High-performance Cementitious Composites Research Articles

Application of high-performance cementitious composites in steel–concrete composite bridge deck systems: A review

Application of high-performance cementitious composites in steel–concrete composite bridge deck systems: A review

Effects of Multidimensional Carbon-Based Nanomaterials on the Low-Carbon and High-Performance Cementitious Composites: A Critical Review.

Cementitious composites are ubiquitous in construction, and more and more research is focused on improving mechanical properties and environmental effects. However, the jury is still out on which material can achieve low-carbon and high-performance cementitious composites. This article compares the mechanical and environmental performance of zero-dimensional fullerenes, one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs), two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO), and three-dimensional nano-graphite platelets (NGPs) on cementitious composites. The literature review shows that two-dimensional (2D) GO has the best mechanical and environmental performance, followed by 3D NGPs, 1D CNTs, and 0D fullerenes. Specifically, GO stands out for its lower energy consumption (120-140 MJ/kg) and CO2 emissions (0.17 kg/kg). When the optimal dosage (0.01-0.05 wt%) of GO is selected, due to its high specific surface area and strong adhesion to the matrix, the compressive strength of the cementitious composites is improved by nearly 50%. This study will help engineers and researchers better utilize carbon-based nanomaterials and provide guidance and direction for future research in related fields.

High-performance cementitious composites containing nanostructured carbon additives made from charred coal fines.

Carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, and carbon quantum dots, have many possible end-use applications due to their ability to impart unique mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties to cement composites. Despite this potential, these materials are rarely used in the construction industry due to high material costs and limited data on performance and durability. In this study, domestic coal is used to fabricate low-cost carbon nanomaterials that can be used economically in cement formulations. A range of chemical and physical processing approaches are employed to control the size, morphology, and chemical functionalization of the carbon nanomaterial, which improves its miscibility with cement formulations and its impact on mechanical properties and durability. At loadings of 0.01 to 0.07wt.% of coal-derived carbon nanomaterial, the compressive and flexural strength of cement samples are enhanced by 24% and 23%, respectively, in comparison to neat cement. At loadings of 0.02 to 0.06wt.%, the compressive and flexural strength of concrete composites increases by 28% and 21%, respectively, in comparison to neat samples. Additionally, the carbon nanomaterial additives studied in this work reduce cement porosity by 36%, permeability by 86%, and chloride penetration depth by 60%. These results illustrate that low-loadings of coal-derived carbon nanomaterial additives can improve the mechanical properties, durability, and corrosion resistance of cement composites.

Investigating the properties and microstructure of high-performance cement composites with nano-silica, silica fume, and ultra-fine TiO2

Investigating the properties and microstructure of high-performance cement composites with nano-silica, silica fume, and ultra-fine TiO2

Investigation Of Usability of Sepiolite as a Pozzolan in Production of High Performance Cementitious Composites

The continuous growth of population and urbanization in the world significantly increases the demand for cement. In terms of sustainability, the cement industry needs to develop new and effective pozzolans with the appropriate recycling of alternative raw materials. It is also important to evaluate sepiolite, which has very limited resources in the world compared to other industrial minerals and whose economic deposits are limited to Spain and Türkiye. In this study, the usability of sepiolite as a pozzolan in cement and its effects on physical, mechanical and durability properties were investigated. First of all, the chemical and physical properties of sepiolite in Eskisehir region were investigated. Crude and ground sepiolite calcined at 500 ºC, 700 ºC and 900ºC were substituted for CEM I 42.5 R class standard Portland cement at 5-10-15% and 20% ratios. The pozzolanic activities of produced sepiolite substituted cement were determined according to ASTM C-311. As a result, crude sepiolite retains more water than calcined sepiolite, thus negatively affecting the strength properties of the concrete. Additionally, sepiolite is considered suspicious (harmful-harmless) in terms of alkali silica reactivity except 10%-15%-20% crude sepiolite substitutions. Overall, It has been observed that sepiolite does not have sufficient pozzolanic properties in cementitious composites.

