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Advanced Characteristics and Long-Term Durability of Cementitious Materials and Reinforced...
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Advanced Characteristics and Long-Term Durability of Cementitious Materials and Reinforced Concrete Structures

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 1345

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vanissorn Vimonsatit

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
Interests: low-carbon concrete; supplementary cementitious systems; multiscale characterisation; building materials and structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Benchaa Benabed

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Civil Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Amar Telidji, Laghouat 03000, Algeria
Interests: use of industry by-products in concrete; self-compacting concrete; properties of concrete at elevated temperatures; durability of concrete; concrete repair
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete is the backbone of modern infrastructure, yet its production is a significant source of carbon emissions. As the world strives towards the net-zero emission goal by 2050, the cement and concrete industry continues to innovate and adopt sustainable practices. This Special Issue is titled “Advanced Characteristics and Long-Term Durability of Cementitious Materials and Reinforced Concrete Structures”.

Recent research has focused on reducing the carbon footprint of concrete by developing new types of low-carbon cement. The use of industry by-products like fly ash, slag, and silica fume in concrete production not only reduces waste, but also lowers the carbon intensity of concrete.  These materials are used to partially replace cement, leading to a significant reduction in emissions.  Recycling demolished concrete and other solid waste into new concrete  mixtures is a sustainable practice that has recently been gaining traction. This approach not only conserves natural resources, but also enhances the sustainability profile of concrete by reducing landfill waste and its potential risks to the surrounding environment.

Innovations in sustainable concrete aim to optimise cementitious systems by minimising traditional cement while maintaining or enhancing its performance and durability; as such, ensuring the durability of concrete structures is crucial for sustainability.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements and innovations in developing sustainable concrete, utilising industry by-products, incorporating recycled materials, and enhancing concrete characteristics and durability.  Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Industry by-products;
  • Supplementary cementitious materials;
  • Pozzolans;
  • Recycled waste and aggregates;
  • Circular economy;
  • Advanced testing methods;
  • Material characteristics;
  • Multiscale characterisation;
  • Concrete innovation;
  • Concrete structures;
  • Durability.

Dr. Vanissorn Vimonsatit
Dr. Benchaa Benabed
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.

Keywords

  • sustainable building materials
  • cementitious systems
  • low-carbon concrete
  • strength
  • durability
  • reinforced concrete
  • concrete structures

