Building Materials Research Area

We are committed to developing innovative and environmentally responsible solutions for the built environment. Our research extends beyond conventional cement and concrete to explore a wide range of binders and material applications, including non-reinforced cementitious systems, polymer composites, and modular construction systems. By integrating experimental research with computational modeling and industrial collaboration, we aim to shape a more sustainable construction industry while ensuring durability, efficiency, and resource optimization.

Our research

As global infrastructure needs grow, the environmental impact of traditional building materials must be addressed. Cement production alone accounts for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions, highlighting the urgent need for alternative solutions. However, sustainability challenges extend beyond concrete, affecting the entire binder ecosystem, including geopolymer materials, recycled industrial by-products, and engineered composite binders.

Our research tackles these challenges by investigating:

  • Low-carbon binders for diverse applications, reducing reliance on energy-intensive materials while ensuring performance and durability.

  • Alternative material integration, enhancing mechanical, chemical, and durability properties for various structural and non-structural applications.

  • Recycling and circular economy solutions, leveraging industrial by-products, waste-derived mineral binders, and natural fibers to create viable construction materials.

  • Lifecycle performance and environmental adaptation, ensuring that sustainable materials meet long-term durability and regulatory requirements.

  • Industrial and regulatory adaptation, identifying and overcoming barriers to the adoption of new binder technologies in large-scale construction and infrastructure projects.

By approaching sustainable construction holistically, our research ensures that alternative materials are not only technically feasible but also economically and practically viable for broad industry adoption.

Research Area members

Research Area Leader

Arezou Baba Ahmadi

  • Associate Professor, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Members

Liming Huang

  • Project Assistant, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Sahar Iftikhar

  • Doctoral Student, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Helen Jansson

  • Associate Professor, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Baodong Li

  • Postdoc, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Luping Tang

  • Professor Emeritus, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Juan Wang

  • Postdoc, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Affiliated members

Mohammad al-Emrani

  • Full Professor, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Mozhdeh Amani

  • Director of Master's Programme, Archi­tec­ture and Built Environment
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Jelke Dijkstra

  • Full Professor, Geology and Geotechnics, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Yutaka Goto

  • Researcher, Sustainable Built Envi­ron­ments, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Karin Lundgren

  • Full Professor, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Amir Saeid Mohammadi

  • Staff Scientist, Water Environment Technology, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Angela Sasic-Kalagasidis

  • Director of Studies, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
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Education

The members of the Building Materials Research Area teach in multiple courses at Chalmers. Read more about one of them, our Green Cement Course, below:

Specialised education

The "Green Cement" course is an inclusive, project-based learning experience open to students, professionals, and industry practitioners at all levels. It focuses on the sustainable transformation of cement production, exploring its history, current challenges, and innovative pathways to achieving carbon neutrality.

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Collaborate with us on a student thesis project

One way to start collaborating with us is to have a student write their Bachelor's or Master's thesis on a topic of interest to your organisation. Submit your proposal in this format:

Topic Suggestions For Thesis BM

pdf 89 KB14 Oct 2025
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to arezou.ahmadi@chalmers.se

Contact

Arezou Baba Ahmadi

  • Associate Professor, Structural Engineering, Archi­tec­ture and Civil Engineering
To personal page