Advancements in Cementitious Materials: Exploring the Latest Trends and Future Outlook

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 11794

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Guest Editor
Advanced Concrete Structure Laboratory, Chosun University, Gwangju 61453, Republic of Korea
Interests: cementitious composite; carbon nanomaterials; carbon dioxide capture utilization and storage (CCUS); construction materials; concrete strengthening; rehabilitation of concrete structures
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the Special Issue "Advancements in Cementitious Materials: Exploring the Latest Trends and Future Outlook" in our journal. This issue focuses on the latest developments in cement-concrete composites technology and the production, use, and performance of cement-based construction materials. We welcome innovative research papers, case studies, and review articles covering various aspects such as cement, concrete reinforcement, additives, corrosion technology, and more. This journal provides vital information to optimize efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in the global market. We encourage all professionals and academics involved in building materials research or specification to read and contribute.

More examples of Special Issues of Buildings at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings/special_issues.

Dr. Heeyoung Lee
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cementitious composite
  • carbon nanomaterials
  • concrete materials
  • ultra high performance concrete
  • carbon dioxide capture utilization and storage (CCUS)
  • NDT and monitoring
  • strengthening

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 28414 KiB  
Article
Fatigue Assessment of Pier Structures Under Dynamic Forces
by Sangkyu Cho, Wonchul Cho and Taehoon Koo
Buildings 2024, 14(10), 3320; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103320 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 562
Abstract
Pier structures in port and fishing harbor facilities require dynamic analyses during the design phase to account for external dynamic forces because of their high flexibility. Dynamic forces are frequently approximated as equivalent static forces for design purposes in practical engineering applications, but [...] Read more.
Pier structures in port and fishing harbor facilities require dynamic analyses during the design phase to account for external dynamic forces because of their high flexibility. Dynamic forces are frequently approximated as equivalent static forces for design purposes in practical engineering applications, but the fluctuational effects induced by these dynamic forces can be neglected. As the frequency range of wave forces acting on pier structures (0.05–1.0 Hz) significantly overlaps with the typical natural frequency range of pier structures (0.25–4.0 Hz), the response of a pier structure can be amplified because of the dynamic effects of the waves. In this study, we conducted a dynamic analysis by applying wave forces—a representative dynamic load—to a pier structure. The results were compared with those from a static analysis. A fatigue life assessment, which is often overlooked in static analyses, was also performed. The findings indicated that the concrete at the connection between the upper pier and steel piles exhibited a fatigue life of 27.3 years. The steel piles exhibited fatigue lives of 27.1 and 8.3 years depending on the weld details, falling short of the expected structural durability. Based on these results, recommendations for pier structures are proposed. Full article
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17 pages, 5835 KiB  
Article
Utilizing Marble Wastewater in Cement Pastes and Mortars for Enhanced Physico-Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
by Raid Alrowais, Khalid Shakeel, Muhammad Tariq Bashir, Muhammad Ali Sikandar, Md. Munir Hayet Khan and Wassef Ounais
Buildings 2024, 14(8), 2403; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082403 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1113
Abstract
This research explored the potential of marble wastewater (MWW) in cement paste and mortar production, addressing water scarcity, sustainable growth, and resource management. It investigated the physico-mechanical properties and microstructure of cement materials incorporated with varying amounts of MWW. In this study, we [...] Read more.
This research explored the potential of marble wastewater (MWW) in cement paste and mortar production, addressing water scarcity, sustainable growth, and resource management. It investigated the physico-mechanical properties and microstructure of cement materials incorporated with varying amounts of MWW. In this study, we utilized tap water and MWW for mortar quality testing, focusing on parameters including setting times, water absorption, and mechanical strength. The viability of MWW in concrete formulations was confirmed by its acceptable total dissolved solids and alkalinity levels. A comprehensive experimental program determined that using marble wastewater in place of tap water reduced the quantity of water required for cement consistency and generated slightly higher compressive strengths (2, 3, 4, and 6%) after 28 days of curing. Analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were employed for molecular and microstructural analyses, which revealed that MWW had a significant influence on portlandite development and CSH formation at higher replacement levels. In short, this research highlights the feasibility of using MWW in cement products, contributing to sustainable water resources, and industrial waste management and utilization. Full article
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17 pages, 10412 KiB  
Article
Bond Behavior and Failure Mechanisms of the Interface between Engineered Cementitious Composites and Shaped Steel
by Jiaojiao Pan, Zhenbin Huang, Tingting Lu and Mingke Deng
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2233; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072233 - 19 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 656
Abstract
Due to their excellent ductility and crack-control ability, engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) combined with shaped steel can produce steel-reinforced engineering cementitious composite (SRECC) structures which exhibit significant advantages in prefabricated buildings. The interface bond behavior is the base for the cooperative working performance [...] Read more.
Due to their excellent ductility and crack-control ability, engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) combined with shaped steel can produce steel-reinforced engineering cementitious composite (SRECC) structures which exhibit significant advantages in prefabricated buildings. The interface bond behavior is the base for the cooperative working performance of the shaped steel and ECC. This study included push-out tests of one ordinary concrete control specimen and ten ECC specimens. The various parameters were the ECC compressive strength, fiber volume content, cover thickness, and the embedded length of shaped steel. The bond stress–slip curves at the loading and free end were obtained, and the effects of various parameters on the characteristic points of curves were analyzed. The results indicated that the ordinary concrete specimen failed in brittle splitting, with the cracks completely penetrating the surface of the specimen. Due to the fiber-bridging effect in ECCs effectively preventing the development and extension of cracks, the shaped steel at the free end was obviously pushed out, and the surrounding matrix maintained good integrity after testing finished. For ECC specimens, bond or splitting-bond failure occurred, exhibiting outstanding ductility. Compared with the ordinary concrete specimen, the standard ultimate and residual bond strength of ECC specimens improved by 37.9% and 27.4%, respectively. Besides the increase in ECC compressive strength, the fiber volume content and cover thickness had a significant positive influence on the ultimate and residual bond strength, whereas the effect of the embedded length was the opposite. Finally, the calculation equations of characteristic bond strength were proposed, and the calculated values matched well with the experimental values. Full article
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19 pages, 5919 KiB  
Article
A Full-Scale Test on Enhancing the Thermal Performance of a Concrete Slab Embedded with a MWCNT Heating Module Exposed to an Outdoor Environment
by Sohyeon Park, Hoonhee Hwang, Heeyoung Lee and Wonseok Chung
Buildings 2024, 14(3), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030775 - 13 Mar 2024
Viewed by 758
Abstract
The aberrant winter temperatures resulting from climatic shifts give rise to the formation of imperceptible black ice on road surfaces, posing a risk of accidents. In this study, a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based heating module was fabricated, embedded in a concrete slab, and subjected [...] Read more.
The aberrant winter temperatures resulting from climatic shifts give rise to the formation of imperceptible black ice on road surfaces, posing a risk of accidents. In this study, a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based heating module was fabricated, embedded in a concrete slab, and subjected to a full-scale test in an outdoor environment. Preliminary tests were conducted to scrutinize the thermal behavior of the CNT heating modules applied to the concrete slab, considering the inter-module distance and the concentration of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the concrete perimeter. A full-scale concrete slab was fabricated on the basis of the preliminary test results. Thermal performance analyses of the concrete perimeter were performed according to the MWCNT concentration, the distance between the MWCNT heating modules, and the supply voltage based on a full-scale test conducted in an outdoor environment. The full-scale test results indicated that the maximum temperature variation of the MWCNT heating module embedded concrete slab was 46.8 °C, and its thermal performance varied by 1.9 times depending on the concentration of MWCNTs in the concrete perimeter. Full article
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15 pages, 5846 KiB  
Article
Flexural Performance of a Continuous Circular Tube Girder Bridge
by Hyojeong Yun, Chunhong Park, Sanghyeon Cho and Wonseok Chung
Buildings 2024, 14(2), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020357 - 28 Jan 2024
Viewed by 873
Abstract
This study introduces a continuous pedestrian-bridge design utilizing a circular tube girder and brackets for extended spans. The flexural performance evaluation in the negative moment region focuses on the support section of the continuous pedestrian bridge. In this regard, a full-scale test unit [...] Read more.
This study introduces a continuous pedestrian-bridge design utilizing a circular tube girder and brackets for extended spans. The flexural performance evaluation in the negative moment region focuses on the support section of the continuous pedestrian bridge. In this regard, a full-scale test unit of the negative moment region was fabricated for a loading test. The test unit consists of a circular steel-tube girder, loading plates, vertical steel plates, and support. Subsequently, a finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to compare with the loading test results. The experimental and FEA results showed that the stresses in the members of the proposed pedestrian bridge are within the allowable stresses under service load. However, local buckling was observed in the circular steel-tube girder adjacent to the vertical steel plate under ultimate loading. To prevent the local buckling in the girder and improve the flexural performance of the negative moment region, a parametric study was performed by increasing the filling ratio of concrete inside the girder. The load–deflection relationship of the parametric study indicates that filling the negative moment region of a circular steel tube with concrete has a structural effect. Consequently, based on these results, an optimal filling ratio for the proposed bridge is suggested. Full article
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19 pages, 13054 KiB  
Article
Study on Controlled Low-Strength Materials Using Ultra-Rapid-Hardening Cement and Stone Sludge for Backfill and Subbase Application in Road Excavation and Restoration Work
by Jongwon Lee and Cheolmin Baek
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010046 - 22 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1273
Abstract
A significant amount of stone sludge is generated as a by-product during the production of crushed stone aggregate, and most of it is disposed of in landfill as waste. In order to recycle this stone sludge, this study evaluated a controlled low-strength material [...] Read more.
A significant amount of stone sludge is generated as a by-product during the production of crushed stone aggregate, and most of it is disposed of in landfill as waste. In order to recycle this stone sludge, this study evaluated a controlled low-strength material (CLSM) using ultra-rapid-hardening cement and stone sludge for application as backfill and subbase material for road excavation and restoration work. In addition, considering the limited construction time of excavation and restoration work in urban areas, backfill and subbase materials must simultaneously satisfy conditions of fluidity, workability, quick curing time, and certain levels of strength. Therefore, in this study, CLSM was manufactured according to various mixing ratios and flow, slump, and compressive strength tests with age were evaluated. Additionally, the change trend in the microstructure of the CLSM with age was analyzed. Through indoor experiments, the optimal mixing ratios for backfill and subbase CLSM were determined, and field applicability and performance of field samples were evaluated through small-scale field construction. It was concluded that CLSM, which contains a large amount of stone sludge, can be sufficiently applied as a backfill and subbase material for excavation and restoration work if appropriate admixtures are adjusted according to the weather conditions at sites. Full article
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18 pages, 9228 KiB  
Article
Effect of Coarse Aggregate and Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes on Heat Generation of Concrete
by Hyojeong Yun, Donghwi Kim, Sunho Kang and Wonseok Chung
Buildings 2023, 13(12), 3127; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13123127 - 17 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1220
Abstract
Many researchers are developing heating construction materials to remove black ice from roads, addressing the scientific challenges associated with this issue. The use of carbon-based nanomaterials in concrete is of great interest due to the excellent electrical and thermal conductivity of this material. [...] Read more.
Many researchers are developing heating construction materials to remove black ice from roads, addressing the scientific challenges associated with this issue. The use of carbon-based nanomaterials in concrete is of great interest due to the excellent electrical and thermal conductivity of this material. In this study, the incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into concrete compositions results in the formation of MWCNT bridge networks. MWCNTs exhibit a low specific heat and possess the ability to promptly generate raised temperatures with minimal power input. This characteristic has the potential to induce temperature variations in concrete. The heat generation test parameters for MWCNT concrete included the mixing concentration of the MWCNTs, the mixing ratio of coarse aggregate, the water/cement (W/C) ratio, and the presence or absence of superplasticizers. The heating performance of concrete was found to improve as the mixing concentration of the MWCNTs increased, while a heating performance decrease was observed as the mixing ratio of coarse aggregate increased, owing to the reduced dispersibility of the MWCNTs. Conversely, the heating performance improved when the W/C ratio increased due to the enhanced dispersibility of the MWCNTs. Moreover, superplasticizers assist in dispersing MWCNTs, thereby improving the heating performance. Additionally, field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that MWCNTs form a bridge network between the cement hydrates. As a result of this study, the maximum temperature variation of concrete mixed with MWCNTs was up to 73.6 °C. Therefore, by mixing MWCNT aqueous solutions with concrete and using an appropriate W/C ratio and superplasticizer, a new construction material capable of enhanced heating performance was developed. Full article
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17 pages, 3953 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Properties of Asphalt Concrete Mixture Using Basalt Aggregate from Jeju Island
by Soohyun Han and Cheolmin Baek
Buildings 2023, 13(12), 3119; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13123119 - 15 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1224
Abstract
In this study, the engineering properties of basalt aggregate used for asphalt road pavement on Jeju Island were evaluated, and the characteristics of the asphalt mixtures used were evaluated to assess the suitability of Jeju Island basalt as road construction material. Chemical composition [...] Read more.
In this study, the engineering properties of basalt aggregate used for asphalt road pavement on Jeju Island were evaluated, and the characteristics of the asphalt mixtures used were evaluated to assess the suitability of Jeju Island basalt as road construction material. Chemical composition and surface morphology analysis of the basalt and granite aggregate, engineering characteristics analysis, and filler property evaluation were performed. Mix design was performed, and the basic properties of three asphalt mixtures for the surface, intermediate, and base layers were evaluated. Permanent deformation resistance was evaluated through a wheel tracking test, and moisture resistance was evaluated through a dynamic immersion test and a tensile strength ratio test. The optimum asphalt contents of the asphalt mixture using low-porosity basalt aggregate and high-porosity basalt aggregate were determined to be 5.7% and 5.9% in the surface layer, 5.3% and 5.4% in the intermediate layer, and 4.7% and 5.1% in the base layer, respectively. It was found that the basic properties of the asphalt mixtures satisfied Korean quality standards. The dynamic immersion test results of low-porosity basalt aggregate and high-porosity basalt aggregate were 20% and 10%, respectively, which fall far below the quality standard of 50%. The tensile strength ratios of the basalt asphalt mixtures for the intermediate layer were 0.69 and 0.40, and they were found to increase significantly to 0.87 and 0.80 after the application of a suitable anti-stripping agent. Therefore, it was concluded that in order to apply Jeju Island basalt to asphalt pavement, an appropriate anti-stripping material must be applied. Full article
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13 pages, 9322 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Compressive Strength in Cementitious Composites through Effective Use of Wasted Oyster Shells and Admixtures
by Inyeong Cha, Jinwoong Kim and Heeyoung Lee
Buildings 2023, 13(11), 2787; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13112787 - 6 Nov 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1802
Abstract
Wasted oyster shells generate environmental pollution and odor, thereby causing inconvenience to people. In addition, low-quality aggregates are generated owing to the lack of sand. To address these problems, cementitious composites that replaced sand with oyster shell powder were fabricated in this study, [...] Read more.
Wasted oyster shells generate environmental pollution and odor, thereby causing inconvenience to people. In addition, low-quality aggregates are generated owing to the lack of sand. To address these problems, cementitious composites that replaced sand with oyster shell powder were fabricated in this study, and a total 120 specimens were fabricated (specimen size: 50×50×50 mm3). The oyster shell substitution rate for sand, admixture type, and presence or absence of admixture were set as the experimental parameters. Herein, 0, 30, 70, and 100% of sand was replaced with oyster shell powder to examine the compressive strength of the cementitious composites according to the oyster shell powder content. The experiment results confirmed the decrease in the compressive strength of the cementitious composite with an increase in the oyster shell powder content. In the case of the cementitious composites mixed with oyster shell powder, silica fume, blast furnace slag, and an air-entraining water-reducing agent, the compressive strength increased by up to 30% with an increase in the oyster shell powder content. The results of cementitious composites containing oyster shell powder and admixture fabricated in this study indicate the potential of oyster shells as a new construction material that can replace sand. Full article
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14 pages, 11256 KiB  
Article
Cell Viability Studies on Bacillus sp. under Different Storage Conditions for Usage in Improving Concrete Compressive Strength
by Sk Rahaman, Datunaka Sai Srujan, Jayati Ray Dutta, Arkamitra Kar and Mohna Bandyopadhyay
Buildings 2023, 13(9), 2392; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13092392 - 21 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1483
Abstract
Bacterial concrete is a possible approach toward sustainability in concrete construction through crack-healing. Including a bacterial culture as an admixture in concrete can enhance the service life of a structure through the self-healing of cracks. Incorporating bacterial cells as an admixture in concrete [...] Read more.
Bacterial concrete is a possible approach toward sustainability in concrete construction through crack-healing. Including a bacterial culture as an admixture in concrete can enhance the service life of a structure through the self-healing of cracks. Incorporating bacterial cells as an admixture in concrete is a major challenge as bacteria are living organisms with a limited shelf-life. It is essential to evaluate the shelf-life of bacterial cultures to encourage the inclusion of bacteria in concrete applications. Hence, the main focus of this study was to record the cell viability of these microorganisms before addition to cementitious systems. In the first stage, three different bacterial cultures of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus licheniformis were stored in Luria Bertani broth under two different conditions of room temperature and refrigeration. These stored bacterial solutions were checked for viability based on cell count after 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 15 days, and 20 days of storage. In the second stage, the fresh bacterial cultures and the 15-day stock were added to prepare bacterial concrete and cement paste samples to assess their compressive strengths and microstructural changes, respectively. It was observed that the cell viability in terms of cell count of the selected bacterial strains attained up to 15 days when stored at room temperature. It was also observed that the compressive strength of the bacterial concrete prepared with stored bacterial cultures increased by 6% and 11% at 7 and 28 days compared with the control Portland cement concrete mix, respectively. However, the compressive strength decreased by 6% to 12% compared with the bacterial concrete prepared with fresh cultures at the same ages. Additionally, the compressive strength results were validated using microstructural analyses. Full article
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