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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 26073

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Tomáš Dvorský

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Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Mining and Geology, VSB—Technical University of Ostrava, 17. Listopadu 15/2172, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
Interests: cement; raw material; cement composite; concrete; recycling; environmental engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete, in the sense of a cement composite consisting of filler, binder, and water, is one of the main building materials of the past, as well as the modern history of mankind. At present, the area of cement composites or concretes is going through a period of a relatively rapid development. The efforts of researchers around the world are focused on the development of new additives and admixtures that affect the final properties of fresh and hardened concrete. Another relatively strong group are scientists dealing with the replacement of natural aggregates with various secondary materials or by-products (waste materials) from industrial production in order to protect the natural resources of aggregates. The resulting cement composites use the historically proven properties of concrete, but, at the same time, this new material has added value in the form of reduction of waste production. When suitable components are used, the so-called eco-friendly cement composites with minimal negative impact on the environmental can be produced.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish the current advances in the field of cement composite materials not only based on ordinary portland cement (OPC) and natural aggregates, but also in the field of other materials incorporated into the cement matrix. The field of cement composites is very wide and this Special Issue provides a unique opportunity to present the latest knowledge in this field of research, development, and application.

We are pleased to invite you to present your research and development outcomes in the form of research articles or reviews in the following areas:

Eco-friendly cement composites;
Self-healing concretes;
High performance concretes;
Polymer or geopolymers concretes;
Fiber-reinforced concrete or biocomposites;
Cement composites based on secondary raw materials;
Properties of cement composites (physical, mechanical, durability, structures etc.);
Life cycle assessment of cement composites.

More examples of Special Issues of Buildings at:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings/special_issues

Dr. Tomáš Dvorský
Guest Editor

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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. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

eco-friendly cement composites
self-healing concretes
high performance concretes
polymer or geopolymers concretes
fiber-reinforced concrete or biocomposites
cement composites based on secondary raw materials
properties of cement composites
life cycle assessment of cement composites

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variability in the Distinctive Features of Silica Sands in Central Europe

by Martina Bašistová, Jiřina Vontorová, Simona Zlá, Monika Kawuloková, Petr Lichý and Tomáš Dvorský

Buildings 2024, 14(1), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010279 - 19 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1249

Abstract

Quality quartz sand is globally utilized in construction due to its availability and economic factors, especially in the production of composite cements. Despite its positive properties, quartz sand also has several disadvantages. The dilation of quartz sand can be technologically significant for certain high-temperature applications. This dilation has a non-continuous character with sharp volume change caused by the phase transformation from β to α SiO₂ at temperatures around 573 °C. The extent of dilation depends on various factors such as compaction, grain size, the quantity of sand, as well as the shape and character of the grain and chemical purity, particularly the SiO₂ content. In this study, six types of quartz sand from different locations in Central Europe were examined, and the influence of chemical composition and grain shape was correlated with the final dilation of these samples. Evaluation methods included X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRFS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and linear thermal expansion analysis. It was found that angular grains, despite their chemical purity, may exhibit minimal dilation. Conversely, the least suitable combination in terms of dilation appears to be a high SiO₂ content and high roundness of grains with a smooth surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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19 pages, 45054 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Fly Ash Composition to Mitigate Conversion of Calcium Aluminate Cement Composites

by Thwe Thwe Win, Chinnapat Panwisawas, Pitcha Jongvivatsakul, Withit Pansuk and Lapyote Prasittisopin

Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2453; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102453 - 27 Sep 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1510

Abstract

Calcium aluminate cement (CAC) is one of the alternative cements that is widely used for special applications. However, during the hydration process degradation of CAC microstructure, the so-called hydrate conversion process, hexagonal calcium aluminate hydrate (CAH₁₀) transforms into a cubic (C₃AH₆) phase, resulting in increased porosity and reduced strengths. It is known that alternative means for stabilizing the CAC conversion are conducted by introducing fly ash (FA) in CAC, where its microstructure is attributed to aluminosilicates. However, no study has yet been conducted on different FA compositions influencing CAC performance. This study aims to evaluate the effects of different compositions of FA on CACs’ fresh and hardened characteristics. Results revealed that the microstructure was denser when CAC was mixed with FA. Regarding reactivity, CAC with calcium-rich FA systems is 13% faster than the silica-rich one. The higher the density and the lower the porosity of calcium-rich FA mixtures were found compared with silica-rich FA in both micro- and macro-structures. As seen in the microscopic structure, this is due to the calcium-rich phase formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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18 pages, 5563 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Mechanical Characterization of Carbon, Kevlar, and Hybrid-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete under Quasistatic and Dynamic Loadings

