Assessment of the Mechanical Properties of High Strength Mortar Incorporating Silica Fume and Graphene Nanoplatelets: Experimental and Mathematical Modeling

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper studied the mortar properties based on RSM model, and optimizations and tests are made, Several factors are considered in the paper, The study methods are correct and the methods can be used in mortar design, and the conclusions are valid. The paper can be accepted after minor revision.
Suggestions:
1,How many samples are used in the test? Need to add in paper, and the number for each type of the mix.
2, From the tests, GNPs contents can influence the mortar strength, and a turning point is shown in the results, but the case is only tested in 0.5,1.25, 2.0, how about the case in between, the spacing of the case is too high for the conclusion
3,The paper shall add some general conclusions about the RSM model and mortar mix diesign, along with the four points in the conclusion.

Author Response

We do appreciate the reviewer's effort and their valuable comments to improve the manuscript. please find the attached revised version of our manuscripts together with the response to the comments you have suggested to improve the paper. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This is an interesting study, but there are some big questions, as follows

1. Silica content in cement is only 15.9%?

2. The format of units in Table 2 is wrong, and there are many similar details.

3. The whole result and discussion part is confused, and I don't know what the author wants to express.

4. There are references in the conclusion?

5. This is more like an assignment than a technical paper.

Author Response

We do appreciate the reviewer's effort and their valuable comments to improve the manuscript. please find the attached revised version of our manuscripts together with the response to the comments you have suggested to improve the paper. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

In this paper, the influence of the content of graphene on the mechanical properties of high strength mortar in the presence of silica fume is studied, and the mechanical properties are predicted by theoretical simulation. Although the experimental methods and results clearly show the law, the
content of this study lacks of innovation. The author should further study the
interface interaction of graphene in cement and silica fume system, and propose the correlation mechanism affecting the mechanical strength. Unfortunately, this part of the work has been widely reported

Author Response

We do appreciate the reviewer's effort and their valuable comments to improve the manuscript. please find the attached revised version of our manuscripts together with the response to the comments you have suggested to improve the paper. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

This study investigated the effect of GNP on the mechanical properties of cement-based mortar. Overall, the topic is suitable for Sustainability. I recommend to accept this manuscript after a minor revision. 

1. This study used RSM to design cement-based mortar with GNP, which is interesting. Could you please provide more information about RSM?

2. The modifying mechanisms of GNP on cement-based mortar in this study should be improved. The following studies may be helpful: 10.1016/j.eng.2020.08.025; 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117942.

Author Response

We do appreciate the reviewer's effort and their valuable comments to improve the manuscript. please find the attached revised version of our manuscripts together with the response to the comments you have suggested to improve the paper. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The author has completed the revisions and may consider accepting the manuscript.

Reviewer 3 Report

The author carefully revised the article and answered my doubts scientifically. I think the article is publishable