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Advances in Building Materials and Concrete
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Advances in Building Materials and Concrete

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2023) | Viewed by 27732

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sara Cattaneo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: special concretes; damage and fracture of quasi-brittle materials; post-installed and cast-in anchors; structural glass
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Manuela Alessandra Scamardo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: special concretes; damage and fracture of quasi-brittle materials; post-installed and cast-in anchors; structural glass
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays the demand for improved performance (i.e., strength, stiffness, toughness, and durability), sustainability, and aesthetics for new and existing buildings is constantly growing.

Concrete is the most widely used building material all over the world, due to its huge versatility and reduced cost, but its impact on greenhouse gas emissions is dramatically high due to the production of Portland cement.

As a consequence, many researchers aim to replace Portland cement with more sustainable binders to reduce CO2 emissions and, at the same time, to improve the mechanical properties of concrete.

In the last decade, other building materials such as wood (for sustainability, strength, and toughness), structural glass (for its outstanding aesthetic), and several types of reinforcement (e.g., FRP, FRCM to improve the mechanical properties of R.C. and masonry buildings) started receiving much more attention.

This Special Issue focuses on the development of new concretes as well as other building materials characterized by or aiming for specific performance characteristics such as sustainability, durability, non-standard mechanical properties, and aesthetics.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Special concretes (High-performance/fiber-reinforced, self-compacting, green, self-healing concretes, etc.)
  • Non-metallic reinforcements as valuable alternatives for classical concrete reinforcements (i.e., CFRP, GFRP, FRCM, etc.)
  • Structural wood
  • Structural glass

Prof. Dr. Sara Cattaneo
Dr. Manuela Alessandra Scamardo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Concrete
  • High-performance concrete
  • FRP
  • FRCM
  • wood
  • structural glass

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Published Papers (16 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 15199 KiB  
Article
Anchors to Solid Clay Brick Masonry in Tension: Behavior under Monotonic and Repeated Loading for Constant Embedment Depth
by Ioulios Tselios, Elizabeth Vintzileou, Despina Karagiannaki, Konstantinos Christidis, Vasiliki Palieraki and Georg Welz
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(23), 12917; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312917 - 02 Dec 2023
Viewed by 687
Abstract
This paper presents a part of an extensive experimental campaign performed at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) with the purpose of investigating the behavior of chemical anchors embedded in solid brick masonry. Anchors are tested in tension under monotonic or repeated [...] Read more.
This paper presents a part of an extensive experimental campaign performed at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) with the purpose of investigating the behavior of chemical anchors embedded in solid brick masonry. Anchors are tested in tension under monotonic or repeated loading. All tests are performed under displacement-controlled conditions. The experimental setup and the instrumentation are presented, along with the investigated parameters and the rationale for the selection of the values of those parameters. In this part of the experimental work, comprising fifty-six (56) tests, the examined parameters are the anchor locations (in mortar joints and in the center of bricks), the state of the substrate (cracked or uncracked), the width of the crack crossing the anchor or at its vicinity (up to 1.20 mm), as well as the loading history (monotonic or repeated). In the tests presented herein, the embedment length of the anchors is equal to 100 mm. The anchors are embedded in solid brick masonry wallettes, and subjected to a normal compressive stress equal to 0.20 MPa. The observed failure modes are explained, and the overall behavior of anchors subjected to tension is presented and commented upon, along with the effect of the investigated parameters on the measured tension resistance, and on the corresponding displacement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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12 pages, 5850 KiB  
Article
Investigation and Analysis of the Influence of Environmental Factors on the Temperature Distribution of Thin-Walled Concrete
by Wenjian Yang, Mingliang Pang, Hongqiang Xie, Mingli Xiao, Jianliang Pei and Li Zhuo
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(22), 12157; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132212157 - 09 Nov 2023
Viewed by 608
Abstract
The temperature field of thin-walled concrete is susceptible to the influence of the external environment, which may endanger the safety of its operation in projects. Therefore, it is essential for construction designers to conduct a full cycle experiment to clarify the influence of [...] Read more.
