UK CAER research engineer Tristana Duvallet weighs and tests concrete samples. Photo courtesy of UK CAER. LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 22, 2021) — A new University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) project seeks to create new, high-performance cements and concretes that will aid United States military operations both domestically and abroad. Titled “High Performance Cementitious Materials to Advance Expedient Repairs and Structural Hardening Priorities,” this $2.5 million program is funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). “The mobilization and deployment of the American military in areas with heavily damaged, limited or nonexistent infrastructure presents an unconventional range of critical operational challenges,” said Bob Jewell, research program manager for CAER’s Cementitious Materials research program. “Bridges, runways, roadways and hardened structures are critical to military force projection and often need to be fabricated or repaired — very quickly. Additionally, our soldiers and military personnel have a very limited range of tools and equipment with them.”