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Buildings
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Trends and Prospects in Cementitious Material
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Trends and Prospects in Cementitious Material

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 December 2025 | Viewed by 1991

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hongen Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Interests: geopolymer; UHPC; cryogenic behavior of concrete; subzero-cured cementitious mateirals; durability; self-curing; solid waste recycling; reuse and treatment; dynamic behavior
Dr. Cheng Yuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Earthquake Engineering Research and Test Center, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: interface fracture of brittle materials; intelligent disaster prevention and mitigation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cementitious materials are integral to our built environment, and understanding their evolving trends and future prospects is essential for sustainable development. As global attention shifts toward reducing carbon emissions, the innovation of low-carbon cement alternatives is critical. These materials not only mitigate environmental impact, but also pave the way for greener construction practices.

Additionally, the resilience of cementitious materials under extreme temperature conditions is increasingly vital, enabling infrastructure to withstand both severe heat and cold. Addressing issues of corrosion and fatigue extends the lifespan of structures, ensuring safety and reducing maintenance costs.

This Special Issue delves into these key areas, highlighting breakthroughs in low-carbon technologies, durability in harsh environments, and advancements in corrosion and fatigue resistance. By exploring these topics, we aim to equip researchers, engineers and industry professionals with the knowledge to drive forward a sustainable and resilient future in construction.

Dr. Hongen Zhang
Dr. Cheng Yuan
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

  • alkali-activated materials
  • extreme environment
  • dynamic loading
  • elevated temperature
  • corrosion
  • fatigue
  • durability

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

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1885 KiB  
Article
Research on Rheological Behavior and Strength Characteristics of Cement-Based Grouting Materials
by Xuewei Liu, Hao Qu, Bin Liu, Yuan Zhou, Jinlan Li, Wei Deng and Weilong Tao
Buildings 2025, 15(11), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111796 - 23 May 2025
Abstract
The mechanical properties of grouting materials and their cured grouts significantly impact the reinforcement effectiveness in deep coal mine roadways. This study employed shear rheology tests of slurry, structural tests, NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), and uniaxial compression tests to comparatively analyze the mechanical [...] Read more.
The mechanical properties of grouting materials and their cured grouts significantly impact the reinforcement effectiveness in deep coal mine roadways. This study employed shear rheology tests of slurry, structural tests, NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), and uniaxial compression tests to comparatively analyze the mechanical characteristics of a composite cement-based grouting material (HGC), ordinary Portland cement (OPC), and sulfated aluminum cement (SAC) slurry and their cured grouts. The HGC (High-performance Grouting Composite) slurry is formulated with 15.75% sulfated aluminum cement (SAC), 54.25% ordinary Portland cement (OPC), 10% fly ash, and 20% mineral powder, achieving a water/cement ratio of 0.26. The results indicate that HGC slurry more closely follows power-law flow characteristics, while OPC and SAC slurries fit better with the Bingham model. The structural recovery time for HGC slurry after high-strain disturbances is 52 s, significantly lower than the 312 s for OPC and 121 s for SAC, indicating that HGC can quickly produce hydration products that re-bond the flocculated structure. NMR T2 spectra show that HGC cured grouts have the lowest porosity, predominantly featuring inter-nanopores, whereas OPC and SAC have more super-nanopores. Uniaxial compression tests show that the uniaxial compressive strength of HGC, SAC, and OPC samples at various curing ages gradually decreases. Compared to traditional cementitious materials, HGC exhibits a rapid increase in uniaxial compressive strength within the first seven days, with an increase rate of approximately 77.97%. Finally, the relationship between micropore distribution and strength is analyzed, and the micro-mechanisms underlying the strength differences of different grouting materials are discussed. This study aids in developing a comparative analysis system of mechanical properties for deep surrounding rock grouting materials, providing a reference for selecting grouting materials for various engineering fractured rock masses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Cementitious Material)
16 pages, 5703 KiB  
Article
Simulation Method for Complex Constraints and the Necessity of Joints in an Early-Age, Large-Volume Concrete Slab—A Case Study of Complex Column Grids and Wall Constraints
by Wenqian Li, Wei Jiang, Chen Fu, Zhiyi Li and Hao Zhang
Buildings 2025, 15(10), 1647; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101647 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 189
Abstract
In modern engineering and construction, mass concrete structures impose stringent requirements on crack control. However, there exists a conflict between design and construction: design primarily addresses the structural performance needs during service phases, while construction must confront the challenges of early-stage performance. It [...] Read more.
In modern engineering and construction, mass concrete structures impose stringent requirements on crack control. However, there exists a conflict between design and construction: design primarily addresses the structural performance needs during service phases, while construction must confront the challenges of early-stage performance. It is, therefore, essential to investigate the complex constraints affecting mass concrete structures during their early stages. In this paper, a spring foundation was employed to simulate the intricate constraints on mass concrete footings at early ages, with parametric analyses systematically exploring the influence of spring constant values. The study reveals that excessively large spring constants overestimate constraint effects, leading to amplified stress calculations, while overly small constants underestimate actual constraints, resulting in diminished computed stresses. Building on these findings, this work establishes a quantitative relationship between spring constants and stress responses. Notably, a spring constant table incorporating various constraint scenarios was compiled to provide engineering recommendations. The goal was to reconcile the conflict between early-age and in-service performance through precise constraint modeling, offering theoretical foundations for selecting rational constraint parameters. This approach resolves critical issues in bottom slab design optimization and construction control, particularly addressing abnormal stress distributions and crack control challenges stemming from complex constraints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Cementitious Material)
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21 pages, 16180 KiB  
Article
Capillary Water Absorption Characteristics of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
by Fang Nan, Qing Shen, Shuang Zou, Haijing Yang, Zhenping Sun and Jingbin Yang
Buildings 2025, 15(9), 1542; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091542 - 2 May 2025
Viewed by 316
Abstract
The water absorption behavior of concrete is a critical indicator of its durability, and a comprehensive understanding of water transport characteristics can significantly enhance concrete performance. This study investigates the capillary water absorption properties of steel fiber-reinforced concrete across various strength grades by [...] Read more.
The water absorption behavior of concrete is a critical indicator of its durability, and a comprehensive understanding of water transport characteristics can significantly enhance concrete performance. This study investigates the capillary water absorption properties of steel fiber-reinforced concrete across various strength grades by combining mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and 1H low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (1H low-field NMR) techniques. Key findings reveal that the capillary water absorption of steel fiber-reinforced concretes occurs in the following two distinct stages: an initial rapid absorption phase (0 min to 6 h) and a subsequent slow absorption phase (1 day to 12 days). Modifications to the concrete matrix composition substantially reduce capillary water absorption rates, with ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) exhibiting exceptionally low absorption levels (the cumulative capillary water absorption of UHPC accounts for only 4.5–5.7% of that of C30 concrete). Additionally, for higher-strength concrete and extended absorption durations, the capillary water absorption rate deviates from the linear relationship with the square root of time. This deviation is attributed to the interaction of gel pore water with unhydrated cement particles, generating more hydration products, which refine the pore structure, reduce capillary pore connectivity, and increase pore tortuosity. Furthermore, steel fibers influence water transport through the following two primary mechanisms: interfacial interactions between the fibers and the matrix and a physical blocking effect that impedes water movement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Cementitious Material)
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15 pages, 4205 KiB  
Article
Optimizing the Mixture Design of Manufactured Sand Concrete for Highway Guardrails in Mountainous Terrain
by Jianping Gao, Pan Zhou, Sigui Zhao, Qian Yang, Kang Gu, Qingnan Song and Zhengwu Jiang
Buildings 2025, 15(9), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091436 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 232
Abstract
Concrete quality is essential for highway guardrails in mountainous terrain to overcome freeze–thaw cycles, and manufactured sand (MS) concrete is potentially a more sustainable construction material. This paper aims to optimize the mechanical strength and freeze-thaw resistance of MS concrete for highway guardrails. [...] Read more.
Concrete quality is essential for highway guardrails in mountainous terrain to overcome freeze–thaw cycles, and manufactured sand (MS) concrete is potentially a more sustainable construction material. This paper aims to optimize the mechanical strength and freeze-thaw resistance of MS concrete for highway guardrails. The effects of water-to-binder (W/B) ratio (0.38–0.42), air-entraining agent (AEA) (0–0.5‱), fly ash (FA) (10–30%) and binder contents (360–380 kg/m3) on the properties of MS concrete were investigated. The mechanism behind the factors was further studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury injection porosimetry (MIP). Results showed that increasing W/B ratio, AEA and FA contents led to the reduction of compressive strength, but improved freeze–thaw resistance by reducing the mass loss during the cyclic freeze–thaw. SEM and MIP illustrated that the increase in W/B ratio and AEA addition increased the pore volume and caused a more porous structure, but increasing FA and binder contents densified the structure of MS concrete. This is consistent with the evolution of compressive strength and freeze–thaw resistance. This study offers an optimization method to obtain MS concrete with good compressive strength and freeze–thaw resistance for highway construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Cementitious Material)
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14 pages, 4161 KiB  
Article
Internal Curing Effects of Slag on Properties and Microstructure of Ambient-Cured Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Mortar
by Li Xiao, Chao Zhang, Hongen Zhang and Zhengwu Jiang
Buildings 2024, 14(12), 3846; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123846 - 30 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 771
Abstract
The preparation of ambient-cured fly ash-based geopolymer mortar (FAGM) with high strength by utilizing the high chemical reactivity of slag is key to realizing the sustainable and efficient application of solid waste resources. This paper investigates the influence of different type S95 slag [...] Read more.
The preparation of ambient-cured fly ash-based geopolymer mortar (FAGM) with high strength by utilizing the high chemical reactivity of slag is key to realizing the sustainable and efficient application of solid waste resources. This paper investigates the influence of different type S95 slag contents (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) on the fluidity, setting time, and mechanical properties of FAGM at ambient temperature. The direct method is first adapted to monitor the influence of slag on geopolymerization. The results indicate that slag has a minimal effect on the fluidity of the mortar, while the setting time decreases and compressive strength increases with higher slag content. For FAGM with 30% slag content, the setting time is reduced from 3160 min to 140 min, with a decrease of 95.6%, and a 3-day and 28-day compressive strength increase from 1.5 MPa and 34.7 MPa to 33.5 MPa and 73.4 MPa, with enhancements of 2170.2% and 110.3%, respectively. Slag also exerts an internal curing effect, raising the internal curing temperature and accelerating the geopolymerization process of fly ash, thereby improving the compactness of FAGM and reducing its porosity. This approach successfully enables the production of high-strength, ambient-cured FAGM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Prospects in Cementitious Material)
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