Novel and disruptive research with groundbreaking impact
Research conducted by members of SETU's Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment’s (engCORE) over a two-year period (2022-2024), has produced a novel, disruptive, smart surface technology which will have groundbreaking impacts on the international concrete industries. The research was carried out in partnership with FLI Global, and supported by the Design+ Technology Gateway.
Funding innovation The project was funded through the Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP). This programme is a hugely impactful venture which encourages Irish-based companies to work with Irish knowledge providers to develop and commercialise innovative research, delivering impactful societal change.
Research Partnership
This research was conducted between SETU’s campus in Carlow and FLI Precast Solutions premises in Kilnock, Co. Carlow. The research team included Dr David Culliton and Dr Phuoc Huynh, both lecturers in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Dept. and members of engCORE at SETU, and Alex Flynn, FLI Precast Solutions. Billy House supported the team as a member of the Design+ Gateway.
“For SETU to partner with FLI Global, we can directly contribute to the work of organisations and industry, impacting the wider community regionally, nationally, and even globally. This is a key aspect of SETU’s strategic and research plans.”
Dr David Culliton, on the importance of the research partnership.
Sustainable Smart Surface Technology
Led by engCORE researchers, the project produced a sustainable Smart Surface Technology refurbishment solution addressing the complex issue associated with leak-failures in large, subterranean concrete liquid containment installations.
The research created a flexible surface technology that provides mechanically robust, long-term protection for the internal facade of these installations protecting them from corrosive and erosive effects of the contained liquid. The addition of bespoke remote leak-detection monitoring technologies assures system-integrity and long-term efficacy.
Global collaboration
Speaking about the importance of the project, David Culliton, who was recently presented with the ‘Engaged Research and Impact Award' at SETU’s annual Research Excellence Awards, said, “It was hugely enjoyable to work on this project in partnership with FLI Global and Dr Phuoc Huynh, an expert in concrete who joined us for this project from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam. Cement and construction are vital to our society, from transportation infrastructure to residential and corporate construction projects.
Contributing to a greener future
David continued, “Large, active and redundant underground water, fuel, and chemical liquid retention infrastructure is a substantial national and international environmental concern should leaks occur, and equally are highly valuable and strategic assets globally. Research into the development of smart refurbishment technologies to upgrade these unremovable structural assets into everyday use is so important as we work to achieve a greener future.”
Real-world impact
Richard Whyte, Design+ Business Development Manager, commented, “It has been hugely rewarding to witness the work of this research project between SETU and FLI Global. Our goal at Design+ and through the Innovation Partnership Programme is to continuously support our talented researchers at SETU in their capacity to partner with industry to contribute to transforming their data findings into real-world impact.”
About the research partners
The Centre of Research and Enterprise in Engineering (engCORE) is a multidisciplinary research team within the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at SETU in Carlow. The team have six key areas of research competencies which include fields such as smart materials, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and signals and sensing.
FLI Global is an environmental services and technologies business focused on providing innovative and sustainable solutions to the protection of air, land, and water. It has an extensive background in both precast concrete and geotechnologies.
The Design+ Gateway is also based at SETU’s campus in Carlow and has a proven track record in areas such as knowledge transfer and delivering innovative solutions to industry. With a primary focus on design strategy and product design. Through the gateway, companies across the industrial, manufacturing, and ICT sectors can access a wide range of research expertise and development support through direct, one-to-one engagements, and funded innovation programmes.
The DESIGN+ Technology Gateway is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-27. Based at SETU’s campus in Carlow. It has a proven track record in knowledge transfer and delivering innovation solutions to industry. It engages with companies on a one-to-one basis and through innovation programmes. Companies from multiple sectors can access a vast range of research expertise and development support. With a primary focus on design strategy and product design.
For more information on research at SETU, click here.