by Yeou-Fong Li, Kun-Han Yang, Pei-Yao Hsu, Jin-Yuan Syu, Shea-Jue Wang, Wen-Shyong Kuo and Ying-Kuan Tsai

Buildings 2023, 13(8), 2044; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082044 - 10 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1647

Abstract

Concrete is a brittle material due to its poor tensile strength; consequently, concrete tends to crack or peel under an applied external load. Previous studies have investigated the effect of incorporating fiber into concrete, which can improve its tensile strength. In this study, the static and dynamic mechanical characteristics of three types of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) were examined: carbon-fiber-reinforced concrete (CFRC); Kevlar-fiber-reinforced concrete (KFRC); and a combination of both, known as carbon/Kevlar-hybrid-fiber-reinforced concrete (HFRC). This study created concrete specimens by pneumatically dispersing carbon and Kevlar fibers and mixing them with cement to comprise 1% of the weight. The mixture was then combined with aggregates and water to form the concrete specimens. When compared with the benchmark concrete specimens, it was found that the compressive strength of the CFRC, KFRC, and HFRC specimens increased by about 19% to 50%, the bending strength increase by about 8% to 32%, and the splitting strength increased by about 4% to 36%. Specifically, the HFRC made with the 24 mm carbon and Kevlar fibers displayed the most significant mechanical strength in a static state. Furthermore, the HFRC showed superior resistance to impact compared to the benchmark concrete specimens across various impact energies, with the 24 mm carbon and Kevlar fiber HFRC showing the highest resistance. The inclusion of fibers in the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test demonstrated a notable increase in the maximum strength, particularly in the case of the 12 mm carbon fiber combined with the 24 mm Kevlar fiber in the HFRC specimen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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24 pages, 4806 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Superabsorbent Polymer in Self-Compacting Mortar

by Michel Henry Bacelar de Souza, Lucas Ramon Roque Silva, Vander Alkmin dos Santos Ribeiro, Paulo César Gonçalves, Mirian de Lourdes Noronha Motta Melo, Carlos Eduardo Marmorato Gomes and Valquíria Claret dos Santos

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071640 - 28 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1363

Abstract

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is an innovative type of concrete that does not require vibration for compaction; however, it needs attention in relation to the control of thermally generated cracks, due to the hydration heat generated mainly during the curing process in pieces with large concrete volume. In this study we investigated the addition of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) as internal curing elements in self-compacting mortar (SCM), as well as its thermal and mechanical characteristics, looking to obtain the optimal proportion of materials in a way that is useful as the basis of self-compacting concrete use, focusing on large volume structures. This work stands out for studying an alternative for shrinkage control, in an unconventional cementitious composite, highlighting the thermal analysis of the mixture. In the experimental program, laboratory trials were conducted using self-compacting mortar with the addition of 0%, 0.1%, and 0.2% of SAP either for CPII-E-32 and CPV-ARI and with samples undergoing both dry and submerged curing. Among the results obtained, the reduction of variation in temperature in samples with added SAP stand out, and it is possible to presume it as being a viable way of mitigating the temperature spikes in large volume concrete parts. By contrast, the compression and tensile tests indicated a reduced strength, except in the tensile trial on the CPII-E-32, which the addition of SAP resulted in an increase in strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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18 pages, 4487 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Damage Model of Basalt-Fiber-Reinforced Cemented Soil Based on the Weibull Distribution

by Lina Xu, Runze Zhang, Lei Niu and Chenhui Qi

Buildings 2023, 13(2), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020460 - 7 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1384

