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Construction Materials and Other Related Materials: Basic Theory, Applied Technology and Advanced Research Methods (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 5764

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Youliang Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Interests: rock mass characterization and classification; geomechanical laboratory testing; environmental geotechnics; coupled hydro-thermomechanical FE modeling of geomaterials; nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Rafig Azzam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 52056 Aachen, Germany
Interests: remedeation and management of brownfields; risk prognosis; environmental geotechnics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Tomas Manuel Fernandez-Steeger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fachgebiet Ingenieurgeologie, Technische Universität Berlin, sec. BH 3-1, Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1, 10587 Berlin, Germany
Interests: geohazards (landslides and earthquakes); geomonitoring with wireless sensor networks (WSN); virtual outcrop models and joint analysis with LiDAR and SFM; geodata science and data mining; clay mineralogy and geotechnical properties of soils
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Bin Peng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Interests: computer simulation of engineering structures; performance evaluation; repair of existing structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of science and technology has led to the crossover and diversification of disciplines, which in turn have promoted the fabrication of new technologies and techniques to produce construction materials. The research on construction materials primarily focuses on high-tech development based on the theoretical and applied principles of mechanics and related disciplines, allowing us to better solve engineering problems and refine novel ideas, principles, and methods with multidisciplinary characteristics. The study of the mechanical properties of construction materials has been cross-developed with modern engineering science and technology,  which forms the basis of aviation and aerospace, machinery, automation technology, materials and processing, and biomedical materials science, with broad complexity and diversity, reflecting its interdisciplinary development nature as well as its fundamental role in solving major engineering and technology problems.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish original and applied experimental, theoretical and computational research as well as case studies that contribute to the understanding of basic theory, applied technology and advanced research methods of construction and other related materials. This initiative is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51978401) and Natural Science Foundation Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (23ZR1443600).

We cordially invite you to submit your manuscripts to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Youliang Chen
Prof. Dr. Rafig Azzam
Prof. Dr. Tomas Manuel Fernandez-Steeger
Prof. Dr. Bin Peng
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. Materials 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

  • multifunctional materials
  • soil
  • concrete
  • rock
  • applications
  • biomedical materials
  • metal materials

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 4542 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Potential of Lateritic Clayey Soils for Road Infrastructure in Tropical Regions
by Antônio Carlos Rodrigues Guimarães, Albeds Mesquita Povuação, Gabriel de Carvalho Nascimento, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Lisley Madeira Coelho
Materials 2025, 18(8), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18081804 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 293
Abstract
Lateritic soils, characterized by complex mineralogy, a high degree of weathering, and a distinctive structure, are widely distributed in tropical regions. However, their use in pavement layers is often restricted due to conservative soil classification methods that may not fully represent their mechanical [...] Read more.
Lateritic soils, characterized by complex mineralogy, a high degree of weathering, and a distinctive structure, are widely distributed in tropical regions. However, their use in pavement layers is often restricted due to conservative soil classification methods that may not fully represent their mechanical potential. This study evaluates the geotechnical behavior of a lateritic clay from a small town in São Paulo, referred to in this article as Purple Clay, with a focus on its permanent deformation (PD) and resilient modulus (RM). Repeated load triaxial tests, along with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), were conducted to assess the soil’s mechanical response and microscopic structure. The results indicated that the high concentration of iron oxides contributed to increased cohesion and mechanical strength. When compacted at intermediate Proctor energy, the Purple Clay exhibited RM values comparable to some granular materials reported in the literature, highlighting its potential for pavement applications. However, under higher stress levels, PD was up to 42% greater than that of reference materials, emphasizing the influence of loading conditions on its behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials and Other Related Materials: Basic Theory, Applied Technology and Advanced Research Methods (2nd Edition))
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17 pages, 3806 KiB  
Article
Innovative Machine Learning Approaches for Predicting the Asphalt Content During Marshall Design of Asphalt Mixtures
by Mutahar Al-Ammari, Ruikun Dong, Mohammed Nasser and Abdullah Al-Maswari
Materials 2025, 18(7), 1474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071474 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1095
Abstract
A flexible pavement with a proper Marshall mix design is essential for ensuring driving longevity, safety, and comfort. The increasing labor demands, costs, and time consumption for evaluating the Marshall mix design properties are due to extensive sample preparation, testing procedures, and material [...] Read more.
