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Experimental Study, Numerical Simulation & Structural Applications of Construction Materials—3rd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 1471

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaoqing Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Interests: steel and concrete composite structures; concrete; fiber-reinforced concrete; steel; corrosion; fatigue; bridge engineering; numerical modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fengjiang Qin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Interests: steel and concrete composite structures; engineered cementitious composites (ECC); ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC); high strength steel structures; bridge strengthening
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Construction materials play a critical role in building modern infrastructures, representing an enormous investment in raw materials, energy, and capital, with the results being significant environmental burdens and social costs. In recent decades, novel advanced construction materials and their structural applications have emerged with the support of continuously developing innovative technologies. To achieve higher-performing construction materials and advanced construction technologies, further research has to be implemented by researchers and technicians.

After our successful two editions of this Special Issue, titled “Experimental Study, Numerical Simulation & Structural Applications of Construction Materials”, we are delighted to open this third edition.

This Special Issue of Materials invites original research articles and comprehensive reviews regarding experimental studies, numerical simulations, and structural applications of construction materials.

We look forward to your submissions.

Dr. Xiaoqing Xu
Dr. Fengjiang Qin
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

  • mechanical properties
  • structural performance
  • high performance
  • reinforced concrete
  • structural steel
  • fiber-reinforced polymer
  • numerical modelling
  • repair and strengthening of structures