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical performance and a constitutive model of basalt-fiber-reinforced cemented soil (BFRCS) containing 0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.7% basalt fibers with lengths of 3, 6, 12, 20, and 35 mm, respectively. Unconfined compressive strength tests were used to examine the mechanical performance of BFRCS with varying basalt fiber contents and lengths. The test results demonstrate that the basalt fiber content of optimal quality is 0.1%, and that the fiber distribution uniformity and density have a significant impact on the strength of BFRCS. Based on the Weibull distribution of BFRCS for the degree of damage, a damage model for BFRCS, accounting for the fiber length and fiber content, is proposed here. Moreover, in this study we explored the relationship between the scale parameter as well as shape parameter of the Weibull distribution and fiber content as well as length. Furthermore, the evaluation methods for the mechanical properties of BFRCS according to the scale and shape parameters of the Weibull distribution are discussed. The results suggest that the proposed constitutive model captures the compressive stress–strain relationship of BFRCS; the theoretical results are in strong agreement with the data obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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14 pages, 4034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Different Forms of Demolished Clay Brick and Granite Wastes for Better Performance in Cement Composites

by Jeonghyun Kim, Donwoo Lee, Alena Sičáková and Namho Kim

Buildings 2023, 13(1), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010165 - 9 Jan 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2505

Abstract

Clay brick and granite waste are part of the waste generated by construction and demolition activities. The amount of these wastes generated is enormous, but on the one hand, they can be used as a raw material for cement mixtures; thus, it is important to find ways to utilize them efficiently. In this study, clay brick and granite waste were crushed and screened into two size fractions (0.15–2.36 mm for sand replacement and smaller than 0.15 mm for cement replacement), and a total of four different forms of recycled materials were obtained (recycled brick aggregate, recycled brick powder, recycled granite aggregate and recycled granite powder) and used in cement mortar. Various properties (workability, mechanical strength and drying shrinkage) of the mortars were assessed according to standardized test methods. The results showed that the various material forms had different effects on the various properties of cement mortar. At replacement ratios of 10% and 20%, recycled granite showed better workability when used as powder, whereas recycled brick used as aggregate had higher workability. In common, using recycled brick and recycled granite in the form of aggregate was advantageous for the strength development of mortar, while using them in the form of powder helped to mitigate drying shrinkage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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25 pages, 8418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method for Determining the Fracture Parameters of Fully Graded Dam Concrete

by Xiaofeng Gao, Jiong Wu, Mengxia Zhou, Tao Xu, Chunfeng Liu, Yaosheng Tan, Ning Yang and Yu Qiao

Buildings 2023, 13(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010024 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1599

Abstract

This paper describes a method for determining the initiation and unstable toughness of fully graded concrete of arbitrary specimen size. The method first predicts the initiation and peak loads of concrete specimens of any size, as well as crack length-to-height ratios based on the fracture test results of concrete specimens with limited sizes or crack length-to-height ratios. Then, combined with the fracture extreme theory, the fracture toughness of concrete with varying size or crack length-to-height ratios is determined. Finally, in order to verify the applicability of the method, it is used to calculate the fracture toughness of small aggregate concrete and fully graded concrete with different sizes or crack length-to-height ratios, and its prediction accuracy is evaluated through indices such as mean absolute percentage error, root mean square error and reliability index a15. The results show that the proposed method can meet the needs of practical engineering applications and can provide theoretical basis for the optimization of the fracture test method of fully graded concrete and the determination of fracture parameters in crack stability or propagation analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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20 pages, 5959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Non-Proprietary Ultra-High Performance Concrete Mixtures

by Tawsif Mohammad Hasan, Levi Gilbert, Srinivas Allena, Josiah Owusu-Danquah and Anthony Torres

Buildings 2022, 12(11), 1865; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111865 - 3 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2093