Cracking risk of high-performance cement composites due to restrained autogenous shrinkage with and without soaked lightweight aggregate

Cracking risk of high-performance cement composites due to restrained autogenous shrinkage with and without soaked lightweight aggregate

Self-sensing characteristics of smart high-performance cementitious composites containing multiwall carbon nanotubes, steel fibers, and steel slag aggregates under compression

Smart high-performance cementitious composite (SHPCC) with sensing abilities, high mechanical, and high durability is a potential smart material instead of current sensors applied for structural health monitoring systems of infrastructures. This study deeply investigated the sensing properties of SHPCCs containing multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), steel fibers, and steel slag aggregates (SSAs) under compression. SHPCCs containing different contents of MWCNTs (0.1% and 0.5% of cement weight), steel fibers (2 and 4 vol%), SSAs (10% and 50% instead of sand), and free water (fully dried and moisture specimens) were prepared and evaluated. The results indicated that the SSA content was a key factor controlling the electrically conductive network response and the stress-sensing ability of SHPCCs. MWCNTs significantly enhanced the stress-sensing ability of fully dried SHPCCs under compression. Besides, the free water content in pore systems significantly influenced the stress-sensing ability of SHPCCs. A conductive network of SHPCCs with MWCNTs, fibers, SSAs, and free water at micro and nano levels was proposed and analyzed to explain the electrical resistivity response under compression.

Experiment and finite element modelling on compressive and damage evolution of graphene nanoplatelet reinforced Porous cement composites

As reinforcing nano-fillers, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have shown considerable promise for developing high-performance cement composites. However, the influence of GNP orientation and pores on the compressive and damage evolution of the GNP reinforced cement composites (GNPRCCs) remains unclear. This work employs three-dimensional finite element modeling along with experiments to provide fundamental insights into the property-microstructure relationships in the GNPRCCs. The model which incorporates GNP and pore as individual phases with cohesive interactions is developed and validated. The simulations reveal that the alignment of GNPs at 45° has the most significant effect on improving the load-bearing capacity and damage resistance of the GNPRCCs. A larger GNP diameter-to-thickness ratio is more beneficial for enhancing crack bridging and propagation control. The orientation and porosity of pores are evidenced to have significant effects on the damage behaviours of the GNPRCCs, where the pore shape shows negligible effects. These findings elucidate the underlying mechanisms that underpin the mechanical behavior of GNPRCCs, providing key guidelines to tailor and optimize the microstructural features for advanced construction materials with superior performance and durability.

Hydrophobic treatment on hollow glass microspheres for enhancing the flowability of lightweight high-performance cementitious composites

The use of hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) in a low water-to-binder matrix generally hinders the flowability of the composite due to the high water absorption capacity of HGMs. This study investigated the feasibility of improving the flow behavior of lightweight high-performance cementitious composites (L-HPC) by adding microspheres with hydrophobic treatment. The hydrophobic HGMs were prepared with a ball milling method using low-cost stearic acid. The successfully modified hydrophobic HGMs were then used for the preparation of L-HPC. The results show that the production, including milling for 2–8 h with a 4 wt% addition of stearic acid, can convert hydrophilic HGMs into hydrophobic ones, with the water contact angle increasing from 0° to 102–154° (as a function of processing time). The diffraction peaks and phase transition latent heat results also proved the modification of the surface of HGMs with a hydrophobic coating layer. Cement hydration monitoring demonstrated that the hydrophobic HGMs hardly absorbed water and did not show significant wetting behavior during mixing. Since more water was available for cement hydration due to the hydrophobic effect of HGMs, the formation of hydration products and flowability were significantly increased. The presence of stearic acid delayed the contact time between some cement particles and water, thereby slowing down the heat release rate, resulting in the prevention of potential early cracking with the maintenance of high strength exhibition even with the enhanced flowability.

Effect of modified nano-SiO2 on properties and microstructure of the high-performance cementitious composites

The effect of modified nano-SiO2 (MNS) on the performance of high-performance cementitious composites (HPCC) was investigated and the underlying mechanism was revealed by various microscopic analysis and testing methods. Results indicated that the fluidity of HPCC initially increased and then decreased with the increase of MNS content. Meanwhile, The HPCC with 0.8% MNS exhibited a 25% increase in compressive strength at the curing age of 3 days, while the HPCC with 0.8% nano-SiO2 showed a 10% increase. Compared with the reference mixture, the durability and autogenous shrinkage of HPCC with MNS were significantly improved, the chloride diffusion coefficient of HPCC with 0.8% MNS decreased by 25.9%. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis results of hydration process and hydration products show that the inclusion of nano-materials accelerated the hydration rate of cementitious composites, resulting in increased cumulative heat release. HPCC with MNS exhibited a higher generation of amorphous phases and greater consumption of calcium hydroxide compared with reference mixture. Moreover, the addition of MNS effectively refined the pore size of HPCC and converted some harmful pores into less harmful or harmless pores, enhancing the microstructure of HPCC with MNS and improving the interface transition zone. This optimization was mainly attributed to the effect of filling, nucleation of crystal and pozzolanic reactive of nano-materials, which further benefit from the good dispersion of MNS, resulting in excellent mechanical properties and durability of HPCC.

