人工智能+科学研究系列学术报告 | 香港城市大学刘锦茂院士学术讲座预告

Abstract

This talk presents a holistic strategy for sustainable and automated construction via 3D concrete printing (3DCP). It addresses a dual challenge: decarbonizing Earth’s construction industry while enabling resource-efficient building in extraterrestrial environments. Our approach integrates low-carbon material innovation with a meshfree computational framework. We introduce a novel one-part alkali-activated geopolymer, formulated entirely from industrial by-products, which eliminates Portland cement. This material exhibits a distinctive three-stage rheological evolution, providing an ultra-extended workable window that enhances printability, improves buildability, and reduces mechanical anisotropy—key requirements for autonomous and remote construction. To enable rational structural design, Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) simulates fresh-state extrusion, while interface-controlled Peridynamics predicts interlayer bonding and long-term damage evolution. By tightly coupling experimental validation with computational simulation, our methodology minimizes empirical trial-and-error and enables lifecycle performance prediction. Ultimately, integrating geopolymer-based materials with AI-driven digital twin automation offers a scalable pathway toward low-carbon, resource-efficient, and intelligent construction.

Bio

Professor Kim Meow Liew holds the distinguished Yeung Kin Man Chair Professorship in Sustainable Engineering at City University of Hong Kong, where he also serves as the Founding Director of the Centre for Nature-Inspired Engineering. In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he is an elected Foreign Member of Academia Europaea (MAE) and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (FHKEng). His research expertise spans multiscale and computational modelling, sustainable engineering science, multifunctional materials, 3D construction printing, and advanced concrete materials, areas in which he has pioneered transformative research. Professor Liew has secured over US$60 million in competitive R&D funding from government agencies, industry, and higher-education institutions, underscoring his leadership in translating scientific discovery into real-world applications. In 2024, he became the first Asian recipient of the prestigious Carl Zeiss–Humboldt Research Award, in recognition of the profound impact of his ground-breaking discoveries on physical phenomena in a wide range of materials. His research has significantly advanced the fundamental understanding of fracture mechanics in solids, providing critical insights for the design of robust engineering components and the development of next-generation materials. These innovations hold immense potential to drive sustainable progress in global infrastructure, engineering, and manufacturing. Over his academic career, Professor Liew has authored or co-authored more than 900 journal articles, which have received over 60,000 citations, resulting in an h-index of 125.