Enhancing the Resilience of Reinforced Concrete Structures: Innovations in Monitoring, Assessment, and Retrofitting

A special issue of Corrosion and Materials Degradation (ISSN 2624-5558).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2025) | Viewed by 808

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, Niccolò Cusano University, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi 3, 00166 Rome, Italy
Interests: corrosion; durability; existing structures; reinforced concrete; structural assessment; materials mechanical properties
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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Niccolò Cusano, 00166 Rome, Italy
Interests: structural mechanics; solid mechanics; computational mechanics; composite materials; masonry; reinforced concrete; strengthening materials

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Guest Editor
Italian National Research Council, CNR Institute of Heritage Science-ISPC, Lecce, Italy
Interests: destructive and non-destructive tests for physical and mechanical characterization of materials; analysis of the durability of building materials; evaluation of the performances of consolidating and restoring products
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Guest Editor
Institutes of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, National Research Council, 85050 Tito, Italy
Interests: applied geophysics; near-surface; engineering geophysics; archeo-geophysics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reinforced concrete structures form the backbone of modern infrastructures and built heritages, yet they are increasingly challenged by aging, environmental exposure, and mechanical stress. These challenges often result in performance demands that were not considered at the time of their original design, requiring effective adaptation and strengthening approaches to maintain safety and functionality. The degradation of these structures due to corrosion, material fatigue, and external loads further necessitates innovative strategies for monitoring, assessing, and retrofitting to ensure their long-term resilience.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the latest methodologies and technologies in structural health monitoring, damage assessment, and retrofitting techniques for reinforced concrete structures. Contributions may focus on advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, AI-driven diagnostic tools, digital twin applications, and novel materials for strengthening and rehabilitation. Additionally, studies addressing the impact of environmental factors, including climate change-induced degradation, and performance-based design approaches are highly encouraged. A particular emphasis will be placed on the mechanical characterization of both deteriorated materials and structural elements, as understanding their behavior under various conditions is fundamental to developing effective intervention strategies.

We welcome original research papers, case studies, and review articles that explore innovative solutions to enhance the durability and sustainability of existing reinforced concrete structures. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this Special Issue seeks to advance knowledge and practical applications in the field, ultimately contributing to safer and more resilient infrastructure and built heritage worldwide.

Dr. Stefania Imperatore
Dr. Francesca Nerilli
Dr. Emilia Vasanelli
Dr. Luigi Capozzoli
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • reinforced concrete
  • corrosion monitoring and assessing
  • material fatigue
  • non-destructive testing

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

27 pages, 4848 KB  
Article
Quantitative Analysis of the Alkali Transport During Chemical Re-Alkalization Using Laser-Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy
by Clarissa Glawe and Michael Raupach
Corros. Mater. Degrad. 2025, 6(3), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/cmd6030043 - 12 Sep 2025
Viewed by 490
Abstract
With the increasing number of existing buildings, the implementation of durability-preserving repair procedures is becoming increasingly important. The chemical re-alkalization (CRA) enables the protection of reinforced concrete structures exposed to carbonation by maintaining or restoring the alkalinity in the concrete through the application [...] Read more.
With the increasing number of existing buildings, the implementation of durability-preserving repair procedures is becoming increasingly important. The chemical re-alkalization (CRA) enables the protection of reinforced concrete structures exposed to carbonation by maintaining or restoring the alkalinity in the concrete through the application of an alkaline mortar, such as hybrid alkali-activated binders (HAABs). However, the process of CRA is still insufficiently understood, which means that the requirements for the repair mortars can only be roughly formulated. This paper therefore investigates the process of CRA using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Based on the quantitative results of potassium transport in the composite system, a time-dependent attenuation factor can be determined that allows for the adaptation of Fick’s second law of diffusion previously used to predict CRA. The attenuation factor provides further insight into the course of potassium transport, which, based on the results, never follows an ideal diffusion process. Adjusting the diffusion law allows for an improved prediction of the maximum achievable re-alkalization depth depending on the repair mortar, where a potassium content of, e.g., 2.3 wt% leads to a complete re-alkalization of 16 mm. The present study demonstrates the potential of LIBS to quantitatively represent CRA for the first time thus providing new insights into potassium transport and the dynamics of the process. Full article
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