A flexible pavement with a proper Marshall mix design is essential for ensuring driving longevity, safety, and comfort. The increasing labor demands, costs, and time consumption for evaluating the Marshall mix design properties are due to extensive sample preparation, testing procedures, and material requirements. Consequently, this study aims to compare the conventional method of calculating the optimum asphalt content in Marshall mix design with machine learning approaches. This study focused on identifying the optimal asphalt content through the use of advanced machine learning methods, aiming to improve the accuracy of predicting the performance of asphalt mixtures. Therefore, this research investigates the application of various machine learning-based regression techniques to predict the properties of asphalt mixtures, focusing on evaluating their effectiveness in modeling this complex relationship. The main properties of interest include the Marshall stability, flow, VMA, VFA, and unit weight, all of which adhere to the Marshall mix design. A substantial database comprising 60 datasets was curated to aid in the development of these predictive models. Two stages were carried out in this research. The first stage was focused on determining the ideal asphalt content through conventional techniques, while the second stage involved comparing various algorithms to improve the prediction capabilities for asphalt pavement performance. At the end of the study, the comparisons of the various algorithms for the asphalt mixture parameters revealed that the neural network model outperformed all the others, achieving the highest accuracy based on R2 and MSE values. This highlights the neural network’s effectiveness in capturing the complexities of asphalt mixtures and its superior predictive capabilities compared to conventional methods, emphasizing its advantages in enhancing accuracy and reliability in asphalt mixture analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials and Other Related Materials: Basic Theory, Applied Technology and Advanced Research Methods (2nd Edition))
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22 pages, 11451 KiB  
Article
In Situ Experimental Analysis and Performance Evaluation of Airport Precast Concrete Pavement System Subjected to Environmental and Moving Airplane Loads
by Yoo Bong Kim and Seong-Min Kim
Materials 2024, 17(21), 5316; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17215316 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 805
Abstract
The behavior of airport precast concrete pavement (APCP) involving new design and construction concepts was experimentally analyzed under environmental and moving airplane loads, and the long-term performance of the APCP was evaluated using fatigue failure analysis. The strain characteristics and curling behavior of [...] Read more.
The behavior of airport precast concrete pavement (APCP) involving new design and construction concepts was experimentally analyzed under environmental and moving airplane loads, and the long-term performance of the APCP was evaluated using fatigue failure analysis. The strain characteristics and curling behavior of the APCP under environmental loads were comprehensively analyzed. The APCP slabs exhibited a pronounced curling phenomenon similar to conventional concrete pavement slabs. The dynamic response of the APCP subjected to impact loads was analyzed by performing heavy weight deflectometer tests. The test results confirmed that the vertical deformation of the APCP was small and within the typical range of vertical deformation of conventional concrete pavement. The dynamic strain response of the APCP under moving airplane loads was then analyzed and the strain variation during day and night times was compared. The strains during the day were found to be significantly larger than those at night under airplane loads because of the curling phenomenon of the APCP slabs. Finally, the long-term performance of the APCP was evaluated using fatigue failure analysis based on the obtained behavior. Even using the most conservative fatigue failure prediction model, the service life of the APCP was ascertained to be more than 30 years. Based on the overall results of this study, it is concluded that the APCP, which is designed to reduce slab thickness by placing reinforcing bars in the slabs via reinforced concrete structural design, exhibits typical behavior of concrete pavements and can be successfully applied to airport pavement rehabilitation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials and Other Related Materials: Basic Theory, Applied Technology and Advanced Research Methods (2nd Edition))
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20 pages, 6074 KiB  
Article
Experimental Evaluation of Compressive Properties of Early-Age Mortar and Concrete Hollow-Block Masonry Prisms within Construction Stages
by Ali Abasi, Bennett Banting and Ayan Sadhu
Materials 2024, 17(16), 3970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17163970 - 9 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1430
Abstract
Early-age masonry structures require temporary support until they achieve full strength. Nevertheless, there is a limited understanding of the properties of freshly laid masonry and the design of newly constructed, unsupported masonry walls. This situation has led to numerous instances of structural damage [...] Read more.
