Concrete researcher explores self-healing properties and optimizes designs at Illinois Tech

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Antoinette Monroe Executive Assistant to Provost | Illinois Institute Of Technology

Concrete researcher explores self-healing properties and optimizes designs at Illinois Tech

Zoe Lallas, a Ph.D. candidate at Illinois Tech, is captivated by the study of concrete. At Illinois Tech’s Concrete Materials and Structures Laboratory, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Matthew Gombeda, Lallas is devoted to analyzing how variations in concrete components affect its properties, especially strength. Her research includes conducting experiments and simulations to identify optimal concrete mixtures.

Lallas's interest in engineering started at a young age, inspired by a visit to a Six Flags amusement park. Initially drawn to roller coasters, her focus shifted upon taking a dynamics course, steering her toward designing resistant structures. Her passion for concrete solidified during her undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, particularly during a research trip to Italy where the mysteries of Roman concrete captivated her.

Her commitment to concrete was evident in her application to Illinois Tech, where her enthusiasm caught Gombeda’s attention. Lallas was offered a position on a research project exploring the use of fly ash in concrete, deepening her fascination with the material. She continued as a doctoral student, examining how various ingredients influence concrete's physical characteristics.

Lallas describes her lab work as similar to recipe testing, combining materials in different proportions, testing their strength, and using the data to refine computational models to optimize concrete design.

Despite initial expectations of gender bias based on her undergraduate experience, Lallas found support at Illinois Tech. “I haven’t had any sort of questioning of my abilities or my capabilities as an engineer. It’s always been like, ‘Obviously, Zoe can do this. We value your input and your thoughts,’” she says.

Looking ahead, Lallas is intrigued by incorporating self-healing properties, similar to those found in Roman concrete, into modern concrete. She acknowledges the complexity given current construction demands but sees value in revisiting historical methods.

Reflecting on her role, Lallas emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader impact of engineering work: “I think it’s always really important to recognize the bigger picture and the ‘why’ of what we’re working on as engineers to make an impact that exists beyond the end of your specific research journey.”

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