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Performance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures
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Performance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 5823

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xuanyi Xue

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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Interests: fiber-reinforced polymer; structure analysis; high-performance material; durability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhilu Wang

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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
Interests: structural condition assessment; vehicle–bridge interaction; structural catastrophe assessment; high-performance material
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Neng Wang

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Guest Editor
School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 440044, China
Interests: reinforced concrete structure; impact load; durability; composite structure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fei Wang

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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
Interests: fiber-reinforced polymer; marine engineering materials; material durability; corrosion; sea water concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As is well known, reinforced concrete (RC) structures are widely used in civil engineering. With the increase in service time, the bearing performance of RC structures will be affected by many factors, such as corrosion, fatigue damage, etc. In addition, disasters such as earthquakes and fires can significantly weaken the service performance of RC structures. In order to accurately evaluate the service performance of RC structures, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive research on their durability. At present, many research studies have been carried out to reveal the durability of RC structures under various adverse factors such as high temperature, corrosion, carbonization, fatigue damage, etc. However, as human exploration space gradually expands from land to sea, the harsher service environment has an adverse impact on the durability of RC structures. This Special Issue aims to publish research papers and reviews on the evolution of the service performance and durability of RC structures under the influence of multiple factors.

Dr. Xuanyi Xue
Dr. Zhilu Wang
Dr. Neng Wang
Dr. Fei 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-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

  • durability
  • concrete
  • disaster response
  • high-performance material
  • corrosion

