Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.4
3.1
Journals
Buildings
Special Issues
Research on the Crack Control of Concrete
share announcement

Research on the Crack Control of Concrete

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 7581

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lepeng Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
Interests: green construction; intelligent construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zuowei Liu

E-Mail
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
Interests: concrete modification; concrete composites; fly ash concrete; recycled coarse aggregate concrete; life cycle assessment; sustainability; flexural strength; tensile splitting strength
Lin Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
Interests: high-strength concrete; mechanical property; fly ash concrete; decarburization; green construction; sustainable construction materials; green building materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete is one of the most commonly used materials in building construction; however, cracking is a significant challenge constraining its performance and longevity. This Special Issue focuses on the latest research developments in the concrete cracking control field, providing a platform for engineers, researchers and experts in related fields to gain insight into and discuss the subject. This Special Issue aims to cover a representative range of research and review papers on various aspects of concrete cracking, including cracking mechanisms, prevention measures, material modification, design guidelines and structural performance. These papers present readers with new theories, design methods, construction techniques and innovative materials to reduce the risk of cracking and enhance the performance and durability of concrete structures. Our academic committee has rigorously reviewed these papers to ensure their quality and innovation. Through these papers, we hope to provide an in-depth understanding of concrete cracking problems to our readers and to advance research and practice in this relevant field.

Dr. Lepeng Huang
Dr. Zuowei Liu
Guest Editors

Lin Chen
Guest Editor Assistant

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. 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

  • concrete cracking
  • crack control
  • cracking mechanisms
  • prevention strategies
  • material modification
  • design guidelines
  • structural performance
  • durability
  • innovative solutions
  • research advancements