Experimental investigations of aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles on properties of cementitious composites using macro and micro scale tests

The potential to use nanomaterials to produce high-performance cementitious composites is gradually developing. This study designed novel cementitious composites containing aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles (AHNPs), considering features such as amphoterism, functional groups, and compatibility with cement components. The percolation threshold of the AHNP dosage in cementitious composites was calculated as 0.5% by weight replacing cement, and cementitious composites containing 0.5% wt. AHNP have 1.11- and 1.94-fold greater compressive and flexural strength than plain cementitious composites, respectively. AHNPs increased the portlandite content and decreased the calcite content due to redox reactions and the formation of dmitryivanovite in the cement matrix. Compared with plain paste, the application of hybrid 0.3% wt. AHNPs and 0.1% wt. GO increased the compressive strength by 92.55%, flexural strength by 83.74%, fracture toughness by 5.29%, and calcite content by 35.38%. This combination also achieved increases of 72.38% in compressive strength, 18.23% in flexural strength, 10.91% in fracture toughness, and 5.18% in calcite content compared to cementitious composites modified with 0.1% wt. GO. GO and AHNPs generated a more compact structure due to their mutual hydrogen bonding capacity and thus enhanced the macro- and micro properties of cementitious composites by facilitating hydration.

A comparative study on dynamic mechanical property and carbonation-hydration kinetics of CO2-cured high performance cementitious composites

High performance cementitious composites with limited carbon emission and enhanced dynamic mechanical property is prospective in developing eco-efficient concrete structures that can both sequestrate carbon and suffer impact loads especially for protection facilities. For the aim, static and dynamic mechanical properties of 2% steel fiber (wt.%), 15% silica fume (SF) and 20% fly ash microsphere (FAM) added cementitious composites with CO2 curing treatment were explored. Spilt Hopkinson Pressure Bar testing system (SHPB) coupled with high-speed camera were adopted, carbonation-hydration kinetics in the process of CO2 curing treatment was also focused using a modified isothermal calorimetry method. It was found that carbonated high performance cementitious composites of C-8 showed the highest 1-d and 56-d static compressive strengths, correspondingly with 63.4 MPa and 114.7 MPa, its dynamic compressive strength increased with strain rates, almost reached to 120 MPa at 111 s−1. Drastic carbonation heat flow with peak value of 0.044 W/g and a normally subsequent hydration process were innovatively revealed in the high performance cementitious composites.

Enhancing Cementitious Composites with Functionalized Graphene Oxide-Based Materials: Surface Chemistry and Mechanisms.

Graphene oxide-based materials (GOBMs) have been widely explored as nano-reinforcements in cementitious composites due to their unique properties. Oxygen-containing functional groups in GOBMs are crucial for enhancing the microstructure of cementitious composites. A better comprehension of their surface chemistry and mechanisms is required to advance the potential applications in cementitious composites of functionalized GOBMs. However, the mechanism by which the oxygen-containing functional groups enhance the response of cementitious composites is still unclear, and controlling the surface chemistry of GOBMs is currently constrained. This review aims to investigate the reactions and mechanisms for functionalized GOBMs as additives incorporated in cement composites. A variety of GOBMs, including graphene oxide (GO), hydroxylated graphene (HO-G), edge-carboxylated graphene (ECG), edge-oxidized graphene oxide (EOGO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and GO/silane composite, are discussed with regard to their oxygen functional groups and interactions with the cement microstructure. This review provides insight into the potential benefits of using GOBMs as nano-reinforcements in cementitious composites. A better understanding of the surface chemistry and mechanisms of GOBMs will enable the development of more effective functionalization strategies and open up new possibilities for the design of high-performance cementitious composites.

