Concrete is everywhere. For every person in the UAE, about two tonnes of concrete are produced every year. It goes into buildings, roads, dams, bridges, walkways, parkways - all the infrastructure around us.
But while concrete is flexible in its applications, the material itself is very brittle. It can withstand amazing amounts of pressure, but when stretched or bent, it cracks and breaks. That rigidity makes it costly to use and maintain.
Reinforced steel bars (rebar) help, but at a high cost - and even then there is significant and costly wear and tear. Even in the UAE, where most of the buildings are relatively new, the concrete repair market is already worth about Dh183 million a year. That number is expected to balloon as weathering, foundation shifts and other phenomena take their toll as the buildings age.
If concrete could be made both more flexible and stronger, the savings could be huge.
A good deal of research is already focused on achieving that. But one area that has garnered little attention despite showing significant promise is the combining of nanotechnology with materials science to create carbon nanotube-strengthened concrete.
Carbon nanotubes are carbon atoms arranged in tiny cylinders measuring one ten-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair.
In this form, they are 100 times stronger than steel, lightweight and able to transmit electricity and heat. Instead of running them through the concrete every few centimetres, as with rebar, the concrete can be made so it is full of millions of these tiny but resilient rods.
My project at the Masdar Institute, sponsored by the Qatar National Research Foundation, is investigating the properties of this nanotube-strengthened concrete.
Our preliminary research has found that it can be not only stronger and more flexible, but also better able to withstand stretching and bending without cracking or breaking.
Also, the nanotubes' thermal and electrical properties make it possible to build smart concrete structures that can sense any damage or failure.
Our team is digging deep to design the ideal nanotube-strengthened concrete. To be able to model the behaviour of millions of nanotubes packed into a section of concrete, we have created a specialised computer programme that can virtually generate random dispersals of the nanotubes.
We are also looking to include two other materials - carbon nanofibres and polymer microfibres, which are each an order of magnitude larger than carbon nanotubes and would add more dimensions of strength and flexibility to the material.
Preliminary studies have found that this can produce concrete that is five times as strong and durable as normal. Additionally, to reduce its environmental footprint, our material would use industrial waste - such as fly ash produced from coal burning and "slug" powder from steel factories - in place of energy-intensive cement powder. Globally, reducing cement production even by 1 per cent would be equivalent to taking millions of cars off the road in carbon output.
One challenge is make concrete in which the carbon nanotubes are evenly dispersed and properly bound in. If the nanotubes clump together in one area, it could lead to weaknesses in other parts. And if the carbon additives fail to properly bond with the rest of the concrete ingredients, it could result in structural weakness.
To mitigate these issues, we are collaborating with an American industrial giant, Lockheed Martin, to "grow" the nanotubes directly on the cement particles and the micro fibres, thus ensuring a strong bond and even spread.
It is our hope that with this research we can help make the UAE's structural projects stronger, longer lasting and more sustainable. This will not only help save massively on material and repair costs, but also make buildings better able to withstand earthquakes and other potential structural impacts. With this research, we can help make crack-free, steel-free concrete part of our near future.
Dr Rashid Abu Al Rub is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The view from The National
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Lady Parma, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Tabernas, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m
Winner: Night Castle, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Mutawakked, Szczepan Mazur, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Tafaakhor, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Cranesbill, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
The%20specs
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
