Jianqiang Wei

Expertise

Research Interests

Sustainable Infrastructure Materials, Concrete Technology, Cement Chemistry, Concrete Durability, Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials, Self-Healing Concrete, Low-Energy Manufacturing of Cement, Alternative Binders, Additive Manufacturing.

Education

• Postdoctoral, (2016-2018), University of Southern California, Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - Los Angeles, CA
• Postdoctoral, (2014-2016), Purdue University, Lyles School of Civil Engineering - West Lafayette, IN
• Ph D: Civil Engineering, (2011-2014), Columbia University - New York, NY
  Dissertation/Thesis Title: Durability of Cement Composites Reinforced with Sisal Fiber
• MS: Civil Engineering Materials, (2011), Dalian University of Technology - Dalian, China
  Dissertation/Thesis Title: Basic Study of CaCO3 Whisker-reinforced Cement Based Composites
• BS: Civil Engineering Materials (Materials Science), (2008), Shandong Jianzhu University - Jinan, China

Selected Awards and Honors

• CEE Teaching Excellence Award (2021, 2023), University of Massachusetts
• Full Member of Sigma Xi (2020), Scientific Research Honor Society
• Who's Who in Engineering Academia (2019), Academickeys
• Travel Award to Visit Funding Agencies (2019), UMass Lowell
• Most Publications Faculty Member Award (2018), UMass Lowell
• Postdoctoral Scholar Training & Travel Award (2017), USC Office of Postdoc. Affairs & Association
• 5-Star Reviewer (2017), Journal of Bioresources
• Erbilgin Family Fellowship (2011-2014), Columbia University
• Best Degree Thesis Award (2012), Liaoning Province, China
• Best Thesis Award & Fellowship (2011), Dalian University of Technology
• Top 10 Master Academic Stars (2010), Dalian University of Technology
• Top 10 Master Academic Stars (2011), Dalian University of Technology
• Kwang-Hua Fellowship (2010), Kwang-Hua Education Foundation
• Outstanding Graduate (2010), Dalian University of Technology  
• Outstanding Graduate of Liaoning Province (2010)
• Outstanding Student of Dalian City (2010)
• Outstanding Master Student Award (2010), Dalian University of Technology  
• Best Paper Award (2010), Fourth Tutors and Graduate Academic Forum of China
• Natural Science Scholastic Attainment Award (Third Prize) (2010), Liaoning, China   
• Graduate Fellowship (2008-2011), Dalian University of Technology  
• Excellent Student Award (2007), Shandong Jianzhu University

