The Sustainable Construction Materials Division-Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding & Geopolymeric Materials (SCMD-CARS&GM) at CSIR-AMPRI has been actively engaged in advanced research and development on radiation shielding and geopolymeric materials for more than a decade. The division focuses on sustainable construction technologies utilizing industrial wastes such as red mud, fly ash, and ceramic waste, etc. for strategic and infrastructure applications. Novel lead-free radiation shielding concrete has been developed for X-ray and gamma-ray shielding applications in medical diagnostic infrastructure, nuclear installations, and defence sectors.
SCMD-CARS&GM has also pioneered fly ash-based cement-free geopolymeric concrete technologies, including India’s first geopolymeric roller-compacted concrete road for all-weather road applications. The division’s major research areas include radiation shielding concrete, geopolymeric construction materials, heavy-density aggregates, fiber-reinforced concrete, 3D concrete printing, non-destructive testing and evaluation, AI-ML applications in infrastructure monitoring, finite element analysis and waste-to-wealth technologies. A dedicated Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding and Geopolymeric Materials has been established is established by Dr. (Er.) Manish Mudgal Scientist G & Head SCMD-CARS&GM under the Mentorship of Director CSIR-AMPRI Bhopal to support academic and translational research, industrial collaboration, and sustainable infrastructure development.
Goals / Objectives:
- To be global leader in sustainable construction materials, innovations and transformation through industrial partnership to meet challenges of infrastructural development
- Research and development on advanced sustainable construction materials
- Up-scaling of technologies in the area of radiation shielding & geopolymeric concrete utilizing industrial wastes
- Extending technological support to Indian industries for serving strategic, medical, defence, societal sector and environmental conservation.
Research Area:
- Low carbon-low embodied energy construction materials
- Bulk utilization of waste to wealth
- Fly ash based advanced cement free geopolymeric concrete
- Red mud based radiation shielding aggregate and concrete (alternate to hematite ore based heavy density concrete)
- Heavy density aggregates
- 3D concrete printing
- fiber reinforced concrete
- Ceramic Waste derived value added construction materials like paver blocks and kerb stones etc.
Notable Achievements:
- Laid India’s First Roller Compacted Geopolymeric Concrete Road in CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal (2026)
- (Er.) Manish Mudgal Received CIDC-Vishwakarma Award Partners in Progress Trophy, from Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) New Delhi at Ambedkar International Centre Janpath New Delhi, Development of Fly Ash based (Cement Free) Concrete for Infrastructural Projects, 11th April 2025
- Departmental works recognized by NGT and awarded project of bulk utilization of Ceramic waste generated from Morbi Gujrat for development of Geopolymeric concrete pathway components (2024)
- Establishment of Technology Demonstration Centre for Geopolymeric Materials inaugurated by Dr. Vinod Kumar Singh, Chairman Research Council CSIR-AMPRI on 24th April 2024
- Establishment of Centre for Advanced Radiation Shielding & Geopolymeric Materials inaugurated by Honourable Dr. Harsh Verdhan Minister of Science and Technology and Vice President CSIR on 13th March 2021
- Know-How transferred on Fly ash based Geopolymeric concrete for road application to JMR Enterprises Vidisha (2019)
- Demonstration of Fly ash based (Cement-Free) Geopolymeric Concrete Road stretch at AIIMS, Bhopal (2017)
- Four US Patent & Four Indian patent granted on Development of Geopolymeric Materials
- Demonstration of Geopolymeric concrete road stretch in CSIR-AMPRI Bhopal (2014)
- Know-How transferred on Fly ash based Geopolymeric concrete for road application to Jindal Steels Pvt Ltd. Raigarh (2013)
Collaborations:
