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Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2024) | Viewed by 7243

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Prof. Dr. Weichung Yeih

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Guest Editor

Department of Harbor and River Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20201, Taiwan
Interests: localized meshless method; nonlinear iteration; Trefftz method; inverse problem; construction and building materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Maochieh Chi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering Management, National Quemoy University, Kinmen County 89250, Taiwan
Interests: 3D printing concrete; alkali-activated binder materials; sustainable; carbon sequestration; microstructure; durability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete is the most widely used material in construction engineering. Although modern concrete technology has developed for two hundred years after Portland cement was invented, it still needs development to meet demands today. For example, the low carbon emission of raw materials used in concrete is a very important issue nowadays. The previous concrete can reduce surface runoff during heavy rainfall and achieve flood control in today's rapidly changing climate, but a major challenge is how to improve its strength to expand its application scope. How to enhance the sustainability and durability of concrete, and how to repair and rehabilitate existing concrete structures to extend their service life, are pressing issues that need to be addressed. Other topics such as high performance concrete (HPC), high performance grout (HPG), self-compacting concrete (SCC), inorganic geopolymer, 3D-printed concrete material, artificial intelligence applications in the concrete technology, health monitoring systems in concrete, digital twin of concrete structure, conductive concrete, etc., are hot topics for future needs. This Special Issue invites contributors to submit their innovative ideas and scientific findings related to the advanced concrete technology and applications in construction engineering such that the latest developments that are currently under research can be revealed, and guidance for future directions in this field can be pointed out.

Prof. Dr. Weichung Yeih
Prof. Dr. Maochieh Chi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

low carbon emission
pervious concrete
sustainability
durability
high performance concrete
high performance grout
self-compacting concrete
geopolymer
3D-printed concrete
artificial intelligence
health monitoring

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study and Bearing Capacity Calculation of Compression-Reinforced Concrete Columns Strengthened with Ultra-High-Performance Concrete

by Xianhui Liu, Meiqing Pan, Weizhao Li, Chenggui Jing, Wenlong Chang and Haoyang Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1911; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051911 - 26 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1255

Abstract

A total of five ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC)-strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) columns and one RC column were built and subjected to eccentric compression testing to examine the force performance of UHPC-strengthened eccentrically compressed plain RC columns. This experimental study examined the crack progression, the damage morphology, the deformation ability, the maximum load-carrying capacity, and the ductile properties of the eccentrically compressed columns. It also investigated the impacts of eccentricity, the reinforcement thickness, and the addition of steel fibers on the effectiveness of reinforcement. The cracking load, peak load, and ductility coefficient of the UHPC-reinforced specimens were increased by 100.28%, 172.30%, and 56.30%, respectively, compared with the RC column at an initial eccentricity of 50 mm. As the eccentricity distance increased, the bearing capacity of the UHPC eccentrically compressed specimens decreased, and the deformation capacity increased. Increasing the steel fiber dosage within the appropriate range decreased the crack width of the specimen. The addition of 2% steel fiber resulted in a 24.8% increase in cracking load, an 8.96% increase in peak load, and a 2.60% increase in ductility coefficient compared to the addition of 1% steel fiber. However, the reinforcing effect of UHPC was weakened under high eccentric pressures. Based on the theory of concrete structure and mechanical principles, the formula for calculating the compressive bearing capacity of RC columns strengthened with high-performance concrete was proposed. The results of calculating the positive section bearing capacity of eccentrically compressed RC columns reinforced with high-performance concrete are in good agreement with the test values. The results of this paper provide an experimental basis and theoretical foundation for the cross-sectional design of UHPC eccentrically compressed columns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering)

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16 pages, 1735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of a Crystalline Admixture on the Permeability Properties of Concrete and the Resistance to Corrosion of Embedded Steel

by Carlos Antón, Hebé Gurdián, Guillem de Vera and Miguel-Ángel Climent

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051731 - 21 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1816

