Cement-Based Concrete and Slurry: Surface Modification and Functional Optimization for Rock Engineering

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid global development of deep underground engineering, tunnel construction, and geotechnical disaster prevention, the stability control of fractured rock masses has become a core challenge restricting the safety and long-term service performance of underground projects. Cement-based concrete and grouting materials are the most widely used functional reinforcement materials in rock engineering, and their surface interface characteristics, adhesion performance, and mechanical durability directly determine the reinforcement effect of fractured rock masses and the overall stability of engineering structures. At present, traditional ordinary cement-based materials suffer from prominent defects such as poor interface bonding with rock mass, low toughness, easy cracking, and poor erosion resistance, which cannot adapt to the complex and harsh service environments of deep high-stress and fractured rock masses. In this context, surface modification and interface functionalization of cement-based concrete and grouting stone bodies have become cutting-edge and effective technical approaches to overcome the performance bottlenecks of geotechnical engineering materials, which is highly consistent with the core research scope of Coatings in surface interface modification, functional coating optimization, and interface adhesion regulation.

This research direction presents significant academic value and engineering practical significance. Academically, it expands the application boundary of surface and interface functional modification technology from traditional coating materials to geotechnical cement-based composite materials, enriching the theoretical system of interface adsorption, bonding and functionalization of heterogeneous materials. Practically, the optimized modified cement-based grouting and concrete materials can effectively improve the crack resistance, bonding strength and durability of fractured rock mass reinforcement structures, solve the common problems of failure and instability of underground engineering support and grouting reinforcement, and provide reliable technical support for safe, efficient and sustainable construction in geotechnical engineering. Driven by the global demand for deep earth resource development and underground space utilization, research on surface functional modification of geotechnical cement-based materials is extremely relevant, and has broad development prospects and engineering application value.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to surface modification, interface functional optimization, and performance improvement of cement-based concrete and grouting materials for fractured rock mass engineering. We welcome contributions addressing material modification mechanisms, mechanical performance evolution, interface interaction laws, and engineering application verification of functional cement-based geotechnical materials, covering both fundamental theoretical research and innovative engineering technical exploration.

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

• Surface functional modification and performance regulation of novel modified cement grouting materials;
• Interface adhesion mechanism and functionalization technology between cement-based grouting materials and fractured rock masses;
• Mechanical property evolution, fracture failure mechanism and toughness optimization of concrete and grout stone composites;
• Preparation, characterization and surface interface performance evaluation of new environmentally friendly and high-performance grouting materials;
• Durability improvement and anti-erosion surface modification technology of underground engineering concrete materials;
• Theoretical and computational modeling of surface interface failure and reinforcement mechanism of cement-based rock reinforcement materials;
• Experimental research and engineering applications of grouting reinforcement and support technology for complex fractured rock masses.

Dr. Yue Wu
Dr. Shuai Zhang
Dr. Yinge Zhu
Prof. Dr. Weiguo Qiao
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.

• concrete and cement slurry
• building materials
• fractured rock reinforcement
• surface modification and functional optimization