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

21 pages, 7200 KiB  
Article
Study on Seasonal Permafrost Roadbed Deformation Based on Water–Heat Coupling Characteristics
by Bo Lu, Wen Zhao, Shengang Li, Manman Dong, Zhikang Xia and Yunfang Shi
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2710; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092710 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 448
Abstract
The deformation and damage to seasonal permafrost roadbeds, as seasons shift, stems from the intricate interplay of temperature, moisture, and stress fields. Fundamentally, the frost heave and thaw-induced settlement of soil represent a multi-physics coupling phenomenon, where various physical processes interact and influence [...] Read more.
The deformation and damage to seasonal permafrost roadbeds, as seasons shift, stems from the intricate interplay of temperature, moisture, and stress fields. Fundamentally, the frost heave and thaw-induced settlement of soil represent a multi-physics coupling phenomenon, where various physical processes interact and influence each other. In this investigation, a comprehensive co-coupling numerical simulation of both the temperature and moisture fields was successfully executed, utilizing the secondary development module within the finite element software, COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0. This simulation inverted the classical freezing–thawing experiment involving a soil column under constant temperature conditions, yielding simulation results that were in excellent agreement with the experimental outcomes, with an error of no more than 10%. Accordingly, the temperature, ice content, and liquid water content distributions within the seasonal permafrost region were derived. These parameters were then incorporated into the stress field analysis to explore the intricate coupling between the moisture and temperature fields with the displacement field. Subsequently, the frost heave and thaw settlement deformations of the roadbed were calculated, accounting for seasonal variations, thereby gaining insights into their dynamic behavior. The research results show that during the process of freezing and thawing, water migrates from the frozen zone towards the unfrozen zone, with the maximum migration amount reaching 20% of the water content, culminating in its accumulation at the interface separating the two. Following multiple freeze–thaw cycles, this study reveals that the maximum extent of freezing within the roadbed reaches 2.5 m, while the road shoulder experiences a maximum freezing depth of 2 m. A continuous trend of heightened frost heave and thaw settlement deformation of the roadbed is observed in response to temperature fluctuations, leading to the uneven deformation of the road surface. Specifically, the maximum frost heave measured was 51 mm, while the maximum thaw settlement amounted to 13 mm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on the Crack Control of Concrete)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 881 KiB  
Article
Parallelization Strategy for 3D Probabilistic Numerical Cracking Model Applied to Large Concrete Structures
by Mariane Rodrigues Rita, Pierre Rossi, Eduardo de Moraes Rego Fairbairn, Fernando Luiz Bastos Ribeiro, Jean-Louis Tailhan, Henrique Conde Carvalho de Andrade and Magno Teixeira Mota
Buildings 2024, 14(8), 2327; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082327 - 27 Jul 2024
Viewed by 577
Abstract
This work presents the application of a finite element model utilizing a three-dimensional (3D) probabilistic semi-explicit cracking model to analyze the rupture process of a large concrete wall beam. The numerical analysis predicts both the global behavior of the structure and its primary [...] Read more.
This work presents the application of a finite element model utilizing a three-dimensional (3D) probabilistic semi-explicit cracking model to analyze the rupture process of a large concrete wall beam. The numerical analysis predicts both the global behavior of the structure and its primary rupture mechanisms, utilizing three different finite element mesh refinements to ensure robustness. A Monte Carlo (MC) procedure is integrated into the modeling approach to account for probabilistic variations of the material properties. The statistical analysis derived from this probabilistic model may sometimes result in overly conservative safety coefficients, particularly when using a coarse mesh. Additionally, the detailed understanding of the structure’s cracking process, regardless of its rupture mechanism, may experience some reduction in precision. Due to the necessity of numerous simulations to achieve statistically significant results, the MC procedure can become computationally expensive. To address this, a straightforward parallelization of the Monte Carlo procedure was implemented, allowing multiple finite element analyses to be conducted concurrently. This strategy significantly reduced computational time, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the numerical model in performing numerical simulations of structural engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on the Crack Control of Concrete)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2855 KiB  
Article
Plastic Zone Radius Criteria for Crack Propagation Angle Evaluated with Experimentally Obtained Displacement Fields
by Jorge Guillermo Díaz-Rodríguez, Alberto David Pertúz-Comas, Oscar Rodolfo Bohórquez-Becerra, Arthur Martins Barbosa Braga and Darío Prada-Parra
Buildings 2024, 14(2), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020495 - 10 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1143
Abstract
The monitoring and maintenance of cracked structures are generally carried out using structural integrity assessments. The plastic zone (PZ) crack path (CP) criteria state that a crack grows in a specific direction when the radius of the plastic zone ahead of the crack [...] Read more.
The monitoring and maintenance of cracked structures are generally carried out using structural integrity assessments. The plastic zone (PZ) crack path (CP) criteria state that a crack grows in a specific direction when the radius of the plastic zone ahead of the crack tip reaches a minimum value. The PZ can be evaluated using stress intensity factors (SIFs). The SIFs under mixed-mode loading were extracted from the literature from three samples: two single edge notch tension (SENT) samples (E = 2.5 GPa, v = 0.38) made from polycarbonate and one modified compact test (C(T)) sample made from low-carbon steel (E = 200 GPa, v = 0.3). In addition, the CP angle was evaluated for the W and R criteria with experimental data, which included non-linear effects such as fatigue-induced plasticity, crack roughness, and debris. It was found that both can predict the CP for lateral cracks in both tested materials and monotonic and cyclic load when the mode mixity does not change considerably from one crack length to the next or goes beyond 0.2. Moreover, the R criterion exhibited an error as high as 1.7%, whereas the W criterion showed a 6% error on the last crack length for the low-carbon steel sample under cyclic load, which had a 100% increase in mode mixity. Finally, the applicability of LEFM was checked, while the CP was sought by finding the size of the PZ. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on the Crack Control of Concrete)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 7453 KiB  