Selected Publications

• Dayou Luo, Arkabrata Sinha, Richard Mulcahy, Jianqiang Wei*, Influence of enforced carbonation on alkali-silica reaction: Performance and multi-scale mechanisms, Cement and Concrete Composites, 2024, 153: 105721.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Elucidating the role of magnesium in alkali-silica reaction: Performance and mechanisms, Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 437: 136935.
• Akabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei*, Phase, structure, and hygroscopic property evolutions of alkali-silica reaction gels under freeze drying, Cement and Concrete Research, 2024, 186: 107692.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Early-age shrinkage behavior of cement mixtures regulated with metakaolin-based internal conditioning, Applied Clay Science, 2024, 261: 107583.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei*, Influences of composition and reaction conditions on molecular structure, hygroscopicity, and swelling behavior of alkali-silica reaction gels, Cement and Concrete Composites, 2024, 150: 105537.
• Fang Sun, Xueyu Pang, Jianqiang Wei, Lijun Sun, Haige Wang, Jinsheng Sun, Stability of calcium silicate hydrates produced by alite hydration at high and ultrahigh temperatures, Cement and Concrete Research, 2024, 179: 107469.
• Zhengyang Yang, Cuilei Li, Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei, Fanglin Che, Zhiyong Gu*, Electrodeposition of Cu-based nanoarrays with tailored hierarchical nanostructure and their application for electrochemical nitrate sensing, 2024, 974: 118744.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei*, Phase evolution and mechanical-hydroscopic properties of alkali-silica reaction gels modified by magnesium nitrate, Cement and Concrete Composites, 2023, 144: 105283.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Hydration and phase evolution of blended cement composites containing lithium and saturated metakaolin, Cement and Concrete Composites, 2023, 144: 105268.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Understanding the role of a novel internal conditioning technique with functionalized montmorillonite in cement hydration kinetics, Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 385: 131223.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Efficacy of functionalized sodium-montmorillonite in mitigating alkali-silica reaction, Applied Clay Science, 2023, 245: 107-139.
• Fang Sun, Xueyu Pang*, Jianqiang Wei, Jing Zeng, Jiacheng Niu, Synthesis of alite, belite and ferrite in both monophase and polyphase states and their hydration behavior, Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2023, 25: 3901-3916.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Darren Lim, Jianqiang Wei (2022). A lignin-based capsule system with tunable properties tailored for robust self-healing concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 132, 104643.
• Dayou Luo, Arkabrata Sinha, Madhab Adhikari, Jianqiang Wei (2022). Mitigating alkali-silica reaction through metakaolin-based internal conditioning: New insights into property evolution and mitigation mechanism. Cement and Concrete Research, 159, 106888.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei (2022). Upgrading sodium montmorillonite into a reactive internal curing agent for sustainable cement composites through non-ionic functionalization. Composites Part B: Engineering, 242, 110076.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei (2022). Hydration kinetics and phase evolution of Portland cement composites containing sodium-montmorillonite functionalized with a Non-Ionic surfactant. Construction and Building Materials, 333, 127386.
• Amirhossein Madadi, Jianqiang Wei (2022). Characterization of calcium silicate hydrate gels with different calcium to silica ratios and polymer modifications. Gels, 8, 75.
• Bora Gencturk, Hadi Aryan, Mohammad Hanifehzadeh, Clotilde Chambreuil, Jianqiang Wei (2021). A computational study of the shear behavior of reinforced concrete beams affected from alkali–silica reactivity damage. Materials, 14(12): 3346.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Qi Wang, Jianqiang Wei (2021). Feasibility and compatibility of a biomass capsule system in self-healing concrete. Materials, 2021, 14(4): 958.
• Arezou Attar, Bora Gencturk, Hadi Aryan, Jianqiang Wei (2020). Impact of laboratory-accelerated aging methods to study alkali–silica reaction and reinforcement corrosion on the properties of concrete. Materials, 13(15): 3273.
• Hadi Aryan, Bora Gencturk, Mohammad Hanifehzadeh, Jianqiang Wei (2020). ASR degradation and expansion of plain and reinforced concrete. Structures Congress 2020, 303-315.
• Jianqiang Wei, Bora Gencturk (2019). Hydration of ternary portland cement blends containing a combination of metakaolin and sodium bentonite. Cement and Concrete Research, 123, 105772.
• Jianqiang Wei, Bora Gencturk (2019). Amit Jain, Mohammad Hanifehzadeh, Mitigating alkali-silica reaction induced concrete degradation through cement substitution by metakaolin and bentonite. Applied Clay Science, 182, 105257.
• Jianqiang Wei, Bora Gencturk (2018). Degradation of natural fiber in portland cement composites in the presence of diatomaceous earth. ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 30(11): 1943-5533.0002486.
• Jianqiang Wei (2018). Degradation behavior and kinetics of sisal fiber in pore solutions of sustainable cementitious composites containing metakaolin, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 150: 1-12.
• Jianqiang Wei (2018). Impact of cement hydration on durability of cellulosic fiber-reinforced cementitious composites in the presence of metakaolin. Advanced Engineering Materials, 20, 1700642.
• Jianqiang Wei (2017). Christian Meyer, Degradation of natural fiber in ternary blended cement composites containing metakaolin and montmorillonite. Corrosion Science, 120: 42-60.
• Jianqiang Wei (2017). Bernard Tao, W. Jason Weiss, Water absorption in cementitious materials at different temperatures. Advances in Civil Engineering Materials, 06 (01): 1-16.
• Muhammad Tufail, Khan Shahzada, Bora Gencturk, Jianqiang Wei (2017). Effect of elevated temperature on mechanical properties of limestone, quartzite and granite concrete. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, 11(1): 17-28.
• Jianqiang Wei, Christian Meyer (2016). Utilization of rice husk ash in green natural fiber-reinforced cement composites: mitigating degradation of sisal fiber. Cement and Concrete Research, 81: 94-111. 
• Jianqiang Wei, Siwei Ma, D’Shown Thomas (2016). Correlation between hydration of cement and the durability of natural fiber-reinforced cement composites. Corrosion Science, 106: 1-15.
• Jianqiang Wei, Bernard Tao, W. Jason Weiss (2016). Effect of temperature on the chloride binding of Portland cement exposed to CaCl2. ACI Special Publication, 308: 1-12.
• Jianqiang Wei, Christian Meyer (2015). Degradation mechanisms of natural fiber in the matrix of cement composites. Cement and Concrete Research, 73: 1-16.
• Mingli Cao, Cong Zhang, Yong Li, Jianqiang Wei (2015). Using calcium carbonate whisker in hybrid fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 27(4), 04014139.
• Jianqiang Wei, Christian Meyer (2014). Degradation rate of natural fiber in cement composites exposed to various accelerated aging environment conditions. Corrosion Science, 88: 118–132.
• Jianqiang Wei, Christian Meyer (2014). Sisal fiber-reinforced cement composites with Portland cement substitution by a combination of metakaolin and nanoclay. Journal of Materials Science, 49 (21): 7604-7619.
• Jianqiang Wei, Christian Meyer (2014). Improving degradation resistance of sisal fiber in concrete through fiber surface treatment. Applied Surface Science, 289: 511-523.
• Mingli Cao, Cong Zhang, Jianqiang Wei (2013). Microscopic reinforcement for cement-based composite materials. Construction and Building Materials, 40: 14-25.