The temperature field of thin-walled concrete is susceptible to the influence of the external environment, which may endanger the safety of its operation in projects. Therefore, it is essential for construction designers to conduct a full cycle experiment to clarify the influence of various environmental factors on thin-walled concrete temperature. In this paper, based on a long-term outdoor measurement experiment, the mean temperature and gradient temperature were both statistically analyzed seasonally, and two extreme gradient temperature patterns were identified and summarized. In addition, random forest regression was introduced to conduct a sensitivity analysis. It was found that the air temperature controlled the mean temperature and that solar radiation was the dominant factor affecting the gradient temperature, while the effect of wind speed was overall negligible. In addition, correlations between the concrete’s temperature and environmental factors were analyzed. It was concluded that the concrete’s mean temperature was positively and linearly correlated with the air temperature, while the minimum gradient temperature for the bottom shadow surface and maximum gradient temperature for the top shadow surface, respectively, had negative and positive linear correlations with the average solar radiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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12 pages, 3021 KiB  
Article
Bending Strength Evaluation of Three Dimensional Double Rachel Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mat (GCCM) under Environmental Conditions
by Eunhee Ko, Daeyoung Lim, Seunghyun Kim, Jiho Youk and Hanyong Jeon
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11271; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011271 - 13 Oct 2023
Viewed by 750
Abstract
In this study, a reinforced geosynthetic cementitious composite mat (GCCM) with improved structural stability and reinforcement efficiency through yarn-in-lay technology was designed and manufactured. Additionally, a blowing agent was added to relax the cross-sectional reduction caused by the rapid curing and shrinkage for [...] Read more.
In this study, a reinforced geosynthetic cementitious composite mat (GCCM) with improved structural stability and reinforcement efficiency through yarn-in-lay technology was designed and manufactured. Additionally, a blowing agent was added to relax the cross-sectional reduction caused by the rapid curing and shrinkage for reduction of installation period. The impact resistance results showed a significant increase compared to the pre-reinforcement values. Through the analysis of blowing agent content, concrete filling ratio, and bending strength of the double raschel GCCM, optimal conditions were determined. Therefore, the double raschel GCCM showed improved flexural strength even after a short curing period of 10 days, along with excellent durability under environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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21 pages, 4116 KiB  
Article
Methods to Reproduce In-Plane Deformability of Orthotropic Floors in the Finite Element Models of Buildings
by Giada Frappa, Igino Pitacco, Simone Baldassi and Margherita Pauletta
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6733; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116733 - 31 May 2023
Viewed by 1103
Abstract
In the modelling of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, the rigid diaphragm hypothesis to represent the in-plane behavior of floors was and still is very commonly adopted because of its simplicity and computational cheapness. However, since excessive floor in-plane deformability can cause a very [...] Read more.
In the modelling of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, the rigid diaphragm hypothesis to represent the in-plane behavior of floors was and still is very commonly adopted because of its simplicity and computational cheapness. However, since excessive floor in-plane deformability can cause a very different redistribution of lateral forces on vertical resisting elements, it may be necessary to consider floor deformability. This paper investigates the classical yet intriguing question of modeling orthotropic RC floor systems endowed with lightening elements by means of a uniform orthotropic slab in order to describe accurately the building response under seismic loads. The simplified method, commonly adopted by engineers and based on the equivalence between the transverse stiffness of the RC elements of the real floor and those of the orthotropic slab, is presented. A case study in which this simplified method is used is also provided. Then, an advanced finite element (FE)-based method to determine the elastic properties of the equivalent homogenized orthotropic slab is proposed. The novel aspect of this method is that it takes into account the interaction of shell elements with frame elements in the 3D FE model of the building. Based on the results obtained from the application of this method to a case study, a discussion on the adequacy of the simplified method is also provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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21 pages, 12447 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Fracture Process and Tensile Mechanical Behaviours of Brittle Materials under Concentrated and Distributed Boundary Conditions
by Haozhe Liang, Xiaozu Fang, Xinlu Yu, Yingqian Fu and Gangyi Zhou
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5273; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095273 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1430
Abstract
In this study, concrete was selected to investigate the real-time splitting tensile mechanical and fracture behaviours of brittle materials using the Brazilian test under concentrated and distributed boundary conditions. The digital image correlation (DIC) method was adopted to evaluate the tensile strength and [...] Read more.
