materials-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Advances in Preparation and Characterization of High-Performance Cement-Based Structural Materials

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 August 2023) | Viewed by 15214

Special Issue Editor

Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials, Tongji University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 201804, China
Interests: high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites; ultra-high-performance concrete; ultra-lightweight cement composites; steel– UHPC composite structures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As various buildings and infrastructures put forward higher requirements for the mechanics and durability of concrete, high-performance cement-based structural materials with various added functions and process have been developed, such as ultra-high-performance concrete/ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPC/UHPFRC), strain-hardening cement composite (SHCC), high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) and so on. These cement-based structural materials have a good prospect of application and extension because of their special mechanical behavior and excellent durability. In recent research of the preparation of these materials, different additives and fibers have been added to the cement-based material matrix to generate new excellent properties. Therefore, it is urgent to re-characterize existing material properties accurately due to the emergence of new material properties. This Special Issue may stand as a useful reference for further research and development in preparation and characterization of high-performance cement-based structural materials. We encourage providing a broad overview or a deep insight into all aspects of these high-performance cement-based structural materials, including raw materials, micro- and macro-structures, mechanical behaviors, and durability, as well as of construction and design specifications appropriate for these materials.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Jun-Yan Wang
Guest Editor

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

  • high-performance cement-based structural material
  • ultra-high-performance concrete
  • strain hardening cement composite
  • high-performance fiber-reinforced cement composite
  • preparation and characterization
  • mechanics properties
  • durability

