The Impact of Nanomaterials in Smart Construction Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials are coming into use in different domains, such as healthcare, electronics, cosmetics, civil engineering, and other areas. Applications of nanomaterials in civil engineering can generate smart construction materials with many specific characteristics, such as: self-cleaning, lighter and stronger, photocatalytic effect, good thermal and acoustic insulation, high mechanical performance, pozzolanic reactions activation, etc.

According to the several definitions given to nanomaterials, we can propose the following definition: nanomaterials are materials which have nano size less than 100 nm for at least one external dimension or have nano size less than 100 nm in external or internal structure. This nanometric size gives them unique or exceptional properties in comparison to their counterpart materials and these properties provide the possibility of or contribute to the creation of smart materials.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present the beneficial uses of nanomaterials for improving properties in civil engineering, as in:

1)   Cement and substitution (nanosilica, nanoclay, CNT, fly ashes, slag, etc.);

2)   Geopolymers;

3)   Sediment and sol treatment;

4)    Roads and paving;

5)    Green building (biosourced materials, low-CO₂ cement, etc.);

6)    Mechanical properties, creep, fracture, and cracking;

7)    Durability and transport phenomena;

8)    Nanomaterials and their effect on building additive manufacturing (3D printing).

Prof. Rabah Hamzaoui
Guest Editor

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