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 19076 KiB  
Article
Concrete Carbonization Prediction Method Based on Bagging and Boosting Fusion Framework
by Qingfu Li and Ao Xu
Buildings 2025, 15(8), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081349 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 289
Abstract
Concrete carbonation is an important factor causing corrosion of steel reinforcement, which leads to damage to reinforced concrete structures. To address the problem of concrete carbonation depth prediction, this paper proposes a prediction model. The framework synergistically integrates Bagging and Boosting algorithms, specifically [...] Read more.
Concrete carbonation is an important factor causing corrosion of steel reinforcement, which leads to damage to reinforced concrete structures. To address the problem of concrete carbonation depth prediction, this paper proposes a prediction model. The framework synergistically integrates Bagging and Boosting algorithms, specifically replacing the original Random Forest base learner with gradient Boosting variants (LightGBM (version 4.1.0), XGBoost (version 2.1.1), and CatBoost (version 1.2.5)). This hybrid approach exploits the strengths of all three algorithms to reduce variance and bias, and to further improve prediction accuracy, Bayesian optimization algorithms were used to fine-tune the hyperparameters, resulting in three hybrid-integrated models: Random Forest–LightGBM Fusion Framework, Random Forest–XGBoost Fusion Framework, and Random Forest–CatBoost Fusion Framework. These models were trained on a dataset containing 943 case sets and six input variables (FA, t, w/b, B, RH, and CO2). The models were comprehensively evaluated using the comprehensive scoring formula and Taylor diagrams. The results showed that the hybrid-integrated model outperformed the single model, with the RF–CatBoost fusion framework having the highest test set performance (R2 = 0.9674, MAE = 1.4199, RMSE = 2.0648, VAF = 96.78%). In addition, the Random Forest–CatBoost Fusion Framework identified exposure t and CO2 concentration as the most important features. This paper demonstrates the applicability of a predictive model based on the Random Forest–CatBoost Fusion Framework in predicting the depth of concrete carbonation, providing valuable insights into the durability design of concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Characteristics and Long-Term Durability of Cementitious Materials and Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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23 pages, 19248 KiB  
Article
Behavior of Self-Compacting Concrete Cylinders Internally Confined with Various Types of Composite Grids
by Aboubakeur Boukhelkhal, Benchaa Benabed, Rajab Abousnina and Vanissorn Vimonsatit
Buildings 2025, 15(8), 1286; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081286 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 334
Abstract
Composite grids serve as reinforcement in concrete structures, offering alternatives to conventional steel reinforcement. These grids can be fabricated from various materials, including synthetic polymers, metals, and natural fibers. This study explores the use of composite grids as lateral confinement of self-compacting concrete [...] Read more.
Composite grids serve as reinforcement in concrete structures, offering alternatives to conventional steel reinforcement. These grids can be fabricated from various materials, including synthetic polymers, metals, and natural fibers. This study explores the use of composite grids as lateral confinement of self-compacting concrete (SCC) cylinders and examines their impact on the failure mode under axial compression. In the experiment, the types of grids and mesh shapes used were plastic grids of diamond mesh (PGD) and regular mesh (PGT), metallic grids of diamond mesh (MGD) and square mesh (MGS), vegetable grids of Alfa fiber mesh, 10 × 10 mm (VGAF-1) and 20 × 20 mm (VGAF-2), and vegetable grids of date palm fibers (VGDF). The binder of SCC mixtures incorporated 10% marble powder as a partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement (OPC). SCC mixtures were tested in the fresh state by measuring the slump flow diameter, V-funnel flow time, L-box blocking ratio, and segregation index. Cylinders with a diameter of 160 mm and a height of 320 mm were made to assess the mechanical properties of hardened SCC mixtures under axial compression. The results indicate that most of the confined cylinders exhibited an increase in ductility compared to unconfined cylinders. Grid types MGD and PGD provided the best performance, with ductility increases of 100.33% and 96.45%, respectively. VGAF-2 cylinders had greater compressive strength than cylinders with other grid types. The findings revealed that the type and mesh shape of the grids affects the failure mode of confined cylinders, but has minimal influence on their modulus of elasticity. This study highlights the potential of lateral grid confinement as a technique for rehabilitating, strengthening, and reinforcing weaker structural concrete elements, thereby improving their mechanical properties and extending the service life of building structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Characteristics and Long-Term Durability of Cementitious Materials and Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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16 pages, 1481 KiB  
Article
Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis
by Abdelrahman Abushanab and Vanissorn Vimonsatit
Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1167; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071167 - 2 Apr 2025
Viewed by 426
Abstract
Recent investigations have shown that the mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete can be enhanced using fly ash (FA) and structural fibres. However, the financial viability of combining these products in concrete has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, this study assessed [...] Read more.
Recent investigations have shown that the mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete can be enhanced using fly ash (FA) and structural fibres. However, the financial viability of combining these products in concrete has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, this study assessed the long-term cost-effectiveness of using recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), FA, and basalt fibres (BF) simultaneously in high-rise reinforced concrete buildings exposed to corrosive environments. A life cycle cost analysis was conducted using five variables, two design alternatives, and twelve design scenarios. The analysis followed ISO 15686–5:2017 using a discount rate of 0.5% and a construction-to-material cost ratio of 150%. The components considered in the life cycle cost model included materials, construction, maintenance, and disposal. The results demonstrated that employing RCA, FA, and BF in combination in concrete buildings located near the ocean achieved approximately 21% cost savings compared to buildings made with conventional materials over a lifespan of 50 years. The maintenance component exhibited the most significant cost savings, with an average reduction of about 76% in the maintenance costs for all buildings utilising RCA, FA, and BF. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the proposed building with RCA, FA, and BF remained more cost-effective than the conventional concrete building, even with an increasing RCA-to-natural-aggregate price ratio, construction-to-material cost ratio, and increasing the discount rate to 200%, 250%, and 10%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Characteristics and Long-Term Durability of Cementitious Materials and Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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