Selected Presentations

• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei*, Understanding the Pozzolanic Behavior of Recycled Ground Glass and Its Role in Cement Hydration Through Experiments and Thermodynamic Modeling, 2025 Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, Anaheim, CA, May 27-30, 2025.
• Souvik Das, Jianqiang Wei*, Rheological and Mechanical Characteristics of Ultra-High Performance Concrete Formulations for Additive Manufacturing, 2025 Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, Anaheim, CA, May 27-30, 2025.
• Souvik Das, Jianqiang Wei*, Tailoring 3D-Printable Ultra-High Performance Concrete: Property Optimization from Fresh to Hardened State, 2025 Spring American Concrete Institute Convention, Toronto, Canada, March 30-April 03, 2025.
• Muhammad Mustafa, Jianqiang Wei*, Tailoring 3D-Printable Ultra-High Performance Concrete: Property Optimization from Fresh to Hardened State, 2025 Spring American Concrete Institute Convention, Toronto, Canada, March 30-April 03, 2025.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei*, Tailoring Low-Carbon Concrete by Recycling Waste Glass: Insight into the Pozzolanic Role of Ground Glass in Cement, 1st Symposium on Climate-Smart Infrastructure Innovations & Implementation (CSI3), Miami, FL, March 2-5, 2025.
• Souvik Das, Maryam Abazarsa, Jianqiang Wei*, Tzuyang Yu, Detection and Monitoring of Material Aging and Structural Deterioration using Electromagnetic and Mechanical Sensors with Virtual Reality and Machine Learning Modeling, 2024 Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center Conference, Orono, ME, Aug. 06-08, 2024.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Towards Development of low-carbon concrete via high-volume cement replacement with recycled ground glass pozzolan, Engineering Mechanics Institute 2024 Conference, Chicago, IL, May 28-31, 2024.
• Shabdiki B Chaurasia, Dayou Luo, Sundar Rajan Aravamuthan, Jianqiang Wei, Ertan Agar*, Leveraging flow-assisted electrochemistry toward decarbonization of cement manufacturing, 245th Electrochemical Society (ECS) Meeting, San Francisco, CA, May 26-30, 2024.
• Richard Mulcahy, Jianqiang Wei, Sergio Breña, Development of non-proprietary ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC): particle packing optimization, cement hydration, and mechanical strength, 2024 MassDOT Transportation Innovation Conference, Worcester, MA, April 30-May 1, 2024.
• Jianqiang Wei, Sergio Brena, Richard Mulcahy, Development of non-proprietary ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for infrastructure applications, Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Waltham, MA, April 3, 2024.
• Richard Mulcahy, Jianqiang Wei, Sergio Brena, Development of non-proprietary ultra-high performance concrete for infrastructure applications, 2024 AASHTO Technical Exchange or (TechEx) Conference, Boston, MA, March 18-21, 2024.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei*, Phase Evolution and Property Development of Alkali-Silica Reaction Gel in Carbonation. 16th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement (ICCC 2023), Bangkok, Thailand, Sep. 18–22, 2023
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Functionalization of Metakaolin with Non-Ionic Surfactants: Swelling and Pozzolanic Reactivity. 16th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement (ICCC 2023), Bangkok, Thailand, Sep. 18–22, 2023.
• Amirhossein Madadi, Ritham Batchu, Koosha Raisi, Tzuyang Yu*, Jianqiang Wei*, Electromagnetic Detection and Identification of Concrete Cracking in Highway Bridges, 2023 Transportation Infrastructure Durability Conference, Orono, ME, Aug. 8-10, 2023.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Influence of carbonation on alkali-silica reaction, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023, Atlanta, GA, June 6-9, 2023.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei*, Phase and Property Evolutions of Alkali-silica Reaction Gels Under Carbonation, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023, Atlanta, GA, June 6-9, 2023.
• Amirhossein Madadi, Jianqiang Wei*, Understanding the role of magnesium in modifying structure and properties of calcium silicate hydrate, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2023, Atlanta, GA, June 6-9, 2023.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Enhanced Alkali-Silica Reaction Mitigation by Functionalized Montmorillonite, 2023 MassDOT Transportation Innovation Virtual Conference, May 2023.
• Amirhossein Madadi, Jianqiang Wei*, Self-Healing Ultra-High Performance Concrete Through Catalyzed Carbonation, 2023 MassDOT Transportation Innovation Virtual Conference, May 2023.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei*, Multi-Scale Characterization of Alkali-Silica Reaction Gels Modified with Magnesium Nitrate, 16th International Symposium on Functionally Graded Materials, Hartford, CT, Aug. 2022.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei (2022). Exploring the Role of Magnesium Nitrate in Modifying Properties of Alkali-Silica Reaction Gels, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, Baltimore, MD.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei (2022). Hydration of sustainable cementitious composite with internal conditioning by functionalized montmorillonite, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference, Baltimore, MD.
• Jianqiang Wei [Keynote Speaker] (2021). Mitigating Alkali-Silica Reaction in Sustainable Concrete using Functionalized Clay Nanoparticles, 2021 TechConnect World Innovation - Materials for Sustainable Building, National Harbor, MD.
• Jianqiang Wei (2021). Robust Self-Healing of Cracks in Sustainable Concrete Using Natural Materials Derived Capsule Systems, 2nd International Conference On Infrastructure and Construction, Online.
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei (2021). Microstructure and Properties of Alkali-silica Reaction Gels Treated with Lithium Nitrate, ACI Convention, Atlanta, GA (online).
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei (2021). Influence of nonionic surfactants on structure, reactivity and efficiency of calcined clay minerals in mitigating alkali-silica reaction, Atlanta, GA (online).
• Arkabrata Sinha, Jianqiang Wei (2021). Bio-inspired self-healing concrete based on biomass capsule systems, 2021 MassDOT Transportation Innovation Virtual Conference.
• Dayou Luo, Jianqiang Wei (2021). Dissolution behavior of amorphous silica from reactive aggregates in simulated concrete pore solutions, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference (EMI) 2021, New York (online).
• Dayou Luo, M. Adhikari, Jianqiang Wei (2021). Hydration of cement blends containing metakaolin and lithium nitrate admixture, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference (EMI) 2021, New York (online).
• Arkabrata Sinha, Qi Wang, Jianqiang Wei (2021). Compatibility of alkaline-degradable capsules in self-healing concrete, Engineering Mechanics Institute Conference 2021, New York (online).
• Jianqiang Wei (2019). Influence of high-volume clays on portland cement hydration and concrete aging resistance. American Concrete Institute (ACI) Fall Convention, Cincinnati, OH, USA, Oct. 20-24.
• Angie D. Hinojosa, Jianqiang Wei (2019). Influence of barium titanate nanoparticles on hydration of Portland cement and its potential for 3D printing. 2nd International Conference on 3D Construction Printing, Tianjin, China, Oct. 11-14th.
• Jianqiang Wei (2019). Suppressing alkali-silica reaction through incorporation of calcined kaolinite-montmorillonite clay blends. 15th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement, Prague, Czech Republic, Sep. 16–20.

