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Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition
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Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 6073

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Weichung Yeih

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Harbor and River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20201, Taiwan
Interests: localized meshless method; nonlinear iteration; Trefftz method; inverse problem; construction and building materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Maochieh Chi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering Management, National Quemoy University, Kinmen County 89250, Taiwan
Interests: 3D printing concrete; alkali-activated binder materials; sustainable; carbon sequestration; microstructure; durability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete is the most widely used material in construction engineering. Although modern concrete technology has developed for two hundred years from when Portland cement was invented, it still needs further development to meet demands today. For example, the low carbon emissions of the raw materials used in concrete is a very important issue nowadays. Concrete can reduce surface runoff during heavy rainfall and achieve flood control in today's rapidly changing climate, but a major challenge is how to improve its strength to expand its application scope. How to enhance the sustainability and durability of concrete and how to repair and rehabilitate existing concrete structures to extend their service life are pressing issues that need to be addressed. Other topics such as high-performance concrete (HPC), high-performance grout (HPG), self-compacting concrete (SCC), inorganic geopolymer, 3D-printed concrete material, artificial intelligence applications in concrete technology, health monitoring systems in concrete, digital twin of concrete structure, conductive concrete, etc., are hot topics for future needs. This Special Issue invites contributors to submit their innovative ideas and scientific findings related to the advanced concrete technology and applications in construction engineering so that the latest developments that are currently under research can be revealed, and guidance for future directions in this field can be pointed out.

Prof. Dr. Weichung Yeih
Prof. Dr. Maochieh Chi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • low carbon emission
  • pervious concrete
  • sustainability
  • durability
  • high performance concrete
  • high performance grout
  • self-compacting concrete
  • geopolymer
  • 3D-printed concrete
  • artificial intelligence
  • health monitoring

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 13539 KiB  
Article
Impact of Fiber Type on Chloride Ingress in Concrete: A MacroXRF Imaging Analysis
by Suânia Fabiele Moitinho da Silva, Wanderson Santos de Jesus, Thalles Murilo Santos de Almeida, Renato Quinto de Oliveira Novais, Laio Andrade Sacramento, Joaquim Teixeira de Assis, Marcelino José dos Anjos and José Renato de Castro Pessôa
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8495; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158495 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 50
Abstract
Chloride ion penetration is one of the most aggressive threats to reinforced concrete, as it triggers the electrochemical corrosion of steel reinforcement, compromising structural integrity and durability. Chloride ingress occurs through the porous structure of concrete, making permeability control crucial for enhancing structural [...] Read more.
Chloride ion penetration is one of the most aggressive threats to reinforced concrete, as it triggers the electrochemical corrosion of steel reinforcement, compromising structural integrity and durability. Chloride ingress occurs through the porous structure of concrete, making permeability control crucial for enhancing structural longevity. Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is widely used to improve durability; however, the effects of different fiber types on chloride resistance remain unclear. This study examines the influence of glass and polypropylene fibers on concrete’s microstructure and chloride penetration resistance. Cylindrical specimens were prepared, including a reference mix without fibers and mixes with 0.25% and 0.50% fiber content by volume. Both fiber types were tested for chloride resistance. The accelerated non-steady-state migration method was employed to determine the resistance coefficients to chloride ion penetration, while X-ray macrofluorescence (MacroXRF) mapped the chlorine infiltration depth in the samples. Compressive strength decreased in all fiber-reinforced samples, with 0.50% glass fiber leading to a 56% reduction in strength. Nevertheless, the XRF results showed that a 0.25% fiber content significantly reduced chloride penetration, with polypropylene fibers outperforming glass fibers. These findings highlight the critical role of fiber type and volume in improving concrete durability, offering insights for designing long-lasting FRC structures in chloride-rich environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 31083 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Mortars Activated with Alternative Steel-Compatible Salts: Impact on Chloride Diffusion and Durability
by Angily Cruz-Hernández, Francisco Velasco, Manuel Torres-Carrasco and Asunción Bautista
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 8055; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15148055 - 19 Jul 2025
Viewed by 237
Abstract
Eco-friendly mortars have been manufactured with hybrid binders made of blast furnace slag and a reduced amount of clinker. The objective is to explore new formulations suitable for reinforced structures. Previous studies are mainly focused on activation with sulfates, a salt that is [...] Read more.