Article
A Quasi-2D Exploration of Mixed-Mode Fracture Propagation in Concrete Semi-Circular Chevron-Notched Disks
by Xiaoqing Lu and Guanxi Yan
Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2633; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102633 - 19 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1188
Abstract
Most semi-circular bend (SCB) tests on concrete have been conducted with a pre-crack with a straight-through tip, thereby undermining the determination of the tensile fracture toughness (KIc). Therefore, the present study involved mixed-mode (tensile–shearing) fracture propagation in concrete semi-circular chevron-notched [...] Read more.
Most semi-circular bend (SCB) tests on concrete have been conducted with a pre-crack with a straight-through tip, thereby undermining the determination of the tensile fracture toughness (KIc). Therefore, the present study involved mixed-mode (tensile–shearing) fracture propagation in concrete semi-circular chevron-notched disks (i.e., with a sharp notch tip) using SCB tests and the FRANC2D numerical simulation software. The inclined notch angle (β) was varied from 0° to 70° while the other settings remained fixed, and the crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) of the notch was measured constantly. The stress distribution was analyzed using finite-element simulations, and the experimental results showed that this testing method was robust. The maximum failure load and the fracture propagation angle increased with β, and wing fracture was observed. With FRANC2D simulating these SCB tests successfully, it was found that the tensile stress concentration around the notch tip moved toward the upper face of the notch, and the compressive stress concentration formed on the notch tip. The tensile mode was generated as the CMOD kept increasing for β = 0–30°, whereas the mixed mode became more evident as the CMOD kept decreasing for β = 45–70°. The fracture process zone was found for β = 0–30° but not for β = 45–70°. This mixed-mode fracture is predicted better by the criterion of extended maximum tangential strain than by other criteria, and there is a linear relationship between CMOD and KIc, as examined previously for pavement and concrete materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on the Crack Control of Concrete)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 18279 KiB  
Article
Moisture Diffusion Coefficient of Concrete under Different Conditions
by Fengbin Zhou, Wenhao Li, Ying Hu, Lepeng Huang, Zhuolin Xie, Jun Yang, Daifeng Wu and Zhonghao Chen
Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2421; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102421 - 22 Sep 2023
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2029
Abstract
Humidity change in concrete is the leading cause of concrete shrinkage. Moreover, the moisture diffusion coefficient of concrete is an essential parameter for assessing and predicting the internal moisture content of concrete. However, there is a lack of theoretical construction and experimental studies [...] Read more.
Humidity change in concrete is the leading cause of concrete shrinkage. Moreover, the moisture diffusion coefficient of concrete is an essential parameter for assessing and predicting the internal moisture content of concrete. However, there is a lack of theoretical construction and experimental studies on the effect of different conditions, especially different constraints, on the moisture diffusion coefficient of concrete. Therefore, the internal humidity, pore structure parameters, and basic mechanical properties of concrete under different strength grades C30, C40, C50, and C60 (C stands for concrete and numbers indicate the strength class of the concrete), curing environments (dry and sealed curing conditions), and constraints were tested in this study. In addition, a calculation model of concrete’s internal humidity and humidity diffusion coefficient was established. The research findings show that the internal humidity of concrete decreased with age due to hydration and drying. External humidity had a significant effect on the moisture change of concrete, and the lower the external humidity, the larger the humidity diffusion coefficient and the faster the internal humidity of concrete decreases. Reinforcement (confinement) changes the pore structure parameters of the concrete, which in turn affects the transport of moisture within the concrete. The higher the reinforcement rate, the larger the pore structure parameters of the concrete, the larger the humidity diffusion coefficient, and the faster the concrete humidity decreases. The method proposed in the study can accurately predict the internal humidity of concrete using the humidity diffusion coefficient. The research results are a reference for preventing concrete shrinkage and cracking in construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on the Crack Control of Concrete)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 4473 KiB  
Article
Early Shrinkage Modeling of Complex Internally Confined Concrete Based on Capillary Tension Theory
by Fengbin Zhou, Hao Jiang, Lepeng Huang, Ying Hu, Zhuolin Xie, Zhikai Zeng, Maoyi Liu, Bo Wang and Xingyang Zhou
Buildings 2023, 13(9), 2201; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13092201 - 29 Aug 2023
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 1389
Abstract
This paper evaluates the shrinkage performance of concrete under complex internal constraint environments comprising steel plates, studs, and reinforcement to investigate their respective influence laws on the shrinkage performance of concrete. An early shrinkage model of concrete under complex internal constraints was established [...] Read more.
This paper evaluates the shrinkage performance of concrete under complex internal constraint environments comprising steel plates, studs, and reinforcement to investigate their respective influence laws on the shrinkage performance of concrete. An early shrinkage model of concrete under complex internal constraints was established based on the theory of capillary tension, and the effects of steel plate, nails, and steel reinforcement on the shrinkage performance of concrete were theoretically analyzed. Six sets of concrete-constrained shrinkage tests and pore structure tests were then performed under different internal constraint conditions with the steel plate thickness, reinforcement diameter, and stud-related parameters (stud diameter, height, and spacing) as research variables. The test results demonstrate that the pore structure of concrete increases with the increase in the constraint coefficient, and that the increase in the pore structure will cause a decrease in the capillary pore stress, which is the driving force of concrete shrinkage. Its decrease will inevitably lead to a decrease in concrete shrinkage. By comparing the calculated values of the shrinkage model with the measured values, it is found that the average value of the prediction error is less than 15%, which reveals that the predicted values of shrinkage are in good agreement with the measured values and proves that the model can effectively predict the shrinkage of concrete that is restrained by steel plates, pins, and reinforcing bars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on the Crack Control of Concrete)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop