Advancing Innovative and Durable Concrete from Research to Real-World Implementation
Bridging Innovation & Practice
The Lab2Slab program, a joint effort between UC Pavement Research Center (UCPRC) and UC Davis Materials Decarbonization and Sustainability Center (MDSC), is accelerating the adoption of sustainable concrete technologies through rigorous, stepwise evaluation.
Concrete must deliver long service life and steady performance, yet new materials often move slowly into practice because owners and builders need reliable evidence that these materials will hold up in real conditions. Promising innovations stall when they are not evaluated through a clear process that confirms durability, constructability, and long-term behavior.
The Lab2Slab program addresses this need by applying a structured, step-wise, comprehensive testing framework to address risk and communicate results with standardized reporting. The goal is to shorten the adoption timeline from 10+ years to just 2–5 years.
Initial funding for the initiative comes from the American Concrete Institute’s Foundation (ACI Foundation), and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The program is also supported by membership dues from paying industry members.
Our Approach: The Lab2Slab Framework
Lab2Slab follows a structured testing process developed at UCPRC to evaluate new supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and sustainable cements across key performance metrics, including engineering strength, scalability, cost, constructability, and environmental impact.
The program moves new materials through a stepwise evaluation process, progressing from laboratory testing to full-scale implementation. This approach allows researchers and industry partners to assess materials in a controlled, data-driven environment before integrating them into real-world projects.
Industry Engagement and Initial Lab2Slab Construction and Monitoring
We invite SCM and cement suppliers to contribute their materials for test track construction. The construction industry is also encouraged to participate by supplying concrete or engaging in test track construction efforts.
Lab2Slab Test Track Initiative
Lab2Slab is is constructing a series of test track slabs, moving from Lab2Slab, beginning in April 2025 to assess the viability of sustainable concrete materials under real-world conditions.
We are committed to transparency and open data sharing, providing all performance and construction data through standardized reporting and open houses to visit the test tracks during construction and performance of the slabs under environmental conditions.