Characterization of high-performance concrete using limestone powder and supplementary fillers in binary and ternary blends under different curing regimes

Although the dumping of waste generated by industries in the environment poses a hazard, it is feasible to use waste and unused materials to manufacture high-performance concrete. By recycling these wastes in binary and ternary blends, sustainable and durable concrete mixtures can be created, resulting in the development of sustainable concrete structures. Therefore, a research project was undertaken to develop high-performance concrete (HPC) using available supplementary and waste materials, such as fly ash (FA), silica fume (SF), Quartz filler (QF), and limestone powder (LSP), as partial replacements for cement in binary and ternary blends under various curing conditions. Different percentages (5, 8, 10, 15, 20%) of the supplementary materials were mixed in binary and ternary combinations to determine the optimal dosage for high-performance concrete. The fresh and hardened properties of the concrete were evaluated using various tests, including slump, compressive strength, rapid chloride ion permeability, porosity, and drying shrinkage tests. The prepared concrete specimens were tested using various concentrations of binder replacement in binary, ternary, and quaternary combinations. The results showed that incorporating quartz filler as a partial replacement of cement up to 8% yielded positive results regarding mechanical properties. However, all mixtures containing different dosages of SF, QF, FA, and LSP demonstrated significant improvement in durability-related properties under normal and high-temperature curing conditions. Interestingly, the porosity of mixtures incorporating fly ash and LSP showed a slight increase compared to identical specimens under normal curing conditions. Moreover, the drying shrinkage behavior of ultrafine fillers (QF, SF, LSP, FA) indicated that their incorporation led to an increase in the shrinkage of high-performance mixtures under normal and high-temperature curing conditions. Binary and ternary blends incorporating QF, LSP, and SF showed an increase of around 5–8% in shrinkage under high-temperature curing compared to identical specimens under normal curing conditions. Therefore, it can be concluded that QF, LSP, SF, and FA can be efficiently used to produce high-performance cementitious composites, leading to sustainable concrete material.

Nanoindentation technique in characterizing cementitious materials– A review

Concrete is a highly heterogeneous composite containing randomly dispersed inclusions with length scale ranging from nano to micro meters. Recent advanced technological aspects of cementitious materials research have mostly concentrated on developing high-strength, high-performance cementitious composites. Many macroscopic properties such as the mechanical, physical, and durability characteristics of cement-based materials originate from the underlying material structure as well as the interaction between phases at the nano and micro scales. Instrumented nanoindentation technology has demonstrated its worth by revealing remarkable details about the material microstructure of homogenous materials. Nanoindentation is becoming increasingly popular among construction and building materials researchers. Because it is able to accurately predict the macroscopic behaviour of concrete samples based on the results of cement paste indentation testing, it is used in heterogeneous materials such as cementitious composites. When an indenter tip is pressed into a sample under different loading conditions, the micro-mechanical properties (e.g., elastic modulus, hardness, fracture toughness) can be assessed by monitoring the changes in load and indenter displacement over time. In addition, the approach has been used to examine the time-dependent viscoelastic characteristics of cementitious materials, such as creep behaviour, owing to its superior benefit of significantly lowering the measurement time required to see creep behaviour. This information is essential for comprehending and increasing macroscopic mechanical properties. Many multiscale analytical and numerical models have been proposed and efficiently employed to assess the mechanical performance of cement-based materials based on the microstructural data collected from nanoindentation. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the nanoindentation-measurable mechanical and time-dependent viscoelastic characteristics of cementitious materials.

Punching shear and flexural performance of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) slabs

Ultra-High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) is a high-performance cementitious composite that is characterised by superior mechanical properties, high energy absorption capacity and enhanced durability. The mechanical characteristics of UHPFRC and more specifically the enhanced tensile strength and the significant energy absorption and crack resistance make it a very popular material, especially for extreme loading conditions or in cases of thin load bearing elements.UHPFRC has been recently introduced in applications such as bridge decks, and thin slabs and for the strengthening of existing elements. However, the punching shear performance and the effect of the fibres on the punching shear strength of UHPFRC have not been sufficiently studied. Also, there is a lack of provisions for the punching shear design of UHPFRC, which limits the extensive application of UHPFRC in thin elements especially when there are concentrated loads.In this study, extensive experimental work has been conducted on slabs with different geometries and various mixes and valuable results are presented for the flexural and the punching shear capacities of UHPFRC. Also, methodologies for the calculation of the punching shear and the flexural capacities of UHPFRC slabs have been examined and important conclusions have been drawn.

Experimental study of the durability of high-performance cementitious composites with amorphous metallic fibers

Amorphous metal fibers (AMF) can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of cementitious composites, however, research on the durability properties of cementitious composites containing AMF is still incomplete. In this study,(AMF)were strategically utilized to enhance the durability of cementitious composite. The long-term performance of amorphous metal fibers reinforced cementitious composites (AMFRCC) with four fiber contents (0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%) was systematically evaluated under chloride corrosion, sulfate cycling, and free-thaw cycling conditions, using conventional Steel fibers reinforced cementitious composites (SFRCC) as a control group, and the reliability life of AMFRCC under freeze–thaw conditions was predicted. The results showed that SF and AMF volume fractions above 1.2% are detrimental to cementitious materials' chloride ion penetration resistance. After dry and wet sulfate cycles, AMF is not corroded, while the uniformly dispersed AMF can fully exploit the crack arresting effect and reduce internal defects in cementitious materials. However, in long-term sulfate environments and freeze–thaw environments, corrosion of SF causes severe degradation of SFRCC performance. Furthermore, the Wiener model can more accurately predict the lifetime of AMFRCC and SFRCC in freeze–thaw environments when the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity is used as an indicator of degradation.

Influence of spatial dislocation of water on the properties of lightweight high-performance concrete

To prepare high-performance concrete, the mixing water was normally blended with the dry constituents directly, whereas in this study part of water was pre-located in the lightweight aggregates (LWA) for producing a high-performance lightweight concrete (HPLC). With the pre-location of water in the LWA, an extremely low w/b ratio paste (ultra high-performance composite) was resulted for producing HPLC. High-performance cement mortar (HPCM) was prepared with similar volumes of natural aggregates for comparison. Based on the initial spatial dislocation of mixing water in two systems, the physical, thermal and durability properties of high-performance cementitious composites were evaluated and compared. The results showed that the HPLC experienced delayed heat evolution when compared with that of the HPCM, while the cumulative heat output and degree of cement hydration of the two systems were similar. With the use of an increasing amount of LWA, the density of HPLC decreased significantly while the water penetration and ion permeability of HPLC were comparable to those of HPCM. More importantly, the HPLC exhibited a higher structural efficiency and much lower thermal conductivity than the HPCM. In addition to the pozzolanic reactivity and internal curing provided by the water-entrained LWA, the dislocation of mixing water method also enhanced the microhardness of the paste matrix, which contributed to the excellent performance of HPLC.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Composite Precast Concrete Sandwich Panels: A Review

Precast concrete sandwich panels (PCSPs) are utilized for the external cladding of structures (i.e., residential, and commercial) due to their high thermal efficiency and adequate composite action that resist applied loads. PCSPs are composed of an insulating layer with high thermal resistance that is mechanically connected to the concrete. In the recent decades, PCSPs have been a viable alternative for the fast deployment of structures due to the low fabrication and maintenance cost. Furthermore, the construction of light and thin concrete wythes that can transfer and resist shear loads has been achieved with the utilization of high-performance cementitious composites. As a result, engineers prefer PCSPs for building construction. PCSP design and use have been examined to guarantee that a building is energy efficient, has structural integrity, is sustainable, is comfortable, and is safe. Hence, this paper reviews the expanding knowledge regarding the current development of the mechanical and thermal properties of the PCSPs components; subsequently, future potential research directions are suggested.

Effect of crack width on electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of high-performance cementitious composites containing steel and carbon fibers

In this study, the effects of carbon fibers and crack widths on the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) with 2 vol.% straight steel fibers were evaluated. To this end, 0.2 vol.% carbon fibers were added and four penetrated pre-crack widths ranging from 0.02 to 0.2 mm were applied under tension. The tensile strength and electrical resistance of the composites were also investigated. The test results indicated that adding 0.2% carbon fibers effectively enhanced the tensile strength, electrical conductivity, and shielding effectiveness of the HPFRCC. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity was improved by 224%, and a 27% higher shielding effectiveness was achieved. A shielding effectiveness of 48.5 dB at 1 GHz was achieved with a specimen thickness of 25 mm. Tiny cracks with a width of 20 μm significantly reduced the EMI shielding effectiveness of the HPFRCC by approximately 40%. For the plain HPFRCC, the shielding effectiveness was not significantly affected by the crack width, as it was thoroughly cracked. The benefits of adding carbon fibers for improving the shielding effectiveness disappeared at crack widths greater than 0.1 mm. Thus, the addition of carbon fibers was effective only for HPFRCCs without cracks or with very tiny cracks of less than 40 μm.