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Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Constructional Materials: Multiscale Mechanics under Diverse Loadings
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Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Constructional Materials: Multiscale Mechanics under Diverse Loadings

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 1573

Special Issue Editors

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
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,

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.

Dr. Jie Zhang
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 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

  • 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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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 5507 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on the Pore Structure Evolution of Sandstone Under Brine Erosion
by Kang Peng, Tao Wu, Kun Luo, Song Luo, Jiaqi Zhou and Yuanmin Wang
Materials 2025, 18(15), 3500; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153500 - 25 Jul 2025
Viewed by 267
Abstract
The mechanical properties of sandstone, a common building material, are influenced by a variety of factors. In the coastal areas of China, groundwater has gradually become salinized into brine, which inevitably alters the original microstructure of rocks and affects the stability of underground [...] Read more.
The mechanical properties of sandstone, a common building material, are influenced by a variety of factors. In the coastal areas of China, groundwater has gradually become salinized into brine, which inevitably alters the original microstructure of rocks and affects the stability of underground structures. To clarify the evolution of the rock microstructure under brine erosion, this study used NMR technology to investigate the pore evolution characteristics of red sandstone under brine erosion. The experimental results show that the water absorption capacity of sandstone is influenced by the solution environment, with the lowest absorption rate occurring in regard to brine. The pores in red sandstone undergo significant changes after brine erosion. Factors such as the composition of the brine and soaking time affect sandstone porosity, with transformations of mini-pores and meso-pores leading to changes in porosity. In addition, XRD tests were carried out on the soaked red sandstone samples to analyze the changes in the main mineral components of the sandstone after brine erosion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Constructional Materials: Multiscale Mechanics under Diverse Loadings)
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33 pages, 31118 KiB  
Article
Crack Propagation of Ceramsite Lightweight Concrete Under Four-Point Bending Fatigue Conditions
by Kangqing Yang, Shenghan Zhuang, Yongjun Wang, Jiashu Li, Shuo Zhou and Jiaolong Ren
Materials 2025, 18(13), 2957; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18132957 - 22 Jun 2025
Viewed by 393
Abstract
The examination of crack propagation in concrete under fatigue conditions is crucial for comprehending the mechanisms of concrete fatigue failure. Variations in aggregate types result in notable differences in the fatigue crack propagation characteristics of lightweight concrete compared to ordinary concrete. Consequently, this [...] Read more.
The examination of crack propagation in concrete under fatigue conditions is crucial for comprehending the mechanisms of concrete fatigue failure. Variations in aggregate types result in notable differences in the fatigue crack propagation characteristics of lightweight concrete compared to ordinary concrete. Consequently, this research focused on analyzing the locations and angles of cracks in ceramsite lightweight concrete subjected to four-point bending fatigue conditions, while accounting for different levels of fatigue loading (i.e., stress levels). Furthermore, the study aimed to clarify the influence of ceramsite size and content on the fatigue crack propagation behavior in ceramsite lightweight concrete. The results indicated that an increase in the replacement rate of 5–10 mm and 10–20 mm ceramsite led to the highest probability of fatigue cracks occurring within the range of 15–45 mm from the specimen center, reaching 41.2% and 44.7%, respectively. The crack angle exhibited an increase corresponding to an increase in the content of 5–10 mm ceramsite, with the maximum average crack angle attaining a value of 86.5°. Conversely, a decrease in the content of 10–20 mm ceramsite resulted in a reduction in the crack angle. However, 20–30 mm ceramsite did not have a significant effect on the characteristics of fatigue cracks. The level of stress predominantly influenced the path of crack propagation. At stress levels of 0.55, 0.65, and 0.75, the highest proportions of crack angles fell within the range of 75° to 80°, with values of 47.1%, 43.8%, and 53.3%, respectively. Furthermore, an increase in stress levels did not affect the location of the cracks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Constructional Materials: Multiscale Mechanics under Diverse Loadings)
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18 pages, 2648 KiB  
Article
Fundamental Properties of Expanded Perlite Aggregated Foamed Concrete with Different Supplementary Cementitious Materials
by Kaixing Fan, Jie Wei and Chengdong Feng
Materials 2025, 18(12), 2671; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18122671 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 564
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) on the material performance of foamed concrete containing lightweight coarse aggregates, namely hydrophobically modified expanded perlite (EP). The EP aggregates were treated with a sodium methyl silicate solution to impart water-repellent properties prior [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effects of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) on the material performance of foamed concrete containing lightweight coarse aggregates, namely hydrophobically modified expanded perlite (EP). The EP aggregates were treated with a sodium methyl silicate solution to impart water-repellent properties prior to being incorporated into the foamed concrete mixtures. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was partially replaced with various SCMs, namely, silica fume (SF), mineral powder (MP), and metakaolin (MK) at substitution levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%. Key indicators to evaluate the material performance of foamed concrete included 28-day uniaxial compressive strength, thermal conductivity, mass loss rate under thermal cycling, volumetric water absorption, and shrinkage. The results noted that all three SCMs improved the uniaxial compressive strength of foamed concrete, with MP achieving the greatest improvement, approximately 97% at the 9% replacement level. Thermal conductivity increased slightly with the addition of SF or MP but decreased with MK, highlighting the superior insulation capability of MK. Both SF and MK reduced the mass loss rate under thermal cycling, with SF exhibiting the highest thermal stability. Furthermore, MK was most effective in minimizing water absorption and shrinkage, attributed to its high pozzolanic reactivity and the resulting refinement of the microstructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cement-Based/Non-Cement-Based Constructional Materials: Multiscale Mechanics under Diverse Loadings)
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