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New Advances in Cement and Concrete Research2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2025) | Viewed by 6819

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
Interests: ultrasound; durability of concrete; material characterization; sonochemistry; composites
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

While a variety of chemical and mechanical phenomena in cement-based materials has been revealed, there are still challenges around sustainability and resilience. The aim of this Special Issues is to gather recent scientific progress on cement and concrete, particularly dedicated to cutting-edge techniques used for cement and concrete research that unveil new phenomena in those materials and possibly accommodate sustainability and extension of the service life of concrete structures. Specifically, this Special Issue encompasses experimental studies at the crossroads between chemistry, materials science and engineering, biology, and applied physics. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following: durability, material characterization, alkali-activated materials, UHPC, internal curing, cement–carbon nanocomposites, CO2 sequestration, and sustainability. Furthermore, to compile comprehensive documentation, other potential studies on engineered cement and concrete, numerical studies, and sensing techniques for damage quantification are welcomed for publication in this Special Issue.

The 1st Edition has published 12 papers. We kindly invite you to submit a manuscript(s) for this Special Issue. Original research articles, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Gun Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • durability
  • material characterization
  • alkali-activated materials
  • UHPC
  • internal curing
  • cement–carbon nanocomposites
  • CO2 sequestration
  • sustainability
  • sensing techniques
  • nondestructive testing
  • machine-learning application to material characterization

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 7038 KiB  
Article
Activation of Polypropylene (PP) Fiber Surface with 1-Vinyl-1,2,4-triazole and Vinyl Acetate: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application in Cementitious Systems
by Yahya Kaya, Petek Balcı, Süleyman Özen, Ali Mardani and Ali Kara
Materials 2025, 18(5), 1071; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18051071 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 520
Abstract
Recently, the potential of recycled materials to improve the performance of concrete and other building materials has become an important research topic. It is known that various methods are applied to improve the tensile strength and energy absorption capacity of cementitious systems. One [...] Read more.
Recently, the potential of recycled materials to improve the performance of concrete and other building materials has become an important research topic. It is known that various methods are applied to improve the tensile strength and energy absorption capacity of cementitious systems. One of the most common of these methods is the addition of fibers to the mixture. In this study, the effects of surface-modified polypropylene (PP) fibers obtained from recycled masks on the mechanical properties of mortar mixtures were investigated. In order to improve the matrix–fiber interface performance, 6 mm and 12 mm long recycled PP fibers were chemically coated within the scope of surface modification using 1-Vinyl-1,2,4-Triazole and Vinyl Acetate. With this modification made on the surface of PP fibers, we aimed to increase the surface roughness of the fibers and improve their adhesion to the matrix. Thus, we aimed to increase the mechanical properties of mortar mixtures as a result of the fibers performing more effectively in the concrete matrix. FTIR AND SEM-EDS analyses confirmed the success of the modification and the applicability of 1-Vinyl-1,2,4-Triazole and Vinyl Acetate to the fiber surface and showed that the fibers were successfully modified. It is seen that the fibers modified with Vinyl Acetate exhibit superior performance in terms of both the workability and strength performance of cementitious systems compared to the fibers modified with 1-Vinyl-1,2,4-Triazole. This study provides a significant contribution to sustainable construction materials by revealing the potential of using recycled materials in cementitious systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Cement and Concrete Research2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 12056 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Quasi-Static and Dynamic Behavior of Silicate Materials
by Tomasz Jankowiak, Jakub Rafał Ossowski, Alexis Rusinek and Slim Bahi
Materials 2024, 17(23), 5840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235840 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 610
Abstract
This study investigated both the static and dynamic behavior of silicate materials through a series of experimental and numerical tests. Compression tests were conducted on cubic samples, three-point bending tests on beams, and perforation tests on silicate plates. In the compression tests, stress–strain [...] Read more.
This study investigated both the static and dynamic behavior of silicate materials through a series of experimental and numerical tests. Compression tests were conducted on cubic samples, three-point bending tests on beams, and perforation tests on silicate plates. In the compression tests, stress–strain curves were generated, enabling the calibration of the Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model for silicate materials. The tensile strength of the silicate was assessed using three-point bending tests, while dynamic perforation tests determined the impact resistance of silicate when subjected to a rigid projectile. The perforation tests provided insight into the failure mechanisms of silicate plates under projectile impact at velocities approaching the ballistic limit. Additionally, the numerical simulations for all the experimental tests were performed using the Abaqus software in order to validate the accuracy of the material behavior model and confirm the appropriateness of the calibrated parameters for the chosen model. The results showed a strong qualitative and quantitative correlation with the experimental data, demonstrating the robustness of the adopted approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Cement and Concrete Research2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 2697 KiB  
Article
Effect of Variations in Aggregate Ratios on the Fresh, Hardened, and Durability Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete
by Yahya Kaya, Hatice Elif Beytekin and Ali Mardani
Materials 2024, 17(22), 5639; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17225639 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1107
Abstract
Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a type of concrete that can be poured into complex geometries and dense reinforcement areas without the need for mechanical vibration, exhibiting excellent segregation resistance and flowability. Its adoption in the construction industry has surged in recent years due [...] Read more.
Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a type of concrete that can be poured into complex geometries and dense reinforcement areas without the need for mechanical vibration, exhibiting excellent segregation resistance and flowability. Its adoption in the construction industry has surged in recent years due to its environmental, technical, and economic advantages, including reduced construction time and minimized occupational hazards. The performance of SCC is significantly influenced by the properties of the aggregates used. This study investigates the effects of variations in the coarse-to-fine aggregate ratio and water/binder (w/b) ratio on the fresh, hardened, and durability properties of SCC. A total of eight different SCC mixtures were prepared, utilizing two distinct s/b ratios and four varying fine-to-coarse aggregate ratios. The results indicated that increasing the s/b ratio enhanced fresh state performance but adversely affected mechanical strength and shrinkage behavior. Furthermore, the need for admixture and flow times improved with increasing coarse aggregate content, attributed to the reduction in cohesiveness and viscosity. However, this change did not significantly impact mechanical properties, while high-temperature resistance and shrinkage exhibited an upward trend. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Cement and Concrete Research2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 3910 KiB  
Article
Feasibility Study of Pervious Concrete with Ceramsite as Aggregate Considering Mechanical Properties, Permeability, and Durability
by Shan Gao, Kainan Huang, Wenchao Chu and Wensheng Wang
Materials 2023, 16(14), 5127; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16145127 - 20 Jul 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2202
Abstract
Concrete with light weight and pervious performance has been widely recognized as an effective and sustainable solution for reducing the negative impacts of urbanization on the environment, as it plays a positive role in urban road drainage, alleviating the urban heat island effect [...] Read more.
Concrete with light weight and pervious performance has been widely recognized as an effective and sustainable solution for reducing the negative impacts of urbanization on the environment, as it plays a positive role in urban road drainage, alleviating the urban heat island effect and thermal insulation, as well as seismic performance, etc. This research paper presents a feasibility study of pervious concrete preparation with ceramsite as aggregate. First, pervious concrete specimens with different types of aggregates at various water–cement ratios were prepared, and the mechanical properties of pervious concrete specimens were evaluated based on the compressive strength test. Then, the permeability properties of the pervious concrete specimens with different types of aggregates at various water–cement ratios were characterized. Meanwhile, statistical analysis and regression fitting were conducted. Finally, the analysis of the freeze–thaw durability of pervious concrete specimens with ceramsite as aggregate according to indexes including quality loss rate and strength loss rate was performed. The results show that as the water–cement ratio increased, the compressive strength and permeability coefficient of pervious concrete generally decreased. Compressive strength and permeability coefficient showed a great correlation with the water–cement ratio; the R2 values of the models were around 0.94 and 0.9, showing good regression. Compressive strength was mainly provided by the strength of the aggregates, with high-strength clay ceramsite having the highest 28-day compressive strength value, followed by ordinary crushed-stone aggregates and lightweight ceramsite. Porosity was mainly influenced by the particle size and shape of the aggregates. Lightweight ceramsite had the highest permeability coefficient among different types of cement-bound aggregates, followed by high-strength clay ceramsite and ordinary crushed-stone aggregates. The quality and compressive strength of pervious concrete specimens decreased with the increase in freeze–thaw cycles; the quality loss was 1.52%, and the compressive strength loss rate was 6.84% after 25 freeze–thaw cycles. Quadratic polynomial regression analysis was used to quantify the relationship of durability and freeze–thaw cycles, with R2 of around 0.98. The results provide valuable insights into the potential applications and benefits of using ceramsite as an aggregate material in pervious concrete for more sustainable and durable infrastructure projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Cement and Concrete Research2nd Edition)
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Review