Eco-friendly mortars have been manufactured with hybrid binders made of blast furnace slag and a reduced amount of clinker. The objective is to explore new formulations suitable for reinforced structures. Previous studies are mainly focused on activation with sulfates, a salt that is corrosive to reinforcing steel. Sodium nitrate and sodium carbonate, easily implementable in construction, have been used as activators in two different concentrations that involve similar Na content. A Type II PC mortar is used as reference. The dimensional stability of the mortars during curing (at 99% RH) and subsequent drying at 40% RH, has been evaluated, as well as their porosity and mechanical properties. Böhme tests revealed that studied hybrid binders have lower wear resistance than PC mortar. Activation with Na2CO3 allows the obtention of mortars with reduced porosity and good compression resistance, but generates microcracking that favors chloride diffusion. Activation with nitrates favors precipitation of AFm phases identified through differential thermal analysis. Nitrates in moderate amounts (4% w/w) allow manufacturing hybrid mortars with good resistance to chloride penetration and reasonably good mechanical properties. Hence, this binder can be a promising option for reinforced structures. Higher amounts of nitrates (8%) for activation give rise to more porous mortars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 2894 KiB  
Article
Mesoscale Modelling of the Mechanical Behavior of Metaconcretes
by Antonio Martínez Raya, Gastón Sal-Anglada, María Pilar Ariza and Matías Braun
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6543; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126543 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 476
Abstract
Metaconcrete (MC) is a class of engineered cementitious composites that integrates locally resonant inclusions to filter stress waves. While the dynamic benefits are well established, the effect of resonator content and geometry on static compressive resistance remains unclear. This study develops the first [...] Read more.
Metaconcrete (MC) is a class of engineered cementitious composites that integrates locally resonant inclusions to filter stress waves. While the dynamic benefits are well established, the effect of resonator content and geometry on static compressive resistance remains unclear. This study develops the first two-dimensional mesoscale finite-element model that explicitly represents steel cores, rubber coatings, and interfacial transition zones to predict the quasi-static behavior of MC. The model is validated against benchmark experiments, reproducing the 56% loss of compressive strength recorded for a 10.6% resonator volume fraction with an error of less than 1%. A parametric analysis covering resonator ratios from 1.5% to 31.8%, diameters from 16.8 mm to 37.4 mm, and coating thicknesses from 1.0 mm to 4.2 mm shows that (i) strength decays exponentially with volumetric content, approaching an asymptote at ≈20% of plain concrete strength; (ii) larger cores with thinner coatings minimize stiffness loss (<10%) while limiting strength reduction to 15–20%; and (iii) material properties of the resonator have a secondary influence (<6%). Two closed-form expressions for estimating MC strength and Young’s modulus (R2 = 0.83 and 0.94, respectively) are proposed to assist with the preliminary design. The model and correlations lay the groundwork for optimizing MC that balances vibration mitigation with structural capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 5475 KiB  
Article
Heavy Equipment Detection on Construction Sites Using You Only Look Once (YOLO-Version 10) with Transformer Architectures
by Ikchul Eum, Jaejun Kim, Seunghyeon Wang and Juhyung Kim
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 2320; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052320 - 21 Feb 2025
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1763
Abstract
Monitoring heavy equipment in real time is crucial for ensuring safety and operational efficiency at construction sites, yet achieving both high detection accuracy and fast inference remains challenging under diverse environmental conditions. Although previous studies have attempted to improve accuracy and speed, their [...] Read more.