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 21403 KB  
Article
Experimental and 3D Simulation Research on the Mechanical Properties of Cold-Bonded Fly Ash Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Exposed to Different High Temperatures
by Shuai Xu, Pengfei Fu, Yanyan Liu, Ting Huang, Xiuli Wang and Yan Li
Materials 2025, 18(21), 4991; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18214991 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 487
Abstract
Cold-bonded (CB) fly ash aggregate, an eco-friendly material derived from industrial by-products, is used to fully replace natural coarse aggregate in producing lightweight concrete (LWC-CB). This study systematically investigates the post-high-temperature mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of LWC-CB. Specimens exposed to ambient temperature [...] Read more.
Cold-bonded (CB) fly ash aggregate, an eco-friendly material derived from industrial by-products, is used to fully replace natural coarse aggregate in producing lightweight concrete (LWC-CB). This study systematically investigates the post-high-temperature mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of LWC-CB. Specimens exposed to ambient temperature (10 °C) and elevated temperatures (200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C) underwent cubic compression tests, with surface deformation monitored via digital image correlation (DIC). Experimental results indicate that the strength retention of LWC-CB is approximately 6% superior to ordinary concrete below 500 °C, beyond which its performance converges. Damage analysis reveals a transition in failure mode: at ambient temperature, shear failure is governed by the low intrinsic strength of CB aggregates, while after high-temperature exposure, damage localizes within the mortar and the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) due to mortar micro-cracking and thermal mismatch. To elucidate these mechanisms, a three-dimensional mesoscale model was developed and validated, effectively characterizing the internal multiphase structure at room temperature. Furthermore, a homogenization model was established to analyze the macroscopic thermo-mechanical response. The numerical simulations show strong agreement with experimental data, with a maximum deviation of 15% at 10 °C and 3% after high-temperature exposure, confirming the model’s accuracy in capturing the performance evolution of LWC-CB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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16 pages, 4743 KB  
Article
Coarse Aggregate Induced Fiber Dispersion and Its Role in UHPC Mechanics Across Flexural and Compressive Loading
by Chen Shen, Yue Zhang, Jianlin Li, Haonan Zeng, Changhui Yang and Linwen Yu
Materials 2025, 18(20), 4796; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18204796 - 21 Oct 2025
Viewed by 568
Abstract
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) exhibits exceptional mechanical properties and durability but faces challenges such as high heat of hydration and limited stiffness. Incorporation of coarse aggregates offers a potential solution; however, it alters the dispersion of steel fibers, thereby affecting the mechanical performance of [...] Read more.
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) exhibits exceptional mechanical properties and durability but faces challenges such as high heat of hydration and limited stiffness. Incorporation of coarse aggregates offers a potential solution; however, it alters the dispersion of steel fibers, thereby affecting the mechanical performance of UHPC under different loading conditions. This study systematically investigates the influence of coarse aggregates on UHPC performance under different loading conditions, including four-point bending, uniaxial compression, and triaxial compression tests. The spatial distribution of steel fibers was quantitatively analyzed via image analysis to elucidate changes induced by CA incorporation. Results reveal that with 20 vol% coarse aggregate (10 mm), UHPC’s flexural strength is essentially unchanged (≈23 MPa), whereas flexural toughness decreases by about one-third. This toughness loss is linked to a slight increase in the fiber orientation angle (from 48.77° to 48.90°) and reduced continuity, which together weaken crack-bridging. Moreover, both flexural strength and toughness are governed primarily by the local steel-fiber content within the tensile zone. Under triaxial compression, confinement dominates: as confining pressure rises from 0 to 30 MPa, compressive strength increases by approximately 32.6%, 52.6%, and 71.3%. Due to crack-suppression by confinement overlapping with fiber bridging, the contribution of fibers to strength gains decreases with increasing confinement, and the competing and complementary interaction between coarse aggregate and steel fibers correspondingly weakens. These findings clarify the coupled effects of coarse aggregate and fibers in UHPC-CA, guide mix-design optimization for improved mechanical performance, and support broader practical adoption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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32 pages, 17261 KB  
Article
Effect of Basalt Fiber Content on Mechanical Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulant Geopolymer Under Static Loading
by Jianghuai Zhan, Haolan Yi, Neng Wang, Fei Wang, Shuai Li, Jianmin Hua and Xuanyi Xue
Materials 2025, 18(19), 4442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18194442 - 23 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1026
Abstract
In-situ lunar construction technology is critical for future lunar base development, and the production of geopolymers from lunar regolith—a novel cementitious material with concrete-like properties—has become a vital approach for achieving in-situ resource utilization. This study systematically investigated the influence of basalt fiber [...] Read more.
In-situ lunar construction technology is critical for future lunar base development, and the production of geopolymers from lunar regolith—a novel cementitious material with concrete-like properties—has become a vital approach for achieving in-situ resource utilization. This study systematically investigated the influence of basalt fiber content (0–0.4%) on the mechanical properties of lunar regolith simulant geopolymers by controlling key parameters including curing temperature (20 °C and 80 °C), duration (1 d and 7 d), and alkali activator type (strong alkaline solution: a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate, and weak alkaline solution: sodium silicate solution). Through testing of 144 specimens, the results revealed that strong alkali-activated specimens with 0.3% fibers cured at 20 °C for 7 d showed optimal ductility with compressive strength of 2.85 MPa and flexural strength of 0.53 MPa, exhibiting characteristic flat stress-strain curves. Specimens with 0.2% fibers under high-temperature curing at 80 °C for 1 d achieved maximum compressive strength of 44.76 MPa and flexural strength of 1.60 MPa but demonstrated brittle failure behavior. Weak alkali-activated specimens containing 0.1% fibers cured at 80 °C for 7 d attained superior comprehensive performance with peak flexural strength reaching 3.88 MPa, showing excellent fiber-matrix synergy. These findings provide important theoretical foundations for optimizing lunar construction materials through customized fiber reinforcement and curing strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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23 pages, 17087 KB  
Article
Assessment of Premature Failures in Concrete Railway Ties: A Case Study from Brazil
by Eliane Betânia Carvalho Costa, Maria Eduarda Guedes Coutinho, Rondinele Alberto Dos Reis Ferreira, Antonio Carlos Dos Santos and Luciano Oliveira
Materials 2025, 18(13), 2994; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18132994 - 24 Jun 2025
Viewed by 866
Abstract
Prestressed concrete railroad ties are the global standard for railway infrastructure due to their structural stability, durability, and cost-effective maintenance. However, their long-term performance is often compromised by premature deterioration. This study investigates the degradation of prestressed concrete railways ties from a Brazilian [...] Read more.
Prestressed concrete railroad ties are the global standard for railway infrastructure due to their structural stability, durability, and cost-effective maintenance. However, their long-term performance is often compromised by premature deterioration. This study investigates the degradation of prestressed concrete railways ties from a Brazilian rail line after ten years of natural exposure, emphasizing critical implications for infrastructure maintenance. Two groups of ties, separated by 30 km, were analyzed through physical property assessments, petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The results reveal that deterioration was driven by the combined effects of alkali–silica reaction (ASR) and sulfate attack, confirmed by the presence of (N, C)ASH gels, ettringite crystallization, and cryptocrystalline materials within cracks and voids. Prestressing-induced stresses and environmental moisture further accelerated degradation, leading to a 66% reduction in mechanical strength in the T1 group. These findings demonstrate that internal swelling reactions and moisture exposure synergistically accelerate deterioration in prestressed concrete ties, particularly in low-prestress, poorly drained zones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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21 pages, 6284 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Concrete Structural Cracking Behavior Induced by Early Drying Shrinkage
by Mengxi Zhang, Chuntian Lu, Qiaolin Min, Xinyue Wang, Yinpeng He, Genhua Deng and Yixin Wang
Materials 2025, 18(2), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020395 - 16 Jan 2025
Viewed by 2109
Abstract
In this paper, the early drying shrinkage coefficients of different hydraulic cement mortars are calibrated through laboratory experiments for moderate-heat Portland cement (MHPC) and low-heat Portland cement (LHPC). By developing an improved mesoscale modeling approach, a 3D highly detailed simulation of concrete was [...] Read more.
In this paper, the early drying shrinkage coefficients of different hydraulic cement mortars are calibrated through laboratory experiments for moderate-heat Portland cement (MHPC) and low-heat Portland cement (LHPC). By developing an improved mesoscale modeling approach, a 3D highly detailed simulation of concrete was generated, which incorporates the phases of mortar, aggregates, and interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The simulation result is in good agreement with the concrete early drying shrinkage experiment, exhibiting an error of less than 4.99% after 28 days. Subsequently, the mesoscale model is employed to explain the influence of the ambient humidity, cement type, and aggregate volume ratio on the early drying shrinkage performance of concrete. The results show that the early drying shrinkage coefficient of the LHPC is approximately 82% of the MHPC. Additionally, the depth of ambient humidity influence is about 15 mm from the concrete surface after 28 days. The early drying shrinkage can be controlled by increasing ambient humidity via the LHPC or raising the aggregate volume ratio. The mass-loss rate of concrete decreases as the ambient humidity or aggregate volume ratio increases during the process of drying shrinkage. Furthermore, the results quantify the influence patterns of various factors on drying shrinkage, thereby facilitating their application in assessing the cracking time induced by early drying shrinkage in roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dams. This provides theoretical guidance for crack prevention in concrete structures and aids in developing strategies for the construction of crack-free dams. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Performance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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