Abstract

The development of non-proprietary Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is one way to reduce the initial cost of construction. However, workability is a major issue for which such mixtures are not practical in field conditions. Ultra-high performance cannot be achieved in field conditions if the concrete is not placed, finished, and compacted properly during placement. In this research, six UHPC mixtures were developed (three with steel fibers and three without fibers) using materials which are readily available on the local marketplace with water-to-cementitious materials ratios ranging between 0.17 to 0.30. The workability was determined using standard ASTM flow table apparatus, and specimens were prepared to determine compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and permeable porosity. Flow table test exhibited flow values greater than 250 mm. Such high workability of the mixtures was achieved by optimizing the silica fume content and water reducing admixture dosage. These mixtures exhibited compressive strengths greater than 120 MPa and splitting tensile strengths greater than 5.10 MPa in both ambient and elevated curing temperatures. Results indicated that UHPC can be produced with a water-to-cementitious materials ratio as high as 0.30. Steel fibers helped to increase splitting tensile strength due to fiber-matrix interactions. Very low permeable porosity (1.7–16.7%) was observed which indicates superior durability due to the significant reduction of ingress of deleterious ions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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14 pages, 4374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Mechanical Properties of Heap Deposited Fly Ash Based Geopolymers with Different Alkaline Activator Properties

by Martin Sisol, Michal Marcin, Karel Dvořák, Michaela Suďová and Viera Ivanková

Buildings 2022, 12(11), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111780 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1555

Abstract

Geopolymers can improve environmental protection and are therefore considered a 21st-century material that requires special attention. The main objective of this study was to examine the utilization of fly ash deposited on a heap as a potential raw material for the geopolymerization process. In this work, flexural and compressive strengths, as well as water absorption of geopolymers, were evaluated based on alkaline activator properties. Na₂O content, SiO₂/Na₂O molar ratio and fly ash-to-water ratio were key observed factors. Mechanical strengths tests were conducted after 7, 28, 90, 180, and 360 days. The research findings showed that geopolymer cured at appropriate conditions and with a suitable alkaline activator can reach a compressive strength of more than 55 MPa. The presented study highlighted the possibility of the efficient use of fly ash to produce useful materials, i.e., geopolymers, which contribute to environmentally friendly solutions. This approach is fully in line with the principles of sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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12 pages, 4313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of C$H₂ and CH on Strength and Hydration of Calcium Sulphoaluminate Cement Prepared from Phosphogypsum

by Jixin Zhang, Jun Chang, Ping Zhang and Tong Wang

Buildings 2022, 12(10), 1692; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12101692 - 14 Oct 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1655

Abstract

Using phosphogypsum (PG) as a raw material to prepare calcium sulphoaluminate cement (CAS) is an effective way of treating phosphogypsum. In order to meet the different application requirements of CSA cement and promote the application of CAS cement, it is necessary to add mineral admixtures to adjust the performance of cement. This paper incorporated two minerals, gypsum dihydrate (C$H₂) and calcium hydroxide (CH), into cement clinker prepared from phosphogypsum. The compressive strength and hydration process of the mixtures with different blending levels were investigated around the C₄A₃$-C$H₂ system (SC) and the C₄A₃$-C$H₂-CH system (SCC). The optimum dosing level was determined on the basis of the strength and hydration properties. In the SC system, adding C$H₂ promoted the hydration of C₄A₃$. The compressive strength of the cement was highest at a C$H₂/C₄A₃$ molar ratio of 1.5, with a 7-day compressive strength of 56.5 MPa. AFt was mostly needle-rod and columnar and was tightly cemented to the gel phase, improving the denseness of the matrix. When the molar ratio was 2, the strength of the cement was inverted, and the shape of the AFt changed from needle and rod to columnar, the size of the grains increased, and it could not be filled with the AH₃ phase in an excellent staggered manner. At the same time, C$H₂ was not fully reacted, increasing matrix porosity and inversion of strength. In the SCC system, adding CH reduced the cement’s compressive strength, and the compressive strength reduction increased with the increase in admixture. According to the experimental results, CH inhibited the formation of AFt, resulting in the appearance of new hydration products, AFm. As the amount of CH increased, the amount of hydration products, AFm, increased, while the amount of AFt and AH₃ decreased. However, adding CH raised the paste’s pH and later facilitated the development of strength. The optimum admixture of CH/C₄A₃$ was 0.5 mol. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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20 pages, 3831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Performance of Date-Palm-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Containing Silica Fume

by Yasser E. Ibrahim, Musa Adamu, Mohammad Louay Marouf, Omar Shabbir Ahmed, Q. A. Drmosh and Mohammad Abdul Malik

