Advances in Performance of Mortar, Concrete and Composites Based on Portland and Alternative Binders

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years academic and professional players have given increasing attention to the development of advanced materials and technologies in the hope of promoting high-performance (mechanically stronger, improved response to service and extreme loads and more durable), smart/multifunctional, and sustainable (low environmental footprint and energy consumption) construction materials for application to new and existing structures and infrastructures. The advance in our understanding of materials behavior also necessitates the development of performance assessment procedures that are based on effective experimental verification methods and refined numerical simulation models.

This Special Issue aims to collect scientific contributions on:

• Mix design, rheology, microstructure, mechanical properties, and durability of mortars and concrete based on alternative, innovative, sustainable binders and to suggest validation and standardization methods of testing.
• Applications of the different types of fiber-reinforced mortars and concrete composites in civil engineering. Topics may include the durability and overall performance of structural members reinforced and strengthened with FRCM composites under severe environmental exposure, sustained loading, elevated temperatures, seismic activity, fatigue, fire, blast, and impact. Experimental tests, finite element and numerical analysis, theoretical and code equations, and algorithms are welcome.
• Mortars and concrete with non-conventional aggregates (e.g., industrial wastes, insulating aggregates, agricultural wastes and aquaculture farming and municipal wastes).
• Mortars and concrete with natural fibers.
• Water (e.g., seawater, recycling water recovered from discarded ready-mix concrete, and treated and untreated wastewater).
• Mortar with phase-change materials (PCMs), or nanomaterials.
• Self-sensing, self-adjusting, and self-healing concrete and mortars3D-printed mortars.

Dr. Sebastiano Candamano
Dr. Denny Coffetti
Dr. Fortunato Crea
Guest Editors

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