Faculty
Education:
Professional Experience:
Classes:
Students Supervised:
Amir Moshiri - “Development of the reduced-aging cement-based matrices for high temperature (HT) and pressure (HP) operating environments”, scheduled to graduate 2021
Raj Gopal Nannopaneni - “Application of ultrasonic pulse velocity methods to assess and monitor early-age and long-term environment-driven microstructural changes in cement-based materials”, schedule to graduate 2021
Awards & Honors:
Research Interests:
Konrad J. Krakowiak, Ph.D. holds an Assistant Professor position, in the Civil and environmental Engineering Department (CEE) and he is a director of the SERC Civil and Environmental Engineering Facility at University of Houston (UH). He is also a Research Affiliate at Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Before joining UH, he was appointed as a Research Scientist, and Postdoctoral Associate, in the Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub@MIT) at MIT, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from several departments across MIT working on concrete science and engineering. While at MIT he was a leading experimentalist in the research project focused on mechanical performance and durability of cement-based matrices for hightemperature and high-pressure applications (X-CEM, $5M / 5 years).This includes such experimental methods as x-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (EM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and instrumented indentation (IND). He has also actively collaborated on the synthesis of new cementbased matrices for applications in geothermal wells. He developed a novel characterization method of composite materials which allows direct correlation of nano-indentation mechanical properties with local phase composition. He contributed to the development of The Laboratory for Materials in Extreme Environments (H.hub) at MIT, where he was also its manager. Dr. Krakowiak obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Minho, Portugal, where he focused on the experimental micromechanics of construction materials. His current research activities include advanced experimental analysis and modeling of cement-based materials under thermo-chemo-mechanical loads including high temperature and pressure, cement geochemistry, development of novel reduced-aging and carbon neutral cement-based materials, and the effect nuclear radiation on the physical and mechanical properties of calcium-silicate-hydrates. Results of his research on chemo-mechanical analysis of cementitious materials, from the nano-scale to the macro-scale of engineering applications, has been published in various journals including Cement and Concrete Research, Nature Communications, and recently Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He is an active member of the TRB committee on Basic Research and Emerging Technologies Related to Concrete - AFN10.
Conference Presentations:
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
Krakowiak K.J., Thomas J. J., James S., Abuhaikal M., Ulm F.-J., Development of silica-enriched cement-based materials with improved aging resistance for application in high-temperature environments, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 105, pp. 99-110, 2018
Le Caër S., Dezerald L., Boukari K., Lainé M., Taupin S., Kavanagh R., Johnston C., Foy E., Charpentier T., Krakowiak K. J., Pellenq R. J. -M., Ulm F.-J., Tribello G., Kohanoff J., Saúl A., “Unraveling the reactivity of cement pastes under ionizing radiation: a joined experimental and theoretical study,” accepted for publication, Cement and Concrete Research, 2017
Seiphoori A, Whittle A. J., Krakowiak K. J., Einstein H. H., “Insights into diagenesis and pore structure of Opalinus Shale through comparative studies of natural and reconstituted materials, ” accepted for publication, Clays and Clay Minerals, 2017
Ioannidou K., Krakowiak K.J., Bauchy M., Hoover Ch.G., Masoero E., Yip S., Ulm F.-J., Levitz P., Pellenq R.J.-M., Del Gado E., The mesoscale texture of cement hydrates., 2016, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 113(8), pp. 2029-2034
Krakowiak K.J., Wilson W., James S., Musso S., Ulm F.-J., 2015, Inference of the phase-to-mechanical property link via coupled x-ray spectrometry and indentation analysis: Application to cement-based materials, Cement and Concrete Research, 67, pp. 271-285
Krakowiak K.J., Thomas J.J., Musso S., James S., Akono A.T., Ulm F.-J., 2015, Nano-chemo-mechanical signature of conventional oil-well cement systems: Effects of elevated temperature and curing time, Cement and Concrete Research, 67, pp. 103-121
Abdolhosseini Qomi M.J., Krakowiak K.J., Bauchy M., Stewart K.L., Shahsavari R., Jagannathan D., Brommer D.B, Baronnet A., Buehler M.J., Yip S., Ulm F.-J., Van Vliet K.J., R.J-.M. Pellenq, 2014, Combinatorial molecular optimization of cement hydrates, Nature Communications 5, No. 4960.