Buildings 2022, 12(10), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12101642 - 10 Oct 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2421

Abstract

The use of date palm fiber (DPF) as natural fiber in concrete and mortar continues to gain acceptability due to its low-cost and availability. However, the main disadvantage of DPF in cement-based composites is that it reduces compressive strength and increases the porosity of the composite. Hence, for DPF to be efficiently used in concrete, its negative effects must be counteracted. Therefore, in this study, silica fume was employed as supplementary cementitious material to alleviate the negative effects of DPF on the strength and porosity of concrete. The DPF was added in different dosages of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% by weight of binder materials. Silica fume was used as a cement replacement material at dosages of 0% to 15% (intervals of 5%) by volume of cement. The unit weights, mechanical strengths, water absorption, and microstructural morphology were all evaluated. The concrete’s fresh and hardened densities were reduced with the increment in DPF and silica fume. The compressive strength declined at all ages with the increment in DPF addition, while the flexural and splitting tensile strengths improved with addition of up to 2% DPF. Furthermore, the concrete’s water absorption escalated with an increase in DPF content. Silica fume significantly enhanced the mechanical strength of the concrete. The dissipation in compressive strength with the addition of up to 2% DPF was mitigated by replacing up to 10% cement with silica fume, where it densified the microstructure and refined the interfacial transition zone between the fibers and cement matrix, hence significantly decreasing the porosity and enhancing durability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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15 pages, 6884 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Sustainable Construction Materials: A Comparative Study of Prediction Models for Green Concrete with Metakaolin

by Jiandong Huang, Mengmeng Zhou, Hongwei Yuan, Mohanad Muayad Sabri Sabri and Xiang Li

Buildings 2022, 12(6), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12060772 - 6 Jun 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2456

Abstract

Cement-based materials are widely used in transportation, construction, national defense, and other fields, due to their excellent properties. High performance, low energy consumption, and environmental protection are essential directions for the sustainable development of cement-based materials. To alleviate the environmental pressure caused by carbon emissions in cement production, this paper studies cement-based materials containing metakaolin by a comparison of prediction models for the compressive strength. To more accurately evaluate the compressive strength of metakaolin cement-based materials, this paper compares the prediction effects of four models, namely, support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and random forest (RF), with hyperparameters optimized by the Firefly Algorithm (FA) to study the compressive strength of cement-based materials containing metakaolin. The results demonstrated that the RF model showed the optimized prediction effect considering the lowest RSME value and the highest R value among the hybrid models for predicting metakaolin cement-based materials’ compressive strength. The importance test showed that the cement grade and the water-to-binder ratio greatly influence the compressive strength of cement-based materials with metakaolin compared to the other design parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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31 pages, 90757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling the Strength and Fracture Parameters of Dam Gallery Concrete Considering Ambient Temperature and Humidity

by Xiaofeng Gao, Qingbin Li, Zhihong Liu, Jiangnan Zheng, Kai Wei, Yaosheng Tan, Ning Yang, Chunfeng Liu, Yongjiu Lu and Yu Hu

Buildings 2022, 12(2), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12020168 - 3 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2483

Abstract

Due to the complex structure and stress distribution of dam galleries, cracks often appear during the construction, operation and maintenance periods of dams. This paper proposes a method to determine the real strength and fracture parameters of gallery concrete, considering environmental temperature and humidity. The strength and fracture tests were carried out for gallery concrete at various ages and under different curing temperature and humidity conditions. The influence of curing conditions on the mechanical properties of gallery concrete was quantitatively analyzed. The prediction equations of the strength and fracture parameters of gallery concrete under arbitrary temperature and humidity were established. Based on the measured temperature and humidity data, the real mechanical parameters of gallery concrete were predicted. The research results show that the influence of environmental conditions on mechanical parameters cannot be neglected, as this can result in a strength reduction of up to 33.81%. The proposed equations can be used to predict the mechanical parameters of gallery concrete, subject to real environmental conditions, which can help to correct a maximum deviation of 54.62% on parameters calculated using actual ages. The proposed method can provide a scientific basis for the cracking risk analysis and safety assessment of the gallery structure under actual conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cement Composite Materials)

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