About iMaRRC
iMaRRC conducts research and development of construction materials and resources for civil engineering structures in collaboration with other research institutes.
The research projects of iMaRRC are related to:
1) performance improvement of construction materials;
2) practical use of advanced and innovative construction materials; and
3) effective utilization of construction waste/by-product derived from public works and streamlining the energy consumption.
For civil engineering structures, steel and concrete as well as various other materials such as asphalt, paint, rubber, and plastics are widely used. In order to extend service life and ensure load-carrying capacity of civil engineering structures, we have to achieve performance improvement of these materials. In the case of concrete, for example, quality control of materials, design of concrete mixtures, and utilization of surface impregnation materials and coating materials are considered as measures for durability improvement. In addition, to extend service life of newly developed and existing structures, it is required to not only understand performances of materials and methods for repair and retrofit but also select appropriate materials and methods for the structures.
iMaRRC conducts research and development toward overall performance improvement of construction materials. In addition, iMaRRC performs experimental studies such as outdoor exposure tests to evaluate durability of construction materials and carries out investigation on verification methods for performance requirements.
Outdoor Exposure Test of Concrete Specimens  Experiment on Asphalt Materials for Pavement |
Research on conventional materials such as steel and concrete is not always sufficient for realizing a breakthrough in civil engineering. Recent research and development on construction materials have remarkably progressed and many of the advanced and innovative materials are newly being developed. Some of these materials have new functionalities such as lifetime/durability improvement of civil engineering structures and easy detection/diagnosis of deterioration.
For instance, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) achieves far higher strength than conventional steel and also reduces weight because its weight is one-quarter of that of steel . It is expected that effective applications of such advanced and innovative materials will significantly contribute to overcoming problems related to deteriorated structures and reducing the environmental impact.
There are various construction materials under study and new materials are being constantly developed. iMaRRC conducts research and development accurately understanding and new seeds in collaboration with related research institutes so that can be effectively utilized for civil engineering structures.
 Experiment with Carbonation Detection Sensor  Full-scale Model of Structural FRP |
In order to realize a sustainable society, it is necessary to develop technologies, which effectively utilize the waste generated during construction/maintenance as a resource material or energy source. With regard to effective waste utilization, iMaRRC aims to develop low-carbon technologies and local-production-for-local-consumption methods making full use of unused local resources.
With respect to technology development, iMaRRC proposes implementing required standards uniformly across the country such as securing of safety and reduction in environmental impact, streamlining safety and environmental preservation measures utilizing regional characteristics and techniques to improve individual and regional energy efficiency and realizing technologies which can cater to Japan’s various local environments and future changes in the local society .
As for the development technology, the center systemizes and standardizes methods for introducing it to the site or region, facilitates its dissemination, and contributes to the progress of the international society by participating in international standardization activities.
Methane Fermentation Experiment Using Sewage Sludge and Crushed Cut Grass |