In this study, concrete was selected to investigate the real-time splitting tensile mechanical and fracture behaviours of brittle materials using the Brazilian test under concentrated and distributed boundary conditions. The digital image correlation (DIC) method was adopted to evaluate the tensile strength and failure process in Brazilian tests using a high-resolution camera. The DIC results showed that the position of the crack initiation randomly occurred at the centre of a disc and at the boundary in Brazilian tests with concentrated loads (BTC). Comparatively, the crack initiated at the centre of discs in most Brazilian tests with distributed loads (BTD), as validated by the DIC results. Our results indicated that the average nominal tensile strength of specimens cracking at the boundary was larger than that of specimens cracking at the centre in the BTC, suggesting that the nominal tensile strength measured by the Brazilian test was related to the failure process of the discs. Moreover, this study demonstrated that the tensile strength measured by the Brazilian test was dependent on the boundary conditions. The equation recommended by the ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics) might slightly overestimate the tensile strength of brittle materials based on the pure elastic theory and hyperbolic-distributed loading conditions at the boundaries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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17 pages, 10548 KiB  
Article
Flexural Performance of Removable Deck Slabs with Fixing Device Details
by Hyun-Suk Jung, Mooyoung Yoo and Chang-Sik Choi
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 4903; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084903 - 13 Apr 2023
Viewed by 938
Abstract
This study presents a new concept for a deck plate and an accompanying application for a slab system that is easy to fix and separate during construction, while ensuring safe construction loads and optimal flexural performance. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to [...] Read more.
This study presents a new concept for a deck plate and an accompanying application for a slab system that is easy to fix and separate during construction, while ensuring safe construction loads and optimal flexural performance. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to determine the load on the fixing device’s contact surface and the specimen’s shape. A direct tensile test was then performed using a universal testing machine to evaluate the anchorage performance of the fixing device. The results of this test were used to optimize the details of the fixing device, which were then evaluated for safety against construction loads. The installation interval and method of the fixing device were varied to determine the maximum installation interval, which was within 300 mm. Finally, flexural performance was evaluated based on the details and spacing of the fixing device installation. The results showed that the details and spacing of the fixing device did not have a significant effect on flexural performance, provided that safety against construction loads was secured. This study describes a promising solution for a slab system that is easy to install and separate during construction, while ensuring safety and flexural performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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35 pages, 29212 KiB  
Article
Design Procedures for Sustainable Structural Concretes Using Wastes and Industrial By-Products
by Ana Neves, João Almeida, Fábio Cruz, Tiago Miranda, Vítor M. C. F. Cunha, Mafalda Rodrigues, José Costa and Eduardo B. Pereira
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2087; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042087 - 06 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1353
Abstract
The protection of the environment must be a priority in our society, and the construction sector can contribute significantly to this goal. Construction, being one of the industrial sectors that is more demanding in terms of raw materials, must reinforce its effort to [...] Read more.
The protection of the environment must be a priority in our society, and the construction sector can contribute significantly to this goal. Construction, being one of the industrial sectors that is more demanding in terms of raw materials, must reinforce its effort to implement, in a more profound and systematic way, the paradigm of the circular economy. In this sense, in recent years several studies have been trying to contribute solutions aimed at reintroducing industrial by-products or residues in new products for the construction industry. It should be noted that nowadays it is increasingly important to introduce a higher percentage of recycled materials in concrete. In this context, the present work addresses the appropriateness of a design procedure proposed to maximize the content of electric arc furnace slag (EAFS) and include recycled tire steel fibers (RTSF) in the production of more sustainable structural concretes. For this, the properties of various concrete mixtures at the fresh and hardened state, obtained by the substantial substitution of coarse and fine natural aggregates by EAFS and fly ash (FA), were investigated. The design of EAFS mixtures was based on two conventional reference mixtures (REF1 and REF2), and by using the modified Andreasen and Andersen particle packing model, these were optimized to achieve maximum packing density. Compressive strength, modulus of elasticity behavior, and fresh and physical properties were assessed in order to define the best mix proportions with respect to the predefined requirements of ordinary mixtures. Untreated recycled tire steel fibers (RTSF) were included in the developed sustainable concrete to perform a comparison of the physical properties with unreinforced concretes developed with natural aggregates (REF2) and with EAFS aggregates (EAFS8D1). This incorporation was intended to improve the physical behavior of unreinforced concretes with EAFS aggregates. Mixtures with high percentages of waste aggregates up to 70% (in weight), and 10% (in weight) of FA were obtained, showing competitive mechanical behavior compared to REF1 and REF2. These concrete compositions showed minimum and maximum compressive strengths between 9 MPa and 37 MPa, respectively. This study coverd the two major classes of concrete used as structural material, namely structural concrete and fiber reinforced concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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17 pages, 7618 KiB  
Article
Seismic Vulnerability Evaluation of a Historical Masonry Tower: Comparison between Different Approaches
by Manuela Scamardo, Marco Zucca, Pietro Crespi, Nicola Longarini and Sara Cattaneo
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(21), 11254; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122111254 - 06 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1714
Abstract
Throughout the last few decades, the scientific community has paid great attention to the structural safety of historical masonry constructions, which have high vulnerability with respect to seismic activities. Masonry towers are very widespread in Italy and represent an important part of the [...] Read more.
Throughout the last few decades, the scientific community has paid great attention to the structural safety of historical masonry constructions, which have high vulnerability with respect to seismic activities. Masonry towers are very widespread in Italy and represent an important part of the built heritage to be preserved. Different numerical methods with different levels of refinement were developed in the literature to evaluate their seismic performance. The present study shows a practical application of the seismic vulnerability evaluation of a masonry tower using different approaches. The aim is to provide practical suggestions to engineers for the successful evaluation of the performance of masonry towers under seismic loads. An in situ survey was performed to characterize the geometry of the structure and its constitutive material. All the collected information was introduced in a building information model, later used to generate different finite element models for the structural analyses. The global capacity of the structure was evaluated using three different models with different levels of complexity: the first simplified model is made of beam elements with cross-sections discretized in fibers; the second model is made of shell elements and uses a concrete damage plasticity model to describe the nonlinear masonry behavior; the third model adopts solid elements with a concrete smeared crack constitutive law. A preliminary eigen-frequency analysis is performed on the shell model to obtain some basic information about the structural behavior. Nonlinear static analyses were carried out for each model to understand the response of the tower under seismic loads, highlighting the main differences between the approaches. The behavior factor was evaluated on the basis of the analyses results and compared with the ones suggested by the Italian building code. The results showed that the towers do not satisfy the seismic demand required by the standards for all the considered models. Furthermore, the behavior factor calculated according to the Italian design code is overestimated, while the one evaluated by the simplified model is underestimated due to the neglection of the shear behavior. From all the analyzed configurations, the shell model resulted as a good compromise between reliable results and computation efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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15 pages, 19419 KiB  
Article
Behavioral Investigation of Single Wall and Double Wall CNT Mixed Asphalt Adhesion Force Using Chemical Force Microscopy and Artificial Neural Networks
by Md Kamrul Islam, Uneb Gazder, Md Shah Alam, Faisal I. Shalabi and Md Arifuzzaman
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(5), 2379; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052379 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1167
Abstract
Flexible pavement deterioration due to moisture intrusion and aging is the key concern worldwide for highway engineers. However, this damage has not been properly investigated in detail due to lack of appropriate experimental and modeling techniques. Such lacking hinders the design of long-lasting [...] Read more.
Flexible pavement deterioration due to moisture intrusion and aging is the key concern worldwide for highway engineers. However, this damage has not been properly investigated in detail due to lack of appropriate experimental and modeling techniques. Such lacking hinders the design of long-lasting pavements, as the effects of environmental damages are unknown, especially for modified asphalt. Therefore, the current study aims at determining a better approach for modeling asphalt adhesion damage using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) test was deployed to determine the adhesion and cohesion forces of asphalt samples with varying contents of polymer and Antistripping Agents (ASAs). Two types of ANN models, namely multilayer perceptions (MLPs) and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN), were used in this effort. Two popular modifications, namely ensemble learning and hierarchical modeling, were also engaged to achieve convenient and accurate damage models. The analysis found that RBFNN was better suited for hierarchical models than MLP. RBFNN is preferred for aged and moisture-damaged samples which have less variation in their datasets. Hierarchical models are convenient to apply as they can be applied to any type of asphalt sample. However, they produced a small reduction in accuracy (less than 10%) as compared to other models. The accuracy of the hierarchical model was found to be satisfactory. The ensemble learning approach showed slight improvement in accuracy for all models ranging between 1–3%, i.e., 6–8 nN. This study recommends the use of hierarchical models, developed with ensemble learning, for prediction of asphalt damage. The results of the study will be helpful for researchers and practitioners working on pavement materials for developing prediction models to prepare a better mix design of polymer modified asphalt. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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15 pages, 4860 KiB  
Article
Simplified Pushover Analysis for Rapid Assessment of Shear-Type Frames
by Raihan Rahmat Rabi, Marco Vailati and Giorgio Monti
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 11711; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112411711 - 09 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2685
Abstract
A simplified pushover method for rapidly assessing the seismic capacity of shear-type frames is presented. The frame global force-displacement capacity is described as a trilinear curve passing through three limit states (LS): Damage LS (DLS), Life safety LS (LLS), and Collapse LS (CLS). [...] Read more.
A simplified pushover method for rapidly assessing the seismic capacity of shear-type frames is presented. The frame global force-displacement capacity is described as a trilinear curve passing through three limit states (LS): Damage LS (DLS), Life safety LS (LLS), and Collapse LS (CLS). The global LSs are obtained consequently to the attainment of story-level, element-level, and section-level LSs. All LS capacities are described through closed-form equations. The validity of the proposed method is verified by applying it on several reinforced concrete (RC) frames with a varying number of stories. The results obtained with such an analytical procedure show a good match with those obtained from pushover based on finite element method (FEM) analysis models, in terms of both global force-displacement capacity curves and story displacements at various LSs. The proposed method has the potential to be conveniently applied in large-scale vulnerability/risk assessment studies, where the quality and quantity of the available data call for the use of simplified yet accurate models. More refined models would in fact require significantly heavier computational efforts, not justified by the quality of the results that are usually obtained. The simplicity of the proposed method in such a context is demonstrated through the development of the fragility curves of a five-story shear-type reinforced concrete frame, starting from a predefined set of mechanical and geometrical features characterizing a building typology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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16 pages, 9131 KiB  
Article
Tensile Capacity of Adhesive Anchors in Damaged Masonry
by Sara Cattaneo and Navid Vafa
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10135; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110135 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1810
Abstract
In Europe, the qualification of injection anchors in masonry under static and quasi-static actions is based on an assessment of tests performed in undamaged masonry. Nevertheless, in seismic prone countries like Italy the influences deriving from earthquake actions cannot be disregarded. Masonry elements [...] Read more.