Early-age masonry structures require temporary support until they achieve full strength. Nevertheless, there is a limited understanding of the properties of freshly laid masonry and the design of newly constructed, unsupported masonry walls. This situation has led to numerous instances of structural damage and injuries to workers, prompting conservative construction bracing techniques. This paper presents comprehensive experimental studies on early-age mortar cubes and masonry prisms to assess the effects of curing time on the compressive properties of masonry assemblies, which is necessary for the design of temporary bracing. The change in modulus of elasticity and compressive strength of masonry prisms and mortar with curing time has been experimentally assessed. The results indicate that the compressive strength of freshly cast mortar cubes is relatively insignificant until approximately 24 h after construction, when it was observed to increase logarithmically. Regarding the performance perspective, the compressive strength of early-age masonry prisms is inconsiderable, less than 15% of full strength during the first day after construction. By contrast, regarding the life safety perspective, the compressive properties of a mortar joint within a masonry assembly (which is of more practical interest) appear to have no effect on the failure strength of concrete masonry prisms over the range of ages tested. The failure modes of the early-age mortar cubes and early-age masonry prism samples depend on the curing time, and different failure modes occurred before and after the start of the primary hydration phase, which is 20.8 h after construction. It is anticipated that the proposed research will provide valuable material properties leading to efficient design of control devices (e.g., temporary bracing) and improved guidelines for concrete-block masonry construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials and Other Related Materials: Basic Theory, Applied Technology and Advanced Research Methods (2nd Edition))
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37 pages, 11435 KiB  
Article
Assessing Mechanical Properties and Response of Expansive Soft Rock in Tunnel Excavation: A Numerical Simulation Study
by Hao Ma, Youliang Chen, Lixin Chang, Xi Du, Tomas Manuel Fernandez-Steeger, Dongpeng Wu, Rafig Azzam and Yi Li
Materials 2024, 17(8), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081747 - 11 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1359
Abstract
This study investigates the dynamics of moisture absorption and swelling in soft rock during tunnel excavation, emphasizing the response to support resistance. Utilizing COMSOL numerical simulations, we conduct a comparative analysis of various strength criteria and non-associated flow rules. The results demonstrate that [...] Read more.
This study investigates the dynamics of moisture absorption and swelling in soft rock during tunnel excavation, emphasizing the response to support resistance. Utilizing COMSOL numerical simulations, we conduct a comparative analysis of various strength criteria and non-associated flow rules. The results demonstrate that the Mohr–Coulomb criterion combined with the Drucker–Prager model under compressive loads imposes stricter limitations on water absorption and expansion than when paired with the Drucker–Prager model under tensile loads. Restricted rock expansion leads to decreased horizontal displacement and ground uplift, increased displacement in the tunnel’s bottom arch, and significantly reduced displacement in the top arch. The study also considers the effects of shear dilation, burial depth, and support resistance on the stress and displacement of the surrounding rock. Increased shear dilation angles correlate with greater rock expansion, resulting in increased horizontal displacement and ground uplift. The research study concludes that support resistance is critical in limiting the movement of the tunnel’s bottom arch and impacting the stability of the surrounding rock. Additionally, the extent of rock damage during the excavation of expansive soft rock tunnels is found to be minimal. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the processes of soft rock tunnel excavation and contributes to the development of more efficient support systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials and Other Related Materials: Basic Theory, Applied Technology and Advanced Research Methods (2nd Edition))
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