Published Papers (8 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 5633 KiB  
Article
Influence of Fiber Orientation on the Water and Ions Transportation of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC)
by Abdullah M. Tawfek, Zhi Ge, Jian Li, Kangkang Zhang, Nengdong Jiang, Yingxuan Shao, Yifeng Ling and Branko Šavija
Materials 2023, 16(13), 4877; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16134877 - 07 Jul 2023
Viewed by 841
Abstract
An engineered cementitious composite (ECC) belongs to a type of high-performance fiber-reinforced materials. Fiber alignment causes the anisotropy of such materials. Herein, the influence of the fiber orientation on water and ion penetration into an ECC was studied. Fiber alignment was achieved using [...] Read more.
An engineered cementitious composite (ECC) belongs to a type of high-performance fiber-reinforced materials. Fiber alignment causes the anisotropy of such materials. Herein, the influence of the fiber orientation on water and ion penetration into an ECC was studied. Fiber alignment was achieved using an extrusion approach. Water absorption, sorptivity, chloride penetration resistance, sulfate attack resistance, and freezing–thawing resistance of specimens with fiber aligned horizontally (AH), vertically (AV), and randomly (R), corresponding to the direction of the exposure surface that was studied. The results showed that fibers oriented perpendicular to the water path delayed water migration into the ECC matrix. The sorptivity was significantly affected by the fiber direction. The sorptivity of the AH specimens was 35% and 13% lower than that of the AV and R specimens, respectively. After 180 days of exposure, the chloride penetration depth of the AH specimens was 5.7 mm, which is 13.6% and 20.8% lower than that of the AV and R specimens, respectively. The sulfate ingress profile indicates that the fiber–matrix interface oriented perpendicular to the penetration path can effectively delay sulfate migration. The fiber orientation also influences the compressive strength gain under immersion conditions (Na2SO4 solution, Na2SO4 + NaCl solution, and water). Compared with the AH and R specimens, the AV specimens are more sensitive to the immersion condition. In contrast, the fiber orientation has no significant effect on ECC specimens under freeze–thaw cycles. These findings indicate that controlling the fiber alignment and orientation in an ECC can improve its durability under certain exposure conditions. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 7203 KiB  
Article
A 3D Printing Method of Cement-Based FGM Composites Containing Granulated Cork, Polypropylene Fibres, and a Polyethylene Net Interlayer
by Daniel Pietras, Wojciech Zbyszyński and Tomasz Sadowski
Materials 2023, 16(12), 4235; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16124235 - 07 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1173
Abstract
The increasing popularity of additive manufacturing technologies in the prototyping and building industry requires the application of novel, improved composite materials. In this paper, we propose the use of a novel 3D printing cement-based composite material with natural, granulated cork, and additional reinforcement [...] Read more.
The increasing popularity of additive manufacturing technologies in the prototyping and building industry requires the application of novel, improved composite materials. In this paper, we propose the use of a novel 3D printing cement-based composite material with natural, granulated cork, and additional reinforcement using a continuous polyethylene interlayer net combined with polypropylene fibre reinforcement. Our assessment of different physical and mechanical properties of the used materials during the 3D printing process and after curing verified the applicability of the new composite. The composite exhibited orthotropic properties, and the compressive toughness in the direction of layer stacking was lower than that perpendicular to it, by 29.8% without net reinforcement, 42.6% with net reinforcement, and 42.9% with net reinforcement and an additional freeze–thaw test. The use of the polymer net as a continuous reinforcement led to decreased compressive toughness, lowering it on average by 38.5% for the stacking direction and 23.8% perpendicular to the stacking direction. However, the net reinforcement additionally lowered slumping and elephant’s foot effects. Moreover, the net reinforcement added residual strength, which allowed for the continuous use of the composite material after the failure of the brittle material. Data obtained during the process can be used for further development and improvement of 3D-printable building materials. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2211 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Fresh Properties of Cement Pastes: Part I—Response Models Applied to Changes in the One-Variable-at-a-Time Method
by Lino Maia
Materials 2023, 16(11), 4139; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16114139 - 01 Jun 2023
Viewed by 928
Abstract
The workability of cement-based materials is one of the features that makes these construction materials the most used worldwide. Measuring and understanding how cement-based constituent materials affect fresh properties depends on the experimental plans. The experimental plans deal with the constituent materials used, [...] Read more.
The workability of cement-based materials is one of the features that makes these construction materials the most used worldwide. Measuring and understanding how cement-based constituent materials affect fresh properties depends on the experimental plans. The experimental plans deal with the constituent materials used, the tests carried out, and the run of experiments. Here, the fresh properties (workability) of cement-based pastes are evaluated based on the diameter in the mini-slump test and the time in the Marsh funnel test being measured. This overall study is composed of two parts. In Part I, tests were carried out on several cement-based paste compositions incorporating distinct constituent materials. The effects of the distinct constituent materials on the workability were analyzed. Furthermore, this work deals with an approach to the run of experiments. A typical run of experiments was applied, with basic sets of mixed compositions being studied by only changing one input parameter at a time. This approach used in Part I is faced with a more scientific approach applied in Part II of the work where, based on the design of experiments, multiple input parameters were changed at a time. This work showed that a basic run of experiments is quick and easy to apply and leads to results for simple analyses; conversely, it lacks information for advanced analyses and scientific conclusions. The tests carried out included studies on the effect on the workability caused by changes in the limestone filler content, the type of cement, the water-to-cement ratio, distinct superplasticizers, and shrinkage-reducing admixture. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 8226 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Pore Size Distribution and Water Transport of UHPC Using Low-Field NMR and MIP
by Xin-Rui Xiong, Jun-Yan Wang, An-Ming She and Jian-Mao Lin
Materials 2023, 16(7), 2781; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16072781 - 30 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1234
Abstract
Water transport is vital for the durability of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) in engineering, but its absorption behavior requires further comprehension. This study investigates the impact of silica fume (SF) and metakaolin (MK) on water absorption in UHPC matrix with a high volume [...] Read more.
Water transport is vital for the durability of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) in engineering, but its absorption behavior requires further comprehension. This study investigates the impact of silica fume (SF) and metakaolin (MK) on water absorption in UHPC matrix with a high volume of limestone powder (LS) under two curing temperatures, and the variation in water transport with pore size obtained by low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). Relations between cumulative water absorption with other properties were discussed, and the pore size distribution (PSD) measured by Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was compared with that determined by LF-NMR. Results showed that MK outperformed SF in reducing water absorption in UHPC matrix, containing 30% LS under steam curing due to the synergistic effect between MK and LS. The incorporation of LS greatly affected the water absorption process of UHPC matrix. In samples without LS, capillary and gel pores absorbed water rapidly within the first 6 h and slowly from 6 h to 48 h simultaneously. However, in samples with 30% LS, gel pore water decreased during water absorption process due to the coarsening of gel pores. MK was able to suppress gel pore deterioration caused by the addition of a large amount of LS. Compared with PSD measured by MIP, NMR performed better in detecting micropores (<10 nm). Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 7685 KiB  
Article