In Europe, the qualification of injection anchors in masonry under static and quasi-static actions is based on an assessment of tests performed in undamaged masonry. Nevertheless, in seismic prone countries like Italy the influences deriving from earthquake actions cannot be disregarded. Masonry elements are very sensitive to cyclic/seismic action and research on the behavior of anchors in damaged masonry is rather limited. The paper presents the results of an experimental campaign aimed at evaluating the residual tensile strength of adhesive anchors installed into undamaged walls that were subsequently subjected to cyclic in-plane loading to simulate seismic actions before. Consequently, the anchors experienced different stresses depending on their location within the walls. Overall, 29 tests were performed with anchors placed both, in undamaged and damaged areas. The results showed that there is a correlation between residual tensile strength and masonry initial conditions, and therefore the installation of anchors in masonry elements should be carefully planned avoiding areas that could be heavily damaged during seismic events or considering redundant connections in critical areas. In particular, it seems that the width of the crack (created by cyclic actions) that passes nearby/into the anchor borehole is the main parameter that affects the ultimate resistance of the anchors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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17 pages, 14513 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dry–Wet Cycle Periods on Properties of Concrete under Sulfate Attack
by Jin-Jun Guo, Peng-Qiang Liu, Cun-Liang Wu and Kun Wang
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(2), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11020888 - 19 Jan 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3023
Abstract
Dry–wet cycle conditions have significant effects on the corrosion of concrete under sulfate attack. However, previous studies have only applied them as a method for accelerating sulfate attack and not systematically studied them as an object. In order to explore the impact of [...] Read more.
Dry–wet cycle conditions have significant effects on the corrosion of concrete under sulfate attack. However, previous studies have only applied them as a method for accelerating sulfate attack and not systematically studied them as an object. In order to explore the impact of sulfate attack with different dry–wet cycle periods on concrete, in this study, four dry–wet cycle periods (3, 7, 14, and 21 days) were selected. The flexure strength, relative dynamic modulus, and mass were tested, and the microstructures of the eroded specimens were also analyzed. The intensity and depth of sulfate erosion were influenced by the wet–dry cycle period. The results show that the deterioration of concrete first increased and then decreased with an extension of the dry–wet cycle period. Microstructural analysis indicated that, with an increase in the dry–wet cycle period, the corrosion depth of sulfate attack increased. Moreover, the erosion products such as ettringite and gypsum were greatly increased, in agreement with the macroscopic variations. However, excessively prolonging the dry–wet periods does not significantly further the deterioration of concrete’s performance. Therefore, considering the strength and depth of corrosion caused by sulfate attack, it would be appropriate to employ dry–wet cycle periods of 7–14 days under natural dry conditions in studies on concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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18 pages, 4962 KiB  
Article
Tensile Tests for the Improvement of Adhesion between Rubber and Steel Layers in Elastomeric Isolators
by Margherita Pauletta, Federico Pinzano, Giada Frappa and Gaetano Russo
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8063; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228063 - 13 Nov 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2542
Abstract
Steel reinforced elastomeric isolators are currently the most used bearings for seismic isolation purposes. The steel reinforcements are cut to the desired shape, sandblasted, cleaned with acid, and coated with bonding compound during the manufacturing process. Then the elastomer and steel layers are [...] Read more.
Steel reinforced elastomeric isolators are currently the most used bearings for seismic isolation purposes. The steel reinforcements are cut to the desired shape, sandblasted, cleaned with acid, and coated with bonding compound during the manufacturing process. Then the elastomer and steel layers are stacked in a mold and subjected to vulcanization so that they are glued together and constitute a single body. Good adhesion between the layers is very important for the correct functioning of the device. Adhesion conditions become critical when the isolators are subjected to tensile stresses, which arise under direct tensile actions or large shear strains. To analyze the influence of changes in the manufacturing process on the isolator adhesive behavior, the authors performed tensile tests on square-shaped small-scale specimens rather than expensive shear tests on full-scale isolators. Hence, the adhesion behavior between elastomer and steel layers was investigated through the tensile tests discussed herein. Among the influencing parameters that were considered, it was found that an increase in vulcanization time does not improve the adhesion, but it may actually worsen the capacity of the isolator in terms of strength. Moreover, it was found that using elastomer without an oily component improves the adhesion between the layers and increases the isolator’s dissipative capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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15 pages, 3230 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Effect of Nano-SiO2 and Waterproofing Agent on the Water Transportation Process in Mortar Using NMR
by Tao Meng, Huadong Wei, Kanjun Ying and Menghua Wang
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(21), 7867; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10217867 - 06 Nov 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1861
Abstract
Moisture diffusion in cement-based materials significantly impacts its durability. In this study, we analyzed the effect of adding a waterproofing agent and nano-SiO2 (NS) on the water transportation process in mortar using capillary water absorption tests and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. [...] Read more.
