Microstructure Evolution, Mechanical Performance and Durability of Concrete and Cementitious Composites

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete and cementitious composites are the cornerstone of modern infrastructure, where microstructure evolution directly governs mechanical performance and durability. With the rapid advancement of green building materials, high-performance concrete, and 3D printing technologies, a deep understanding of the multi-scale linkage between microstructural features (e.g., hydration product morphology, pore structure, interfacial transition zone) and macroscopic responses has become critical for extending service life and enhancing sustainability. This Special Issue focuses on the synergistic regulation of microstructure, mechanical behavior, and durability, aiming to foster innovations from mechanism discovery and performance prediction to engineering applications. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews covering advanced characterization techniques, multi-scale modeling, novel cementitious systems, self-healing mechanisms, and adaptability to extreme environments.

Call for papers (topics include but are not limited to the following):

• Hydration process and dynamic microstructure evolution of cementitious materials.
• Micromechanical modeling and multi-scale prediction of mechanical performance.
• Durability aspects (chloride ingress, carbonation, freeze–thaw, alkali–silica reaction, sulfate attack, etc.).
• Supplementary cementitious materials (slag, fly ash, silica fume, limestone powder) and low-carbon cements.
• Fiber-reinforced, polymer-modified, and nano-modified cementitious composites.
• Microstructure–performance relationships of 3D-printed cementitious materials.
• Self-healing and self-sensing functional cementitious composites.
• Advanced micro/nano characterization techniques (XCT, SEM/EBSD, NMR, nanoindentation, etc.).
• Multi-scale/multi-physics numerical simulation and life-prediction models.
• Microstructure evolution and performance under extreme environments (high temperature, high pressure, deep sea, nuclear radiation, etc.).

Dr. Sufen Dong
Dr. Zhen Li
Guest Editors

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