Dr. Jianxin LU is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his Ph.D. from PolyU in 2022 and has been consecutively listed among Stanford’s Global Top 2% Scientists. His research interests encompass advanced functional cement-based materials, ultra high-performance concrete and sustainable construction materials. Dr. Lu has led projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Hong Kong General Research Fund, the Construction Industry Council R&D Fund, and the Innovation and Technology Fund. His research has appeared in top-tier journals in the field, including Advanced Functional Materials, Advanced Science, and Cement and Concrete Research. With over 100 Q1 papers to his name, Dr. Lu’s honors include the Gold Medal at the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, the Silver Award at the Hong Kong Green Innovation Awards, and the Silver Award at the China Concrete Science and Technology Awards.

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and population growth are increasing the demand for construction materials, creating significant challenges for resource conservation and carbon emission reduction. Developing concrete materials that combine environmental benefits with enhanced engineering performance is therefore an important step toward sustainable construction. This talk explores the design and engineering applications of sustainable, high-performance pervious and foam concrete produced by incorporating waste materials. Pervious concrete enables water infiltration for stormwater management, requiring a balance between permeability, strength, and durability. Foam concrete provides low density and thermal insulation for lightweight construction and engineered fills, with performance depending on foam stability, pore uniformity, strength, and dimensional stability. The discussion focuses on how constituent selection, mixture proportioning, and pore structure control can improve the performance of both materials to meet specific engineering requirements. The potential use of supplementary cementitious materials and solid/gaseous wastes is also considered as a means of reducing cement consumption and improving resource efficiency. Particular attention is given to the relationships between pore characteristics, mechanical properties, durability, and functional performance. By connecting material design with practical applications, this talk highlights opportunities and challenges in advancing pervious concrete and foam concrete toward reliable, resource-efficient, and lower-carbon construction solutions.