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14 pages, 861 KiB  
Review
Modeling of Concrete Deterioration under External Sulfate Attack and Drying–Wetting Cycles: A Review
by Shanshan Qin, Chuyu Chen and Ming Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(13), 3334; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133334 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1405
Abstract
This paper comprehensively summarizes moisture transport, ion transport, and mechanical damage models applied to concrete under sulfate attack and drying–wetting cycles. It highlights the essential aspects and principles of each model, emphasizing their significance in understanding the movement of moisture and ions, as [...] Read more.
This paper comprehensively summarizes moisture transport, ion transport, and mechanical damage models applied to concrete under sulfate attack and drying–wetting cycles. It highlights the essential aspects and principles of each model, emphasizing their significance in understanding the movement of moisture and ions, as well as the resulting mechanical damage within the concrete during these degradation processes. The paper critically analyzes the assumptions made in each model, shedding light on their limitations and implications for prediction accuracy. Two primary challenges faced by current models under sulfate attack and drying–wetting cycles are identified: the limited consideration of the coupled effects of chemical and physical attacks from sulfate, and the unclear mechanism of the sulfate attacks. Future research directions are proposed, focusing on exploring the transport mechanism of sulfate ions under various driving forces and further clarifying the crystallization process and expansion damage mechanism in concrete pores. Addressing these research directions will advance our understanding of sulfate attack under drying–wetting cycles, leading to improved models and mitigation strategies for enhancing the durability and performance of concrete structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Cement and Concrete Research2nd Edition)
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