
calicocomm@telus.net

 

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