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Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Construction Materials: Multiscale Mechanics Under Diverse Loadings (Second Edition)
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Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Construction Materials: Multiscale Mechanics Under Diverse Loadings (Second Edition)

A Special Issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944) belonging to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 1429

Editors

Prof. Dr. Jie Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
Interests: rock-filled concrete; green concrete; 3D-printed concrete; multi-scale modeling; explosion; projectile impact; finite element method; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Fengling Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China
Interests: ultra-high performance concrete; 3D-printed concrete; projectile impact; explosion; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jian Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
Interests: high performance and 3D printed high performance concrete, steel, ceramic and composite structures against explosion, impact and projectile penetration; finite element/meshfree numerical simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zhiyong Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
Interests: damage and fractures; impact; numerical methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The success of our previous edition of the Special Issue “Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Constructional Materials: Multiscale Mechanics Under Diverse Loadings” has encouraged us to create a second Special Issue under the same title that will further present state-of-the-art advances in the multiscale mechanical behavior of cement-based and non-cement-based construction materials.

Recent advances in materials science and structural engineering have underscored the critical importance of understanding the multiscale mechanical behavior of cement-based and non-cement-based construction materials under various strain rates. From nanoscale hydration products to macroscale structural elements, the mechanical response of construction material systems is inherently influenced by both internal heterogeneities and external loading rates.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the characterization, modeling, and performance evaluation of cement-based and non-cement-based construction materials across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, multiscale modeling, experimental mechanics, rate-dependent behavior, energy dissipation mechanisms, machine learning-based predictions, and novel simulation strategies. Contributions that integrate experimental and computational approaches or those that propose innovative methodologies for investigating strain rate effects in complex material systems are especially encouraged.

This collection provides a platform for researchers to share insights that enhance the design and analysis of high-performance construction materials under dynamic and extreme loading conditions.

Prof. Dr. Jie Zhang
Prof. Dr. Fengling Zhang
Dr. Jian Liu
Prof. Dr. Zhiyong Wang
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. 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

  • cement-based materials
  • non-cement-based materials
  • multiscale modeling
  • strain rate effects
  • dynamic mechanical behavior
  • damage and fracture mechanisms
  • composite structures
  • experimental testing
  • simulation method
  • machine learning