Moisture diffusion in cement-based materials significantly impacts its durability. In this study, we analyzed the effect of adding a waterproofing agent and nano-SiO2 (NS) on the water transportation process in mortar using capillary water absorption tests and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. The results indicate that the combined action of the waterproofing agent and nano-SiO2 drastically reduce the capillary water absorption coefficient and have a more significant impact than only adding the waterproofing agent. The moisture diffusion in different sections of the mortar during the water absorption process is obtained from the NMR test results and two function models. Comparative studies indicate that the NMR test results have good correlation with the capillary water absorption test results and provide accurate process data. The NMR analysis results offer a new analytical method to characterize the porosity of cement-based materials by continuously monitoring small-pitch sections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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Review

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16 pages, 5360 KiB  
Review
Review of the Main Mechanical Testing Methods for Interlayer Characterization in Laminated Glass
by Sicheng Zhou, Sara Cattaneo and Luigi Biolzi
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(15), 8733; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13158733 - 28 Jul 2023
Viewed by 950
Abstract
In the last decades, the use of structural glass has increased exponentially. The reliability of brittle structural glass elements is considerably improved if laminated glass elements are chosen because, in this case, a redistribution of internal forces is permitted once a limited breakage [...] Read more.
In the last decades, the use of structural glass has increased exponentially. The reliability of brittle structural glass elements is considerably improved if laminated glass elements are chosen because, in this case, a redistribution of internal forces is permitted once a limited breakage occurs. Thus, instead of monolithic glass, composite materials consisting of two or more glass plies bonded together using a polymeric film as an interlayer are used. In the event of glass failure, because of the chemical bond between the different materials, the adhesion to the interlayer prevents glass fragments from scattering. To design structural elements, the definition of the mechanical features of the interlayer is necessary. However, several standards and techniques can be applied, considering the characterization of either the interlayer itself or the laminated glass. The paper reviews the main existing methods and focuses on the standard suggested by the CEN/TS 19100:2021, analyzing in detail the effect of the different parameters involved. A numerical model is presented to account for the effect of the stress level, glass, and interlayer thickness. Although the standard leaves a certain degree of freedom in choosing those parameters, in some cases the results can differ. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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15 pages, 1738 KiB  
Review
The Time Variation Law of Concrete Compressive Strength: A Review
by Weina Wang and Qingxia Yue
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 4947; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084947 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3538
Abstract
Concrete is a building material that is most widely used because of its excellent mechanical performance and durability. Compressive strength is an essential property of concrete, which changes with time under various factors. In this paper, the time variation law of the compressive [...] Read more.
Concrete is a building material that is most widely used because of its excellent mechanical performance and durability. Compressive strength is an essential property of concrete, which changes with time under various factors. In this paper, the time variation law of the compressive strength of concrete was reviewed from three aspects: single, multiple and material internal factors. The mathematical models of compressive strength relative to time under single factors such as carbonization, freeze–thaw cycle, temperature effect and sulfate attack were summarized. Based on the statistical analysis of laboratory experimental data and field test data, the time variation laws of concrete under the coupling action of two or more factors were analyzed. The results show that the strength loss of concrete under the coupling effect of multiple factors is more serious than under the effect of a single factor. In addition, the time variation models of compressive strength in existing buildings were discussed, and it was observed that there are obvious differences between these models. After analysis, it is known that the different data sources and normalization methods are the primary causes of differences. Finally, the influences of concrete internal factors on compressive strength were outlined. The main conclusions of the time variation law of compressive strength were summarized, and further research directions were also proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Building Materials and Concrete)
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