Monitoring heavy equipment in real time is crucial for ensuring safety and operational efficiency at construction sites, yet achieving both high detection accuracy and fast inference remains challenging under diverse environmental conditions. Although previous studies have attempted to improve accuracy and speed, their findings often lack generalizability, partly due to inconsistent datasets and the need for more advanced techniques. In response, this study proposes an enhanced object detection method that integrates transformer-based backbone networks into the You Only Look Once (YOLO-version 10) framework. Evaluations conducted on a large-scale dataset of construction-site images demonstrate notable improvements in detecting the heavy equipment of varying sizes. Comparisons with other detectors confirm that the proposed model not only achieves higher accuracy but also maintains competitive processing speed, making it suitable for real-time deployment. Additionally, the dataset is made available for broader experimentation and development. These findings underscore the method’s potential to strengthen on-site safety by providing more reliable and efficient heavy equipment detection in complex work environments, while also acknowledging areas for further refinement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 3005 KiB  
Article
A Study on Reactive Ultra-Fine Fly Ash and Sulfoaluminate Cement in Self-Leveling Mortar
by Pei-Min Chuang, Wei-Chung Yeih, Ran Huang and Jiang-Jhy Chang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031358 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 976
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to find appropriate mixtures for self-leveling mortar that meet the fluidity requirements without displaying segregation by using a combination of two types of cement (Type I Portland cement and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC)) with reactive ultra-fine fly ash [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study is to find appropriate mixtures for self-leveling mortar that meet the fluidity requirements without displaying segregation by using a combination of two types of cement (Type I Portland cement and sulfoaluminate cement (SAC)) with reactive ultra-fine fly ash (RUFA). Unlike the fly ash, RUFA has a strong strength activity index and exhibits a significant pattern of amorphous phase in XRD. Appropriate mix proportions of raw materials, including the superplasticizer, require investigation in depth. A fixed water-to-binder ratio of 0.6 was selected, with varying proportions of the two cementitious materials considered (the SAC volume percentages were 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) and different RUFA contents (the RUFA volume percentages were 5%, 10%, and 15%). Twelve experiments were conducted to examine the properties of the self-leveling mortars. We found that a higher RUFA volume percentage results in lower porosity, higher compressive strength, and better resistance to drying shrinkage, abrasion, and restrained shrinkage cracking. Increasing the SAC volume percentage increases the porosity of self-leveling mortar and its early compressive strength but decreases late-stage strength. At a 10% volume percentage level, SAC achieves an ideal balance among drying shrinkage, brasion, and shrinkage cracking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 16109 KiB  
Article
Effect of High Percentages of Coated Recycled Aggregates on the Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams
by Catalina Martínez, Viviana Letelier and Bruno Wenzel
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020829 - 16 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 781
Abstract
Currently, the use of recycled aggregates (RA) in new concrete is allowed by several international regulations, although their replacement is limited to low percentages of the coarse fraction. In order to increase the percentage of RA, several authors have studied different processes to [...] Read more.
Currently, the use of recycled aggregates (RA) in new concrete is allowed by several international regulations, although their replacement is limited to low percentages of the coarse fraction. In order to increase the percentage of RA, several authors have studied different processes to improve the microstructure of its surface. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze whether the current standards simulate the structural behavior of concretes with high percentages of RA. For this purpose, beams with 0%, 50% and 100% RA replacement coated with recycled binder paste (RBP) were made and their behavior was compared with the equations of the Eurocode 2 and ACI 318-19 code. As a result, we found that when 100% coated RA was used, the reduction in compressive strength was only 12.73%, with similar cracking patterns observed in RA beams across all series. In addition, the load capacity of the beams with RA was higher than the theoretical values provided by the codes. Finally, the experimental critical deflection was higher than that calculated by the code equations. Thus, it is recommended that these higher deflections be taken into account at the time of design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 6079 KiB  
Article
Water Demand (or Specific Surface) of Aggregate as a Dominating Factor for SCC Composition Design
by Maciej Urban
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11108; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311108 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 915
Abstract
In the modern era of superplasticizer-based concrete technology, water demand (or specific surface) of aggregate is a significantly underestimated factor influencing cement paste demand in the self-compacting concrete (SCC) design process. The presented data show that it is the key factor for optimization [...] Read more.
In the modern era of superplasticizer-based concrete technology, water demand (or specific surface) of aggregate is a significantly underestimated factor influencing cement paste demand in the self-compacting concrete (SCC) design process. The presented data show that it is the key factor for optimization criterion of SCC cement paste demand. Four models were taken into consideration (Bolomey, Stern, modified Loudon, and Relative Specific Surface), and all of them fit linearly very well (R2 ≥ 0.95) to the relative thickness of coating aggregate with cement paste (trel). This means that all of these models may be used interchangeably in the process of SCC design without any alteration (so there is no need to develop a new model). Including the water demand of aggregate in the design procedure in its proposed version sets the bottom limit of superplasticizer dose for laboratory trials, leaving only small gap for eventual minor adjustments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering, 2nd Edition)
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