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

• Recycled Ground-Glass Pozzolan (RGGP) for Use in Cement Concrete, PI, Massachusetts Department of Transportation & Federal Highway Administration
  PI: Jianqiang Wei, 2023 - 2025
• Cracks of Low-P Rapid Set Concrete in Deck Repairs: Analysis, Prevention, and Alternatives, PI, 
  Massachusetts Department of Transportation & Federal Highway Administration, 2024 - 2027.
• NanoEngineered Concrete Internal Conditioning for Targeted Suppression of Alkali-Silica Reaction (Award #1935799), PI, National Science Foundation (NSF), 2019 - 2023.
• Ultra-High Performance Concrete Reinforced with Multi-Scale Hybrid Fibers and Its Durability-Related Properties, PI (co-PI: Dr. Sergio Brena (UMass Amherst)), Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), 2021 – 2023
• Detection and Monitoring of Material Aging and Structural Deterioration using Electromagnetic and Mechanical Sensors with Virtual Reality & Machine Learning Modeling, co-PI (PI: Dr. Tzuyang Yu), U.S. DOT, UTC, Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center, 2022 – 2024
• Decarbonization of Cement Manufacturing via Flow-Assisted Electrochemistry, co-PI (PI: Dr. Ertan Agar), UMass Lowell Internal Seed Awards, 2022-2024.

Research Currently in Progress

• Mitigation of alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
• Characterization of alkali-silica reaction gels
• Understanding of cement hydration kinetics
• Synthesis of tough cementitious binders
• Manufacturing carbon-negative cement
• Investigation of self-healing concrete
• Development of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC)
• 3D printing of concrete and cement-based composites