Sustainable Self‐Sensing Mortars for Real‐Time Monitoring of Infrastructure

The aim of this project is to develop self‐sensing mineral‐based mortars that can both strengthen and monitor critical infrastructure in Sweden. Particular attention will be given to the exploration of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), including slag from the steel industry, fly ash from energy production, biochar from biomass processes, and mine tailings from the iron ore industry. Valorizing these mineral by‐products will reduce reliance on Portland cement, promote circular economy principles, and directly link the use of natural resources to the sustainable industrial transition in Sweden.

Supervisor: Gabriel Sas, Professor and Head of Subject Structural Engineering, SBN

Subject description

The Research Subject of Structural Engineering studies loads and deformations, design, dimensioning, sustainability, and the ability to support loads, as well as repair and retrofitting of buildings and civil engineering structures made of concrete, steel, wood, and other materials, alone or in combinations, under normal conditions as well as in cold climate and under fire.

Co-supervisors: Jonny Johansson, Professor, Electronic systems, SRT, Jaime Gonzalez‐Libreros, Senior Lecturer, Structural and Fire Engineering, SBN, Oskar Johansson, Associate Senior Lecturer, Law, ETKS, and Oisik Das, Associate Professor, Structural Engineering, SBN.

Project description

The project aims to develop self-sensing, mineral-based mortars that can both strengthen and monitor critical infrastructure in Sweden. These innovative materials will use industrial by-products such as slag, fly ash, biochar, and mine tailings as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), reducing reliance on Portland cement and supporting a circular, sustainable industrial transition.

By incorporating conductive fillers (e.g., carbon fibers, nanotubes, graphene), the mortars will gain embedded sensing properties, enabling structures to “self-report” stress, strain, and cracking. This offers a more robust and scalable approach than traditional sensors and supports data-driven maintenance.

The approach is particularly relevant for northern Sweden’s infrastructure, such as the Iron Ore Line (Malmbanan), which faces severe deterioration from freeze–thaw cycles, de-icing salts, and heavy traffic. The new materials will extend service life, reduce maintenance costs and CO₂ emissions, and improve safety and reliability.

The project includes three work packages: (1) Material development and testing of SCM-based self-sensing mortars; (2) Structural integration and performance evaluation under Nordic conditions; and (3) Full-scale validation on a concrete railway bridge with embedded monitoring systems.

A multidisciplinary team will lead the project, combining expertise in structural engineering, materials science, and sensing technologies. The outcome will be durable, smart, and sustainable materials that strengthen Sweden’s infrastructure and accelerate its green industrial transformation.