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 12613 KiB  
Article
The Cementation Mechanisms and Mechanical Properties of Different Soil–Rock Mixtures–Slurry Cements
by Jiayong Li, Zuliang Zhong and Hong Zou
Materials 2025, 18(10), 2186; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18102186 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 335
Abstract
This investigation focused on the cementation mechanisms and mechanical properties of soil–rock mixtures–slurry cement (SRM–SC) to ensure the safety of tunnels during operation. SRM–SC specimens were prepared with different types of slurry and rock contents based on an actual slurry injection ratio. The [...] Read more.
This investigation focused on the cementation mechanisms and mechanical properties of soil–rock mixtures–slurry cement (SRM–SC) to ensure the safety of tunnels during operation. SRM–SC specimens were prepared with different types of slurry and rock contents based on an actual slurry injection ratio. The macroscopic level analysis involved measuring the specimens’ uniaxial compressive strength and shear strength, determining the strength parameters, and analyzing the damage forms. At the microscopic level, the surface morphology and composition of the specimens were examined using scanning electron microscope imaging. This allowed for a comparative analysis of the cementation ability and mechanism of the slurry under different control conditions, providing a basis for determining the mechanical properties of SRM–SC. The results indicated that the rock content significantly impacts the macromechanical properties of SRM–SC. The compressive strength and stiffness of SRM–SC initially increase and then decrease with the increasing rock content, with an inflection point observed between a 20% and 60% rock content. On the other hand, the shear strength and stiffness both increase with the increasing rock content. Additionally, the macroscopic mechanical properties of SRM–SC formed by different types of grout exhibit noticeable differences. These findings serve as a reference for regulating the mechanical properties of SRM–SC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Study, Numerical Simulation & Structural Applications of Construction Materials—3rd Edition)
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25 pages, 6579 KiB  
Article
Optimising Embodied Carbon in Axial Tension Piles: A Comparative Study of Concrete, Steel, and Timber Piles Using a Hybrid Genetic Approach
by Kareem Abushama, Will Hawkins, Loizos Pelecanos and Tim Ibell
Materials 2025, 18(9), 2160; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18092160 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 184
Abstract
The construction industry is a major contributor to the global climate crisis, prompting increasing interest in minimising the embodied carbon of structures, whether through material production regulations or the optimisation of structural elements. While a wide body of literature addresses the reduction of [...] Read more.
The construction industry is a major contributor to the global climate crisis, prompting increasing interest in minimising the embodied carbon of structures, whether through material production regulations or the optimisation of structural elements. While a wide body of literature addresses the reduction of embodied carbon in superstructures, limited attention has been devoted to the optimisation of foundations, particularly piles. This research introduces a hybrid genetic algorithm optimisation tool designed to minimise the embodied carbon of tension piles in different soil conditions. Six different pile types are analysed: solid and hollow concrete piles, steel pipes, universal column (UC) sections, and timber piles in both square and circular forms. The optimal design parameters for each pile type on undrained clay and loose sand are presented and compared. The results demonstrate the potential for reducing the embodied carbon of tension piles when utilising optimised designs. Finally, a case study involving an 8-metre-high cross-road signpost is presented, illustrating the practical application of the proposed optimisation algorithm for reducing embodied carbon in future designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Study, Numerical Simulation & Structural Applications of Construction Materials—3rd Edition)
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18 pages, 16143 KiB  
Article
Methodological Basis for Reliable Evaluation of Air Void Structure Parameters Using the 2D Method
by Jerzy Wawrzeńczyk and Henryk Kowalczyk
Materials 2025, 18(9), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18092095 - 2 May 2025
Viewed by 246
Abstract
Frost resistance of pavement concrete is closely related to air void structure. Traditionally, such a structure is assessed by measuring chord lengths according to the guidelines provided in the PN-EN 480-11 standard. In recent years, increased attention has been given to analyzing pore [...] Read more.
Frost resistance of pavement concrete is closely related to air void structure. Traditionally, such a structure is assessed by measuring chord lengths according to the guidelines provided in the PN-EN 480-11 standard. In recent years, increased attention has been given to analyzing pore diameters (2D) on the surface of concrete samples. The measurement procedure employed in the surface method should enable accurate identification of small pores formed by modern air-entraining admixtures. Researchers suggest only pores under 300 µm significantly impact frost resistance, raising the question of whether pores over 1000 µm should be considered in measurements. This study attempts to define the measurement frame parameters required to obtain satisfactory results. Additionally, a comparative analysis of air void structure parameters from 2D and 1D methods was conducted. Geometrical models of air voids distributed within cement paste using the Monte Carlo method based on air void structure data derived from real concrete were created. Analysis of these models demonstrated good agreement between the 2D and 1D results. It was concluded that satisfactory results require the analysis of either three measurement frames of 50 × 50 mm or four frames of 40 × 40 mm, with a resolution of at least 3 µm/px. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Study, Numerical Simulation & Structural Applications of Construction Materials—3rd Edition)
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20 pages, 7172 KiB  
Article
Flexural Behavior of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) Slabs with Different Strength Grades
by Fengjiang Qin, Yang Han, Xinyan Wei, Xuejun Wang, Zhigang Zhang and Xiaoyue Zhang
Materials 2025, 18(9), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18092047 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 181
Abstract
Engineering Cementitious Composites (ECC) has gained significant attention in civil engineering due to its excellent tensile strength, crack width control capability, and remarkable ductility. This study examines the influence of the ECC strength and reinforcement on the flexural behavior of ECC slabs through [...] Read more.
Engineering Cementitious Composites (ECC) has gained significant attention in civil engineering due to its excellent tensile strength, crack width control capability, and remarkable ductility. This study examines the influence of the ECC strength and reinforcement on the flexural behavior of ECC slabs through four-point flexural tests. The results demonstrate that ECC is well suited for flexural applications. During flexural tests, the fibers within the ECC provide a bridging effect, allowing the ECC in the tensile zone to sustain a load while developing a dense network of fine microcracks at failure. This characteristic significantly enhances the crack resistance of ECC slabs. Despite the relatively low flexural capacity of unreinforced ECC slabs, they achieve 59.2% of the capacity of reinforced ECC slabs with a reinforcement ratio of 1.02%, demonstrating the potential for using unreinforced ECC in low-load-bearing applications. Further findings reveal that high-strength ECC (HSECC) not only improves the flexural capacity of unreinforced ECC slabs but also maintains excellent ductility, enabling a better balance between the load-bearing capacity and deformation ability. However, while reinforcement enhances both the flexural capacity and energy absorption, an excessively high reinforcement ratio significantly compromises ductility. Additionally, this study proposes a simplified calculation method for the flexural capacity of ECC slabs based on the axial force and moment equilibrium, providing theoretical support for their design and application. Due to their excellent flexural behavior, ECC slabs exhibit significant potential for use in flexural components such as bridge deck slabs and link slabs in simply supported beam bridges. With continued research and optimization, their application in engineering practice is expected to become more widespread, thereby improving the cracking resistance and durability of concrete structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Study, Numerical Simulation & Structural Applications of Construction Materials—3rd Edition)
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15 pages, 4361 KiB  
Article
Estimation of the Spacing Factor Based on Air Pore Distribution Parameters in Air-Entrained Concrete
by Jerzy Wawrzeńczyk and Henryk Kowalczyk
Materials 2025, 18(8), 1716; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18081716 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 317
Abstract
Air-void characteristics are defined in the EN-480-11 test method. The primary criticism of Powers’ model comes from the fact that the spacing factor is calculated with the average chord length, without taking into account the chord length distribution. The aim of this study [...] Read more.
Air-void characteristics are defined in the EN-480-11 test method. The primary criticism of Powers’ model comes from the fact that the spacing factor is calculated with the average chord length, without taking into account the chord length distribution. The aim of this study is to determine whether an analysis of the chord length distribution can provide a more accurate estimate of the spacing factor. A data set containing 110 air-entrained concretes with various characteristics was analyzed. The artificial neural network method was applied to develop a model that determines the relationship between the spacing factor, L2, and the parameters of the air-void structure. The input parameters for the ANN-L2 model included the following: A, d, and W—characteristics of the chord size distribution, P—cement paste content, and N5—number of large pores. The ANN model allows for a sufficiently accurate estimation of the spacing factor, L2. The most significant factors that influenced L were the peak amplitude, A; peak width, W; and cement paste content, P. There was a strong correlation between the results of the ANN model and the standard spacing factor L2, indicating that both calculation methods produced comparable results. Finally, a simple method for using the ANN model to calculate the spacing factor in Excel is demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Study, Numerical Simulation & Structural Applications of Construction Materials—3rd Edition)
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