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3832 KB  
Article
Age-Dependent Evolution and Synergistic Damping Mechanisms of XSBRL–Rubber-Modified Cementitious Composites
by Jiyang Wang, Shuyu Lin, Qiuyan Jiang, Yu Peng, Jingwen Shi, Junxia Li and Bo Zhang
Materials 2026, 19(15), 3327; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19153327 - 5 Aug 2026
Viewed by 315
Abstract
Incorporating viscoelastic inclusions enhances the damping capacity of cementitious composites, but is often hindered by strength degradation and weak interfacial bonding. This study addresses this trade-off by investigating the synergistic modification of a cement matrix using carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber latex (XSBRL) and chlorinated [...] Read more.
Incorporating viscoelastic inclusions enhances the damping capacity of cementitious composites, but is often hindered by strength degradation and weak interfacial bonding. This study addresses this trade-off by investigating the synergistic modification of a cement matrix using carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber latex (XSBRL) and chlorinated rubber (CR) powder, focusing on the age-dependent evolution of their joint energy-dissipation mechanisms. Macroscopic mechanical and microscopic test results reveal a pronounced synergy between latex and rubber powder, governed by possible interfacial interaction. The XSBRL film formed during hydration improves the compatibility between chlorinated rubber and the cement matrix, while its active groups further strengthen the bonding with hydration products. This interfacial coupling transforms the conventionally brittle transition zone into a ductile, high-friction network that maximizes dynamic stress transfer. Moreover, the temporal evolution of damping is governed by the competitive kinetics between cement hydration and polymer-film coalescence, shifting from early-age restructuring (7 to 14 days) to late-stage stabilization (28 days). To balance mechanical and dynamic properties, a recommended formulation of 10% XSBRL and 10% chlorinated rubber is established. This work provides a reference for clarifying the structure–property relationship of high-damping cementitious composites and for optimizing their mix designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Construction Materials: Multiscale Mechanics Under Diverse Loadings (Second Edition))
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16 pages, 3114 KB  
Article
Strength Criteria for Cement-Treated Large-Size Macadam Base to Control Fatigue Failure
by Hongjiang Zhang, Di Wu, Xiangyu Li, Yao Yang, Jinpeng Du, Yingjun Jiang and Jinshun Xue
Materials 2026, 19(13), 2805; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19132805 - 1 Jul 2026
Viewed by 393
Abstract
With a low cement dosage and a well-formed skeleton-dense structure, super-large-particle-size cement-stabilized macadam (CTB-50, maximum particle size of 53 mm) can effectively reduce base course cracking and construction costs. Nevertheless, the existing literature lacks research on the strength design criteria for CTB-50, and [...] Read more.
With a low cement dosage and a well-formed skeleton-dense structure, super-large-particle-size cement-stabilized macadam (CTB-50, maximum particle size of 53 mm) can effectively reduce base course cracking and construction costs. Nevertheless, the existing literature lacks research on the strength design criteria for CTB-50, and the absence of dedicated strength specifications currently limits its practical application. This study investigates the mechanical properties of CTB-50 and the stress levels in the (sub)base course under construction vehicle loading, based on the vertical vibration compaction method (VCM) and Miner’s fatigue cumulative theory. Aiming to prevent ultimate failure under a single load during construction and fatigue failure under repeated loading during both construction and operation, this study proposes strength criteria for CTB-50 to control fatigue damage. The 7-day compressive strength of CTB-50 specimens prepared using the VCM is approximately 90% of that of field core samples, whereas that obtained using the static-pressing method is less than 70% of the field core sample value. The mechanical strengths of CTB-50 specimens prepared via the VCM are highly correlated with those of on-site core samples. Based on the strength criteria for controlling ultimate failure during construction and fatigue failure during service, this paper proposes strength criteria for controlling the fatigue failure of CTB-50. Specifically, the 7-day splitting and compressive strengths of the base course for expressways and first-class highways should exceed 0.77 MPa and 7.6 MPa, respectively, while those of the sub-base course should exceed 0.71 MPa and 7.0 MPa, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Construction Materials: Multiscale Mechanics Under Diverse Loadings (Second Edition))
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23 pages, 4985 KB  
Article
Engineering Performance of Expansive Soil Stabilized with Cement and Montmorillonite Adsorption Modifier
by Aiping Chen, Yong Cao, Wei Qi, Lihong Shu, Feiyang Liu, Ge Yang, Jianbiao Du and Tengfei Wang
Materials 2026, 19(12), 2522; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19122522 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 373
Abstract
To enhance the strength and water stability of stabilized expansive soil, this study investigates the use of cement, montmorillonite adsorption modifier (MAM), and their composite system. Laboratory tests evaluated compaction characteristics, swell–shrink behavior, and mechanical performance. The results show that MAM more effectively [...] Read more.
To enhance the strength and water stability of stabilized expansive soil, this study investigates the use of cement, montmorillonite adsorption modifier (MAM), and their composite system. Laboratory tests evaluated compaction characteristics, swell–shrink behavior, and mechanical performance. The results show that MAM more effectively regulates compaction by reducing optimum water content and increasing maximum dry density; 6% MAM increases maximum dry density by ≈0.04 g/cm3 and reduces optimum water content by ≈2%. In terms of swell–shrink behavior, MAM reduces both swelling and linear shrinkage more effectively than cement. The incorporation of 5% MAM reduces the free swelling ratio by 40% and the equilibrium moisture absorption by 2.7%, lowering the swelling classification to non-expansive. Furthermore, 5% MAM decreases the unloaded and loaded swelling ratio by 14.7% and 5%, respectively, while increasing MAM from 2% to 6% further reduces linear shrinkage by 1.12%. Cement significantly enhances compressive strength, with 7–28 d values reaching 2.2–2.7 times those of untreated soil at 9% content; however, its water stability under wet–dry cycles is limited. In contrast, the cement–MAM composite system achieves balanced improvement by simultaneously suppressing swelling and enhancing both strength and water stability. These findings provide a reference for the treatment and engineering application of expansive soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Construction Materials: Multiscale Mechanics Under Diverse Loadings (Second Edition))
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