Study on the Mechanical Properties and Durability of Recycled Aggregate Concrete under the Internal Curing Condition
by Guanghao Yang, Qiuyi Li, Yuanxin Guo, Haibao Liu, Shidong Zheng and Mingxu Chen
Materials 2022, 15(17), 5914; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15175914 - 26 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1279
Abstract
Poor mechanical properties and durability of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) hinder its application in the construction field. In this study, pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate was used as the internal curing material for prepared RAC with low water-to-binder ratio (W/B), aiming to improve the [...] Read more.
Poor mechanical properties and durability of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) hinder its application in the construction field. In this study, pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate was used as the internal curing material for prepared RAC with low water-to-binder ratio (W/B), aiming to improve the mechanical properties and durability. The results show that the workability decreases with increasing contents of pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate. The variation in compressive strength of RAC with different contents of pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate is obvious within 28 d. After 28 d, the effect of internal curing of pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate starts to occur, causing a sustained increase in compressive strength. The sealed concrete with 50% and 75% pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate contents presents the highest compressive strength and better internal curing effect. The pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate decreases the relative humidity inside the concrete and effectively inhibits the development of shrinkage in the early stages. The RAC with pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate presents little effect on the drying shrinkage. Additionally, the electric flux of RAC cured for 28 d increases from 561C to 1001C, which presents good resistance to chloride permeation. Microscopic tests indicate that the incorporation of pre-wetted recycled coarse aggregate is beneficial to the improvements of internal structure of RAC. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 4000 KiB  
Article
Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC): A State-of-the-Art Review
by Rahat Ullah, Yuan Qiang, Jawad Ahmad, Nikolai Ivanovich Vatin and Mohammed A. El-Shorbagy
Materials 2022, 15(12), 4131; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15124131 - 10 Jun 2022
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5455
Abstract
The interest of researchers in UHPC has increased over the past decade. It is crucial to understand the structural behavior of reinforced UHPC (R/UHPC) components under various loading conditions before they can be used as a replacement for conventional concrete. Although several studies [...] Read more.
The interest of researchers in UHPC has increased over the past decade. It is crucial to understand the structural behavior of reinforced UHPC (R/UHPC) components under various loading conditions before they can be used as a replacement for conventional concrete. Although several studies on ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) have been conducted, the knowledge is scattered, and no one can easily judge the performance and methodology of UPHC. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to review the research studies already carried out on UHPC. The review focuses on the materials’ physical and chemical composition, mechanical and durability characteristics, fire resistance, and environmental benefits of UHPC. Design considerations for effectively utilizing UHPC in structural elements are also presented. The best UHPFRC mixture is obtainable with a steel fiber content of 2–3% and a water-to-cement ratio of 0.2–0.3. The review also discusses the essentials recommendation for future research on UHPC. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 6831 KiB  
Article
Nonlinear Inverse Analysis for Predicting the Tensile Properties of Strain-Softening and Strain-Hardening UHPFRC
by Yi-Qing Guo, Jun-Yan Wang and Jin-Ben Gu
Materials 2022, 15(9), 3067; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15093067 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1959
Abstract
The tensile stress–strain response is considered to be the most important and fundamental mechanical property of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Nevertheless, it is still a challenging matter for researchers to determine the tensile properties of UHPFRC. As a simpler alternative to the direct [...] Read more.
The tensile stress–strain response is considered to be the most important and fundamental mechanical property of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Nevertheless, it is still a challenging matter for researchers to determine the tensile properties of UHPFRC. As a simpler alternative to the direct tensile test, bending tests are widely performed to characterize the tensile behavior of UHPFRC, but require further consideration and a sophisticated inverse analysis procedure. In order to efficiently predict the tensile properties of UHPFRC, a nonlinear inverse method based on notched three-point bending tests (3PBT) was proposed in this paper. A total of fifteen UHPFRC beams were fabricated and tested to evaluate the sensitivity of the predicted tensile behavior to variations in fiber volume fraction. A segmented stress–strain model was used, which is capable of describing the various tensile properties of UHPFRC, including strain softening and strain hardening. A more approximate formulation was adopted to simulate the load–deflection response of UHPFRC beam specimens. The closed-form analytical solutions were validated by tensile test results and existing methods in literature. Finally, parametric studies were also conducted to investigate the robustness of the proposed method. The load–deflection responses obtained from notched 3PBT could be easily converted into tensile properties with this inverse method. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 8931 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Study on the Failure Characteristics of Brittle Solids with a Circular Hole and Internal Cracks
by Chengjun Le, Xuhua Ren, Haijun Wang and Shuyang Yu
Materials 2022, 15(4), 1406; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15041406 - 14 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1449
Abstract
A stress analysis of a circular hole is one of the classical problems in mechanics. Internal cracks are inherent properties of materials, and they are mostly three-dimensional in form. However, studies on hole problems with three-dimensional internal cracks are still lacking. In this [...] Read more.
A stress analysis of a circular hole is one of the classical problems in mechanics. Internal cracks are inherent properties of materials, and they are mostly three-dimensional in form. However, studies on hole problems with three-dimensional internal cracks are still lacking. In this paper, internal cracks were generated in brittle materials containing circular holes based on 3D internal laser-engraved crack technology. Then, uniaxial compression tests were performed. The experimental results were compared with the existing literature, and theoretical and numerical simulation studies were carried out. The results show that: (1) The main crack shapes are the primary cracks and remote cracks. (2) The dynamic fracture characteristics existed in the formation of primary cracks and the surface of remote cracks. The tips of primary cracks were arc-shaped, and the surfaces of the remote cracks were curved. Remote cracks were tangential to the orifice where type III spear-like characteristics appeared. (3) The stress birefringence technology can be combined with 3D internal laser-engraved crack technology for internal crack stress information monitoring, the moire around the orifice was “flamboyant”, and the moire at the tip of the prefabricated crack was “petallike”. (4) The existence of internal cracks reduced the cracking and breaking load of the specimen, and compared with the intact orifice specimen, the upper primary crack, the lower primary crack, the remote crack and the failure load were reduced by 41.2%, 31.7%, 15.9%, and 32.3%, respectively. (5) The results of qualitative stress analysis of the orifice specimen were consistent with the initiation law of primary cracks and remote cracks. The K distribution based on M integral and the numerical simulation of crack propagation process based on the maximum tensile stress criterion were consistent with the law of primary crack growth. Compared with the current mainstream method of transparent rock research, 3D internal laser-engraved crack technology has certain advantages in terms of brittleness, crack authenticity, stress field visualization, and fracture characteristics, and the result will provide experimental and theoretical references for research on three-dimensional problems and internal cracks in fracture mechanics. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop