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Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2022) | Viewed by 14265

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yeonho Park

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
Interests: composite materials; fiber reinforced concreteconcrete pipe; FRP reinforced system; acoustic emission

Prof. Dr. Young Hoon Kim

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Guest Editor

Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
Interests: structural engineering; construction materials; structural reliability; structural dynamics; structural testing and evaluation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mechanical properties are the basic properties considered in the design, construction, and repair of structures. For advancing the performance of construction materials, conventional and innovative cementitious materials have been investigated using novel experimental and analytical approaches., Various cementitious materials have recently been introduced and developed for sustainability and multi-functionality. However, advanced cementitious materials require a better understanding of the mechanical properties for real applications. This Special Issue of Applied Sciences, “Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials”, focuses on reporting state-of-art studies regarding the advancement of mechanical properties of various cementitious materials. The intention is to present novel experimental/analytical approaches for characterizing the mechanical properties of cementitious materials in the context of civil infrastructure that reflect contemporary understanding. Broadly, mechanical properties can be measured and evaluated by standard or nonstandard testing methods for compressive strength, tensile strength, bond strength, ductility, time-dependent mechanical properties, dimensional stability, dynamic properties, degradation of these properties, etc. In addition, submissions on state-of-art modeling techniques and innovative experimental approaches are highly encouraged. The submission of original research articles, critical review articles, and experimental and analytical studies focused on the mechanical properties of advanced cementitious materials for the structural components and systems is warmly encouraged. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

Traditional/supplementary cementitious materials
Macro/micro/nanomaterials reinforced concrete
Effect of various loading types
Time-dependent behavior and durability
Experimental approaches and modeling

Dr. Yeonho Park
Prof. Young Hoon Kim
Guest Editors

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Keywords

construction materials
concrete
building
bridge
mechanical properties
durability
degradation
modeling

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 157 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue on Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials

by Young Hoon Kim and Yeonho Park

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(21), 11167; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122111167 - 4 Nov 2022

Viewed by 893

Abstract

Concrete is the most-produced product on the planet [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

17 pages, 5622 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Rice Straw on Tensile Properties of Tailings Cemented Paste Backfill

by Zeyu Li, Xiuzhi Shi and Xin Chen

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010526 - 5 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2772

Abstract

It is important and difficult to improve the tensile strength of backfill material to ensure the stability of goafs. In this study, rice straw (RS) in fiber form is used to improve the tensile properties of cemented paste backfill (CPB). An orthogonal experiment was designed, Brazilian indirect tensile strength tests were conducted to test the tensile performance of RS fiber-reinforced cemented paste backfill (RSCPB) under different fiber content (1, 2, 3 kg/m³) and fiber length (0.8~1, 1~3, 3~5 cm), and the microstructure of RSCPB was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that, compared with the conventional cemented paste backfill (CCPB), the increase in tensile strength of RSCPB ranged from 115.38% to 300.00% at 3 days curing age, 40.91% to 346.15% at 7 days, and −38.10% to 28.00% at 28 days, and the strain was slightly reduced during the curing period. The tensile strength, strain, and percentage increase of the RSCPB compared to the CCBP did not show a monotonic pattern of variation with the RS fiber content and length during the curing period. The RSCPB samples fractured under peak stress, showing obvious brittle failure. In addition, sulfate generated from S²⁻ in the tailings inhibits the hydration reaction, and generates swelling products that form weak structural surfaces, which, in turn, lead to a 28-day tensile strength and strain of RSCPB lower than those at 7 days. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials)

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21 pages, 79320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

State-of-the-Art Modification of Plastic Aggregates Using Gamma Irradiation and Its Optimization for Application to Cementitious Composites

by Heonseok Lee, Hyeonwook Cheon, Yonghak Kang, Seungjun Roh and Woosuk Kim

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10340; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110340 - 3 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2095

Abstract

In the past few decades, there have been numerous attempts to add plastic aggregates composed of polymeric materials to cementitious composites, either as an alternative to using natural aggregates or as fillers and fibers. However, the addition of plastic aggregates often results in cementitious composites with lower mechanical performance. In this paper, we attempt to address this issue by applying gamma irradiation technology to restore the mechanical performance. We aimed to determine the optimal gamma irradiation and mixing combinations by comparing the experimental results with information summarizing the recent literature related to the use of gamma-irradiated plastic aggregates within cementitious composites. To this end, the effects of changes in the physical and chemical properties of plastics due to irradiation with gamma irradiation on the strength of cementitious composites were evaluated using irradiation doses of 25, 50, 75, and 100 kGy and various plastic materials as key parameters. In the compressive strength test, it was found that adding gamma-irradiated plastic increased the compressive strength of the cementitious composites compared to the nonirradiated plastic. This suggests that the irradiation of plastic aggregates with gamma rays is an effective method to recover some of the strength lost when plastic aggregates are added to cementitious composites. In addition, modifications in the microstructure and chemical properties of the gamma-irradiated plastic were analyzed through SEM and FT-IR analysis, which allowed the determination of the strength enhancement mechanism. The results of this study show the possibility of the state-of-the-art performance improvement method for using plastic aggregate as a substitute for natural aggregate, going further from the plastic performance improvement technology for limited materials and radiation dose presented in previous studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials)

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17 pages, 3812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Strength and Resistance to Sulfate Attack in Bio-Coating Material through Negative Pressure Method for Bacteria Immobilization

by Keun-Hyeok Yang, Seung-Jun Kwon and Hyun-Sub Yoon

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9113; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199113 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1708

Abstract

In recent years, many studies have been performed on the crack repairing technique in concrete or the protection of the concrete surface against sulfate ions. Bacterial immobilization and survival rate are the dominant influencing factors for the repair of concrete. In this study, a negative pressure method (NPM) was developed to forcibly remove air in the porous materials of concrete, which was applied for surface repair through bio-coating using Rhodobacter capsualtus. For normal repair—repair using the conventional simple soaking method (SSM) and repair through NPM—various evaluations of the concrete strength and durability were performed. Since a reinforced concrete (RC) structure for the application of these repair methods is a sewer pipe exposed to sulfate ingress, variations in concrete mass and strength were analyzed by the accelerated sulfate resistance test. The diffusion coefficient of the sulfate ion in the repair materials and the bacterial count after the accelerating test were also measured. In order to investigate the changes in the properties of the concrete hydrates, surface analyses with SEM, XRD, and TGA were carried out on the concrete under the repair layer after the tests. In all the experimental results, the bacterial immobilization rate was evaluated, and the high immobilization rate indicates the excellent shielding of sulfate ions as well as improves the survival rate of bacteria. This not only improves the service life of the coating repair but also extends the service life of the structure itself. As a result of analyzing the composition of concrete protected by different types of repair, the results most similar to the general concrete composition without sulfate attack were obtained in the case of applying NPM, which shows the least damage from sulfate attack. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials)

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19 pages, 2261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Prediction Models of Creep and Drying Shrinkage of Self-Consolidating Concrete Containing Supplementary Cementitious Materials/Fillers

by Micheal Asaad and George Morcous

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7345; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167345 - 10 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1929

Abstract

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and fillers play an important role in enhancing the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. SCMs and fillers are commonly used in self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixtures to also enhance their rheological properties. However, these additives could have significant effects on the viscoelastic properties of concrete. Existing models for predicting creep and drying shrinkage of concrete do not consider the effect of SCM/filler on the predicted values. This study evaluates existing creep and drying shrinkage models, including AASHTO LRFD, ACI209, CEB-FIP MC90-99, B3, and GL2000, for SCC mixtures with different SCMs/fillers. Forty SCC mixtures were proportioned for different cast-in-place bridge components and tested for drying shrinkage. A set of eight SCC mixtures with the highest paste content was tested for creep. Shrinkage and creep test results indicated that AASHTO LRFD provides better creep prediction than the other models for SCC with different SCMs/fillers. Although all models underestimate drying shrinkage of SCC with different SCMs/fillers, the GL2000, CEB-FIP MC90-99, and ACI 209 models provide better prediction than AASHTO LRFD and B3 models. Additionally, SCC mixtures with limestone powder filler exhibited the highest creep, while those with class C fly ash exhibited the highest drying shrinkage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials)

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13 pages, 3616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on the Performance of Concrete Containing Water-Cooled and Air-Cooled Slag

by Seung-Tae Lee, Se-Ho Park, Dong-Gyou Kim and Jae-Mo Kang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7291; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167291 - 8 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2471

Abstract

An experimental study on the resistance of concrete containing air-cooled slag (AS) and water-cooled slag (WS) against freeze–thaw cycles was conducted. For comparison, the durability of ASTM Type I ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete exposed to the same freeze–thaw environment was examined. To evaluate the durability of concrete exposed to the freeze–thaw environment, an experiment was conducted according to ASTM C 666 procedure A. Furthermore, the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, surface electrical resistivity, and compressive strength of concrete specimens were measured after exposing them to freeze–thaw cycles for a predetermined period, and the results were compared with those of OPC concrete. The relationship between the freeze and thaw resistances of concrete and the air-void system (spacing factor and specific surface area) was identified. Furthermore, the microstructure of concrete exposed to freeze–thaw cycles was observed using scanning electron microscopy to identify the interfacial transition zone, cracks, and micropores. Experimental results showed that the resistance of blended cement concrete containing WS and AS against freeze–thaw cycles was significantly higher than that of OPC concrete. The concrete in which 10% of OPC was replaced by AS exhibited a similar durability as that of the concrete in which 40% of OPC was replaced only by WS. Therefore, it is expected that blended cement concrete containing WS and AS based on an appropriate mix proportion design will exhibit excellent durability in regions experiencing freezing temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials)

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14 pages, 7144 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Some Additives on the Properties of OPC Solidified Sandy Silt

by Dazhi Wu, Keyu Chen, Zilong Zhang and Lifu Chang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7252; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167252 - 6 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1268

Abstract

The ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based solidification process is used extensively to reinforce soils due to its available and good bonding properties. Alternative products are used in cementitious materials to enhance the strength and to reduce OPC consumption. In this study, the effect of additive type and mass fraction on the microstructure and mechanical properties of solidified sandy silt are investigated. There are four types of additives (gypsum, lime, clay particles, and fly ash) at mass fractions of 2, 3, and 4% that are considered in order to study their mechanical properties (unconfined compression, indirect tensile, flexural strength, and compressive resilient modulus) at 7, 14, 28, 60, and 90 days. The optimal contents of additive gypsum, clay particles, and fly ash are determined to be 2%, 4%, and 4%, respectively. Such improvement of additive-modified OPC solidified sandy silt is due to the formation of the crystalline compound or the gradation composition improvement via field emission scanning electron and X-ray diffraction analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research and Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Cementitious Materials)

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