Durability, Physical Properties and Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon Concrete Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Low‑carbon concrete—realized through clinker reduction, the use of supplementary cementitious materials and recycled aggregates, as well as CO₂ curing/carbonation—has become central to decarbonizing the construction sector. Nevertheless, guaranteeing its durability, physical properties (e.g., pore structure, transport, and thermal behavior), and mechanical properties (e.g., strength, modulus, toughness, and fatigue resistance) under complex service environments remains challenging, particularly for retrofitting and urban renewal applications.

This Special Issue, ‘Durability, Physical Properties and Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon Concrete Materials,’ invites experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies that rigorously characterize, model, and enhance these performances, including fiber‑reinforced and self‑compacting low‑carbon concretes. We also welcome concise contributions that use AI/data‑driven methods to accelerate performance prediction and mix‑design optimization. Topics of interest include service‑life prediction and reliability assessment; coupled deterioration mechanisms (carbonation–chloride ingress, freeze–thaw, sulfate attack, high temperature); fracture toughness, ductility, and energy dissipation; as well as standardized/rapid testing methods, databases and multi‑scale modeling.

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

1. Durability of low‑carbon concretes: carbonation, chloride ingress, freeze–thaw, sulfate attack, high‑temperature exposure, and coupled deteriorations.
2. Physical properties: pore structure, permeability/transport, moisture migration, thermal conductivity, shrinkage and creep, and volume stability.
3. Mechanical properties: strength, elastic modulus, fracture toughness/energy, fatigue resistance, ductility, and toughness.
4. Fiber‑reinforced and self‑compacting low‑carbon concretes (FRC/HPFRCC/SHCC/UHPFRC, SCC): mix design, testing, modeling, and performance enhancement.
5. Effects of SCMs, recycled aggregates, and CO₂ curing/carbonation curing on durability and mechanical behavior.
6. Seismic performance, energy dissipation, and resilience, especially for retrofitting and urban renewal applications.
7. Service‑life prediction, reliability‑based assessment and degradation modeling under multi-factor exposures.
8. Multi‑scale experimentation, modeling, and simulation linking microstructure to structural performance.
9. Lightweight AI/data‑driven approaches for accelerated performance prediction and mix‑design optimization.
10. Standardized/rapid testing methods, databases, and LCA–performance integration for low‑carbon concretes.

Dr. Dianchao Wang
Dr. Bochao Sun
Dr. Fubin Zhang
Dr. Chang Sun
Dr. Gaoyu Liao
Dr. Nanqiao You
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. Buildings 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 2600 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.

• low carbon concrete
• durability
• physical properties
• mechanical properties (toughness and ductility)
• fiber reinforced concrete (FRC)
• self compacting concrete (SCC)
• service life prediction and reliability
• urban renewal and retrofitting
• AI/ML based prediction