Research and expertise
Dr Ana Blanco is a Reader in Advanced Construction Materials and Methods. Her research interests span advanced and multi-functional cementitious composites, with a focus on low-carbon alternatives, dematerialisation of structures and novel construction and repair techniques for resilient infrastructure.
Ana is Principal Investigator of an active EPSRC New Investigator Award ‘Regenerative 3D printed cementitious skins for building components (Re3DSkin, EP/W028867/1)’ investigating novel strategies to improve the service life of assets using thin layers of self-healing engineered cementitious composites tailored to the degree and likelihood of cracking.
Her past research & innovation collaborations include:
- Developing ultra-lightweight sandwich panels for structural applications employing sprayed ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in partnership with Specwall Alliance (2021-2024)
- Investigating the behaviour of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in buildings (2020-2023)
- Developing advanced patch repair solutions of masonry tunnels in partnership with Network Rail (2020-2023)
Ana currently supervises PhD students and visiting PhD students on topics related to low-carbon accelerated cementitious mixes, sprayed limestone calcined clay concrete, self-healing concrete, sustainable 3DCP mixes, and detection and prediction of voids between filaments in 3DCP.
Ana welcomes enquiries from postgraduates who wish to study for a PhD in her research areas.
Recent publications
- Al-Ameen, E., Blanco, A., Cavalaro, S. (2024) Comparative life cycle assessment of sprayed-UHPC sandwich panels over brick & block cavity construction, Engineering Structures, 303, 117492
- Monte, FL, Repesa, L, Snoeck, D, Doostkami, H, Roig-Flores, M, Jackson, SJP, Blanco-Alvarez, A, Nasner, M, Borg, RP, Schröfl, C, Giménez, M, Alonso, MC, Serna, P, De Belie, N, Ferrara, L (2024). Multi-performance experimental assessment of autogenous and crystalline admixture-stimulated self-healing in UHPFRCCs: Validation and reliability analysis through an inter-laboratory study, Cement and Concrete Composites, 145, 105315
- Al-Ameen, E, Blanco-Alvarez, A, Cavalaro, S (2023) Durability, permeability, and mechanical performance of sprayed UHPC, as an attribute of fibre content and geometric stability, Construction and Building Materials, 407, 133393
- Boix-Cots, D., Pardo-Bosch, F., Pujadas, P., Blanco, A. (2022) A systematic review on MIVES: A sustainability-oriented multi-criteria decision-making method. Building and Environment, 223, doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109515
- de la Fuente, A., Blanco, A., Galeote, E., Cavalaro, S. (2022) Structural fibre-reinforced cement-based composite designed for particle bed 3D printed systems. Case study Parque de Castilla Footbridge in Madrid. Cement and Concrete Research, 157, doi: 1016/j.cemconres.2022.106801
Teaching
Ana contributes to learning and teaching activities across the Schools programmes including:
Undergraduate
- Structural engineering & engineering materials modules on the civil engineering and architectural engineering programmes;
- Supervision of dissertations on topics aligned with research interests
Postgraduate
- Supervision of dissertations on topics aligned with research interests
Enterprise
Ana is actively involved in collaborations with industrial partners. The most recent consultancy projects include:
- Service life of tunnels subjected to high-temperature gradients. 2020-2021 Client: Acciona (Norway)
- Development of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in the UK with locally sourced materials. 2019 Client: Thorp Precast (UK)
Profile
Ana Blanco is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Advanced Construction Materials and Methods, specialising in concrete technology and civil infrastructure. Her main interests lie in low-carbon alternatives to traditional building materials, dematerialisation, multi-functional cementitious composites and novel construction and repair techniques.
Ana joined Loughborough University in 2018 as a Lecturer, after spending most of her career at the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain), where she graduated with a BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering and a PhD in Construction Engineering. Her doctoral thesis examined the characterisation and modelling of fibre reinforced cementititous composites. During that period she was a visiting researcher at Delft University of Technology and co-founder of a spin-out company in Spain.
In January 2023, Ana was selected as a founding member of the newly established UK Young Academy, a network of researchers of professionals across the UK who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, operating under the auspices of The Royal Society. She is also a Chartered Engineer and member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Concrete Technology and the Women’s Engineering Society and their Climate Emergency Group. Ana serves as Editor of the journal Construction and Building Materials.
Ana’s most recent research & innovation activities include; developing automated repair procedures for rail infrastructure in partnership with Network Rail, developing knowledge around RAAC for the NHS, and exploring novel approaches to self-healing concrete within the scope of a New Investigator Award funded by the EPSRC. She also works closely with international collaborators in Europe and South America, as well as colleagues in UK universities.