Kheradmand M., Azenha M., de Aguiar J.L.B., Krakowiak K.J., 2014, Thermal behavior of cement based plastering mortar containing hybrid microencapsulated phase change materials, Energy and Buildings 84, pp. 526-536.
Wilson W., Krakowiak K.J., Ulm. F.-J., 2014, Simultaneous assessment of phase chemistry, phase abundance and bulk chemistry with statistical electron probe micro-analyses: Application to cement clinkers, Cement and Concrete Research, 55, pp. 35-48
Krakowiak K.J., Lourenço P.B., Ulm F.-J., 2011, Multi-Technique Investigation of Extruded Clay Brick Microstructure, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 94(9), pp. 3012-3022
Ulm F.-J., Vandamme M., Jennings H.M., Vanzo J., Bentivegna M., Krakowiak K.J., Constantinides G., Bobko Ch.P., Van Vliet K.J., 2010, Does microstructure matter for statistical nanoindentation techniques?, Cement and Concrete Composites, 32, pp. 92-99.
Lourenço P.B., Krakowiak K.J., Fernandes F.M., Ramos L.F., 2005, Failure Analysis of Monastery of Jeronimos, Lisbon: How to learn from sophisticated numerical models?, Engineering Failure Journal, 14, pp. 280-300.
Conference Proceedings / Technical Papers Published in Refereed Conference Proceedings:
Reports / Manuals:
Krakowiak K.J, Thomas J., Abuhaikal M., James S., Ulm F.-J., 2015. Reduced-aging cement-based matrices for well cementing in HTHP conditions: Effect of solid volume fraction (SVF) and quartz size on cement liner micro-texture., X-CEM Schlumberger – MIT Collaboration Report, Year 4-5
Krakowiak K.J, Wilson W., Ulm F.-J., James S., Musso S., 2014. Coupled IND-EDX characterization of oil-well cement systems, X-CEM Schlumberger – MIT Collaboration Report, Year 3
Krakowiak K.J., Ulm F.-J., 2013, Basalt fibers for concrete: A Short Literature Review, Internal Report, Concrete Sustainability Hub, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Krakowiak K.J., Ulm F.-J., 2013, On the use of basalt in concrete: A Short Literature Review, Internal Report, Concrete Sustainability Hub, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Krakowiak K.J, Thomas J.J., James S., Ulm F.-J., 2013. Fracture performance design of oil-well cement systems through alumina- and silica-bearing additives, X-CEM Schlumberger – MIT Collaboration Report, Year 2
Musso S., Thomas J.J., Krakowiak K.J., 2013, Expansive MgO Cement Systems, Fracture performance design of oil-well cement systems through alumina- and silica-bearing additives, X-CEM Year 2 Report Schlumberger – MIT Cement Research Collaboration
Krakowiak K.J., Masoero E, Abuhaikal M., Ortega J.A., Akono A.T., Pellenq R., Ulm F.-J., Jennings H., Thomas J.J., Musso S., James S., Auzerais F., 2012, X-CEM Schlumberger – MIT Collaboration Report, Year 1
Krakowiak K.J., Ulm F.-J., Lourenço P.B., 2009, Analytical study of potential use of local reservoirs of clay in the Sindh province of Pakistan for the brick making industry, report for Aga Khan University, Pakistan, and Payette (www.payette.com)
Lourenço, P.B., Krakowiak, K.J., 2004, Stability Analysis of the skylight of the Oporto Cathedral, Relatório 04-DEC/E-21, Universidade do Minho, (in Portuguese)
Lourenço, P.B., Krakowiak, K.J., 2003, Stability Analysis of the main vault of the Monastery of Jerónimos in Lisbon, Relatório 03-DEC/E-02, Universidade do Minho, 64 pp (in Portuguese)