Abstract

Reinforced concrete structure durability hinges on concrete permeability, which relies on the characteristics of the inner porous network. Harmful ions and gases can accelerate steel corrosion. Permeability-reducing admixtures (PRA), including crystalline admixtures (CA), are commonly used to mitigate this. This study examines a commercial CA’s impact on durability-related aspects in concrete specimens. Two concrete mixtures with matching proportions were prepared: a reference mix and another mix with a commercial crystalline admixture. Several properties were studied, such as compressive strength, density, porosity, electrical resistivity, water absorption capacity, chloride diffusion, air permeability, and corrosion resistance. The studied admixture in concrete yields several positive outcomes such as a slight reduction in mixing water, a potential 6% increase in concrete’s compressive strength and the development of a denser and less permeable structure with 3% lower porosity and water absorption than the reference mix. Electrical resistivity improves by 10%. Unidirectional chloride diffusion tests show no differences. Air permeability decreases by from 36% to 55%, and the water absorption rate diminishes by 23%. The admixture potentially reduces the scatter in corrosion initiation periods for steel reinforcements, delaying corrosion onset by around 60 days, although more extensive experiments are needed for definitive conclusions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering)

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26 pages, 5312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Finely Ground Coal Bottom Ash as Replacement for Portland Cement on the Properties of Ordinary Concrete

by Chun-Wei Chuang, Tai-An Chen and Ran Huang

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(24), 13212; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413212 - 13 Dec 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1721

Abstract

This study investigates the use of finely ground coal bottom ash (FGCBA) as a substitute for Portland cement in concrete, comparing it with coal fly ash from the same power plant. The incorporation of this ash necessitates the addition of a superplasticizer to achieve the desired slump at the same replacement rate. The results demonstrate that at an optimal 20% replacement rate, as determined by 91-day compressive strength tests, the maximum strength achieved by FGCBA is 97.7% of the control group with pure cement, whereas coal fly ash reaches 114.0%. Drying shrinkage tests indicate for both materials have similar volume stability, while rapid chloride permeability tests show their effectiveness in reducing chloride ion permeability, with superior performance from FGCBA. Under optimal conditions, the result of the RCPT test was only 559 coulombs, which is significantly better compared to the 4108 coulombs when using fly ash from coal combustion. Our results demonstrate that utilizing low-cost bottom ash by finely grinding it to replace Portland cement in concrete is feasible, achieving both carbon reduction and economic viability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering)

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19 pages, 9835 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Mechanical Properties and Erosion Resistance of Self-Compacting Concrete with Different Replacement Rates of Recycled Coarse Aggregates under Dry and Wet Cycles

by Shan Liu, Fengxia Han, Shiqi Zheng, Songpu Gao and Guoxing Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 11101; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131911101 - 9 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1401

Abstract

Concrete that self-compacts is frequently utilized in engineering construction. Recycled coarse aggregate self-compacting concrete (RCASCC) is made by partially substituting recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) for natural coarse aggregates in order to conserve construction resources. This study examines the impact of linked sulfate erosion, dry and wet cycles, and RCA replacement rates of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% on the mechanical properties and durability of RCASCC. By using the mass loss rate, relative dynamic elastic modulus, corrosion resistance factor, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM) analyses, as well as other macroscopic and microscopic methods, it is possible to examine the deterioration patterns of RCASCC under dry and wet cycles. The results demonstrate that the addition of RCA has a notable impact on concrete’s resistance to sulfate attack during both dry and wet cycles. The erosion products steadily rise, the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) becomes rougher, and the sulfate resistance falls as the replacement rate of RCA rises. According to the findings of SiO₂, AFt, and CaCO₃, the examination of corrosion products from XRD and microstructure from SEM and EDS is carried out. The old mortar that has adhered to the surface of RCA, as shown by the AFM analysis of ITZ and the SEM analysis of RCA, can significantly affect the roughness of ITZ inside RCASCC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications in Construction Engineering)

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