"I don't believe in taking the right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right."-----Ratan Tata, ex. Chairman of Tata Steel
"I don't believe in taking the right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right."-----Ratan Tata, ex. Chairman of Tata Steel
I am a civil engineer with a Ph.D. in structural engineering, specializing in both industrial applications and academic research. My industrial experience spans the nuclear power, steel, and material handling sectors, where I have worked as a design consultant. My research primarily focuses on material science, particularly on cement at the nanoscale, with expertise in molecular dynamics simulations of cement and ceramics for applications such as bottom-up strength design, thermal energy storage, carbonation and decarbonation, and tribochemistry.
Currently, I am working on limestone calcination under a hydrogen environment using tribochemistry, a process that aims to reduce the high heat requirement in cement production from 900°C to 300°C while enabling hydrocarbon production instead of carbon dioxide emissions. This project is part of the MOMENTM program under the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). My broader goal is to develop advanced civil engineering materials for sustainable and tech-friendly construction applications by integrating cutting-edge material science innovations with industrial needs.
Industrial experience in nuclear power, steel, and material handling sectors as a design consultant.
Molecular dynamics simulations for cement and ceramics
Research on bottom-up strength design, thermal energy storage, and tribochemistry.
Sustainable construction materials with advanced functionalities
Current research on reducing cement production heat requirements and CO₂ emissions.
Exam. Name Board/Council/University Period
Secondary (10) West Bengal Board of Secondary Education 2000-2002
Higher Secondary (10+2) West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education 2002-2004
B.E. (Civil Engg.) Bengal Engineering & Science University Shibpur 2004-2008
M.E. (Structural Engg.) Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology Shibpur 2012-2014
PhD (Civil Engineering) Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur 2016-2020
Mitra, N. *, Sarkar, P. K., Deb, S. and Basu Majumder, S., 2019. “Multiscale estimation of elastic constants of hydrated cement.”, Journal of Engineering Mechanics (ASCE; IF = 3.3), 145(4), p.04019014; https://doi.org/10.1061/EM.1943-7889.0001582.
Sarkar, P.K. and Mitra, N. *, 2018. “Molecular mechanisms of tricalcium aluminate under tensile loads.” Computational Materials Science (ELSEVIER; IF = 3.1), 154, pp.547-556; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2018.08.058.
Sarkar, P.K. and Mitra, N. *, 2019. “Gypsum under tensile loading: A molecular dynamics study.” Construction and Building Materials (ELSEVIER; IF= 7.4), 201, pp.1-10; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.12.097
Sarkar, P.K. and Mitra, N. *, 2019. “Role of confined interstitial water in compressive response of calcium sulfate (CaSO4: nH2O)[n= 0, 0.5, 1].” Journal of Solid State Chemistry (ELSEVIER; IF = 3.2),274,188-198; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2019.03.024
Sarkar, P.K. and Mitra, N. *, 2019. “Compressive response of tricalcium aluminate crystal: Molecular dynamics investigations.” Construction and Building Materials (ELSEVIER; IF = 7.4), 224,188-197; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.07.054
Mitra, N. *, Sarkar, P.K. and Prasad, D., 2019. “Intermolecular dynamics of ultraconfined interlayer water in tobermorite: influence on mechanical performance.” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (ROYAL SOCIETY; IF = 2.9), 21, 11416-11423; https://doi.org/10.1039/C9CP01285K
7. Sarkar, P.K., Mitra, N*. and Prasad, D., 2019. “Molecular level Deformation mechanism of Ettringite.” Cement and Concrete Research (ELSEVIER; IF=10.9),124, p.105836; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2019.105836
8. Pal, Subhadeep, Mitra, N. *, Sarkar, P.K. and Prasad, D., 2020 “Stretch‐induced helix to extended coil transition of crystalline α phase isotactic polypropylene: A molecular dynamics study [Including Journal Cover Page]” Polymer Crystallization (WILEY), 3(4), e10143; https://doi.org/10.1002/pcr2.10143
9. Sarkar, P.K. and Mitra, N. *, 2021. “Molecular deformation response of portlandite under compressive loading.” Construction and Building Materials (ELSEVIER; IF = 7.4), 274,122020; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.122020
10. Sarkar, P.K. and Mitra, N. *, 2021. “Thermal conductivity of cement paste: Influence of macro-porosity” Cement and Concrete Research (ELSEVIER; IF = 10.9),143, 106385; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106385
11. Sarkar, P.K., and Mitra, N. *, 2021. “Molecular level study of uni/multi-axial deformation response of tobermorite 11 A: A force field comparison study.” Cement and Concrete Research (ELSEVIER; IF = 10.9), 145, p.106451; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106451
12. Sarkar, P.K*, Guido G. and Dolado J.S., 2023. “Thermal conductivity of Portlandite: Molecular dynamics based approach.” Cement and Concrete Research, (ELSEVIER; IF = 10.9), 175 (2024) p107347; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2023.107347
13. Sarkar, P.K*, Mitra, N. and Dolado J.S., 2024. “Thermal conductivity of layered minerals using molecular dynamics simulation: a case study on calcium sulfates.” Materials Today Communications, (ELSEVIER; IF = 3.7), 38, 108101; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.108101
14. Sarkar, P.K*, Guido G. and Dolado J.S., 2024. “Thermal properties of tricalcium aluminate: a molecular dynamic and experimental approach.” Cement and Concrete Research, (ELSEVIER; IF = 10.9), 189, 107780, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2024.107780
15. Sarkar, P.K*, Mitra, N. and Dolado J.S. 2024, “Reactive Molecular Dynamics based Multiaxial Failure Analysis of Jennite; Materialia (ELSEVIER; IF = 3), https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4556392; [Accepted, Feb 2025]
Sarkar, P.K., Ghosh, S., Chakraborty, S., “An efficient responses surface method for seismic fragility analysis of existing building frame.” (15SEE at IIT Roorkee Dec 2014, Paper No. A011)
1. Sarkar, P.K*, Agbaoye R. O. and Dolado J.S., 2024. “Hydrogarnet: The main Hydrated Product of Calcium Aluminate Cement for Thermal Energy Storage Application” [Under DRAFTING]
Dr. Román Nevshupa Kastkin (Current Postdoc Supervisor)
Científico Titular
Jefe del Departamento de Construcción
Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja
CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTÍFICAS
Dr. Jorge S. Dolado (PostDoc supervisor)
Head of the Ceramic and Cement-based Materials group (C2M)
Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) CSIC-UPV/EHU
Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5
20018 San Sebastián/Donostia (SPAIN)
Dr. Nilanjan Mitra (Supervisor of PhD thesis)
Research Associate Professor, Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Dr. Subrata Chakraborty (Supervisor of ME thesis)
Professor and former Head, Department of Civil Engineering, IIEST, Shibpur
Dilip Kumar Chakravorty (HOD during my tenure at DCPL)
HOD Civil, Development Consultant Private Limited
Dr. Ritwik Ghoshal (Worked with him during Aug to Jan, 2021)
Assistant Professor, Department of Ocean Engg. and Naval Architecture, IIT Kharagpur