Structural and Architectural Engineering and Materials

Post Date

March 24th 2016

Application Due Date

September 15th 2016

Funding Opportunity Number

PD-16-1637

CFDA Number(s)

47.041

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Eligibility Categories

Unrestricted

Funding

• Award Range:

  $None - $None

Grant Description

The overall goal of the Structural and Architectural Engineering and Materials (SAEM) program is to enable sustainable buildings and other structures that can be continuously occupied and/or operated during the structureуs useful life. The SAEM program supports fundamental research for advancing knowledge and innovation in structural and architectural engineering and materials that promotes a holistic approach to analysis and design, construction, operation, maintenance, retrofit, and repair of structures. For buildings, all components including the foundation-structure-envelope (the fa█ade, curtain-wall and roofing) and interior systems, are of interest to the program. Research in new engineering concepts and design paradigms for buildings that have significantly reduced dependence and interdependence on municipal infrastructure through, for example, self-hydrating (closed-loop water system) and self-heating-cooling-ventilating (energy usage) is encouraged. In addition, the program targets research in the building systems that are reconfigurable for rapid construction, disassembly and disposal, are reliable and resilient, and are less complex. Research topics of interest for sustainable structures include the following: strategies for structures that over their lifecycle are cost-effective, make efficient use of resources and energy, and incorporate sustainable structural and architectural materials; mitigation of deterioration due to fatigue and corrosion; serviceability related to large deflections and vibrations; and advances in physics-based computational modeling and simulation. Research is encouraged that integrates discoveries from other science and engineering fields, such as materials science, building science, mechanics of materials, dynamic systems and control, reliability, risk analysis, architecture, economics and human factors. The program also supports research in sustainable foundation-structure-envelope-nonstructural systems and materials as described in the following report: National Science and Technology Council, High Performance Buildings; Final Report: Federal R & D Agenda for Net Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings. Building Technology Research and Development (BTRD) Subcommittee, OSTP, U.S. Government, September 2008. http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/buildingtechnology/documents/FederalRDAgendaforNetZeroEnergyHighPerformanceGreenBuildings.pdf Structural health monitoring that focuses on decision-making systems for civil structures is of interest; however, research for new sensor technologies and data collection should be submitted to other programs. Proposals that focus on the performance and mitigation of structures subjected to natural hazards, such as earthquakes, windstorms (tornadoes and hurricanes), tsunamis, and landslides, should be submitted to the Engineering for Natural Hazards Program. Research addressing blast loads and fire effects on building systems and data-enabled science and engineering are not supported by SAEM. The SAEM program does not support non-fundamental research that is more appropriate for mission oriented federal agencies, such as nuclear power plants and transportation structures. Within this programmatic focus, materials research of interest includes fundamental investigations into new sustainable structural and architectural materials that are multifunctional and integral to lifetime serviceability of the structure, and extend beyond conventional uses of mature or current infrastructure construction materials such as concrete, steel, and masonry. Examples of research priorities are fundamental studies of biological and bio-inspired materials, materials produced from recycled materials and/or are easily recyclable, materials with low embedded carbon footprints, and smart materials that change properties in reaction to environmental changes. Parametric studies of commonly used construction materials are not appropriate for this or other CMMI programs. Materials research not specifically related to civil infrastructure should be submitted to the MEP Program in CMMI or the Division of Materials Research in the MPS Directorate. The SAEM program encourages knowledge dissemination and technology transfer activities that can lead to broader societal benefit and implementation for provision of sustainable structures.

Contact Information

• Agency

  National Science Foundation

• Office:

  None

• Agency Contact:

  NSF grants.gov support
  grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
  

• Agency Mailing Address:

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• Agency Email Address:

  grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

• More Information:

  NSF Program Desccription PD-16-1637