Yupu Wang , Zemei Wu , Xinyan Zheng , Kunpeng Li , Chenhui Liu
{"title":"A review of concrete exposed to low-temperature environments at early ages: mechanical properties and durability","authors":"Yupu Wang , Zemei Wu , Xinyan Zheng , Kunpeng Li , Chenhui Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113122","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113122","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cold weather concreting can slow down the hydration of cement, hindering the development of microstructure and strength gain of concrete materials and resulting in poor durability of concrete. This paper reviews the recent progress in mechanical properties and durability of concrete exposed to low-temperature environments. The effects of low-temperature conditions, including exposure time, temperature, and duration, on the mechanical properties and durability of early-age concrete are evaluated. The mechanical properties involve compressive, steel-concrete and/or fiber-matrix bond, tensile, flexural, and shear properties, while durability mainly focuses on water permeability, chloride permeability, and frost durability based on the available literature. Several improvement strategies for the mechanical properties of concrete are proposed through considering the influences of w/b ratio, mixture proportion, and use of advanced temperature regulating techniques. The underlying mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages associated with these improvement strategies are discussed. It is found that with the decrease in exposure temperature and increase in exposure duration, the mechanical properties and durability of early-age concrete gradually decreased. Compared to compressive strength, the flexural/tensile strengths are less sensitive to ambient temperature changes. The uses of proper pre-curing and optimal contents of antifreeze admixture, high-early strength cement, nano-materials, alkali-activator, and phase change materials are effective in enhancing the early-age properties of concrete subjected to low temperature. This paper aims to enhance the fundamental knowledge of cold weather concreting to facilitate its highly efficient design and construction, as well as to extend the service life of concrete infrastructures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 113122"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144321755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development and characterization of printable rubberised ultra-high-performance concrete","authors":"Xin Lyu, Pouria Ayough, Waleed Nawaz, Mohamed Elchalakani","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113192","url":null,"abstract":"This paper introduces a printable ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) with an average 28-day compressive strength of 230 MPa and a maximum flexural strength of 31 MPa, which was achieved through extensive testing and adjustments guided by the theory of maximum packing density. Three types of printable UHPFRC mixes were assessed with 0%, 10%, and 20% rubber content. The basic properties were tested, including slump flow, rheology, printability, microstructure, compressive strength and flexural strength. By replacing 20% of the fine aggregate in equal volume with recycled rubber, the UHPFRRuC achieved an average 28-day compressive strength of 137 MPa and a maximum flexural strength of 22 MPa. In addition, this study proves that maintaining a minimum static yield stress of 250 Pa and a plastic viscosity of 20 Pa·s is crucial for ensuring good printability. Additionally, the distribution of steel fibres significantly influences the failure mode of UHPFRC specimens under static uniaxial compression, with fibres aligned parallel to the load direction (3DP-X) showing the highest compressive strength and most cracks. In UHPFRRuC, cracks tend to develop along the rubber particles. This study enhances the understanding of printable UHPFRC and UHPFRRuC. This study explores the development of 3D-printable UHPFRRuC, which overcomes the strength limitations of conventional rubberised concrete while retaining its superior impact resistance and damping properties. By integrating 3D printability, high strength, and enhanced energy absorption, UHPFRRuC presents significant potential for applications in resilient infrastructure, such as roadside barriers, earthquake-resistant slabs, and bridge components, warranting further investigation.","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"595 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144305065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fadwa Jroundi , Cristina Povedano-Priego , Mohamed L. Merroun , María Teresa González-Muñoz , Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro
{"title":"Insights into the influence of reinforcing iron bars corrosion on historical buildings: Towards optimizing limestone performance","authors":"Fadwa Jroundi , Cristina Povedano-Priego , Mohamed L. Merroun , María Teresa González-Muñoz , Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113203","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iron bar corrosion in ancient limestone buildings and sculptures causes severe damage, yet the underlying mechanisms and microbial contributions remain poorly understood. This study examined heavily deteriorated pinnacles from a 16th-century building in Granada, Spain, combining mineralogical, compositional, textural and metagenomic analyses. A highly diverse microbial community was identified, including iron-oxidizing [e.g., <em>Massilia</em> (4.59 %) and <em>Ralstonia</em> (<1 %)], sulfate-reducing [SRB, e.g., <em>Desulfovibrio</em> (<1 %) and <em>Clostridium</em> (1.43 %)], and nitrate-reducing [e.g., <em>Pseudomonas</em> (22.93 %) and <em>Staphylococcus</em> (2.53 %)] bacteria. The degradation process initiates by (bio)corrosion of embedded iron bars, followed by SRB-induced <em>in situ</em> (authigenic) framboidal pyrite formation under anoxic conditions, in the presence of sulfates from pollution-derived gypsum. Pyrite is then bacterially oxidized into goethite pseudomorphs under fluctuating aerobic and anoxic conditions, triggering a localized acid mine drainage-like process. This results in significant limestone dissolution and structural instability. These findings highlight the crucial role of microbial activity and reveal previously unrecognized pathways in stone degradation. Understanding such processes offer valuable insights for improving conservation strategies of cultural heritage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 113203"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144312513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Finite element simulation and parametric study of exposed column base plate connections under axial compression and Bi-directional lateral loading","authors":"Shen Jiang, AHM Muntasir Billah","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study numerically investigates the structural performance of exposed steel column base plate (CBP) connections subjected to combined axial compression and bi-directional lateral loading. Unlike traditional approaches that primarily consider uniaxial forces, this research addresses the combined impact of multi-directional forces, which more accurately represent seismic loading conditions. The research employs a comprehensive methodology that integrates experimentally validated finite element analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS. Laboratory tests were conducted on four CBP specimens with varying base plate thicknesses, bolt layouts, and grout thicknesses to capture critical failure modes and hysteretic behavior, in a companion study. The FEA models, validated against those experimental results, successfully simulate the non-linear moment-rotation response, pinching effects, and stiffness degradation under cyclic loading. Parametric studies are performed to explore the influence of key design variables, including axial load magnitude, base plate thickness, anchor bolt layout, bolt diameter, and grout properties. The results reveal that higher axial loads enhance moment capacity but reduce ductility, while bolt layout and diameter significantly influence energy dissipation capacity and failure mechanisms. This research highlights the differences in connection stiffness under unidirectional and bidirectional lateral loading and their impact on the behavior and response of CBP connections. The findings provide a foundation for improving design codes and optimizing the seismic performance of steel-framed structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 113188"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144305064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tongyang Kang , Yi Qi , Dingxin Chen , Huafei Wang , Qiang Gu
{"title":"Study on shear mechanism and design method of three-edges-connected composite plate shear wall partially infilling in steel frame","authors":"Tongyang Kang , Yi Qi , Dingxin Chen , Huafei Wang , Qiang Gu","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Composite plate shear walls-concrete encased (C-PSW/CE) are effective for the lateral-load resisting with their high lateral stiffness and energy dissipation capabilities. C-PSW/CEs are typically connected on all edges to the boundary frame, generating the fully infill shear walls. However, they not only hinder the spatial flexibility of buildings but also impose significant requirements on the boundary frame. This paper proposed three-edges-connected C-PSW/CEs. They were partially infilled in the steel frames (CPSW-PF-SFs), leaving openings and unconnected beam parts in the middle. Link parts accordingly formed. Obviously, the links improved the lateral-load resistance and the opening gave more spatial switching of building. To date the researches on CPSW-PF combining with links in the boundary frame for carrying the seismic loads were limit. Thus, the mechanics characteristics and the interactions of the CPSW-PF-SF were studied by the test and finite element analyses. The results indicated that under cyclic loading, the CPSW-PF-SF exhibited a reasonable lateral-load resisting mechanism. CPSW-PFs served as the primary lateral load-resisting components, and promoted the plastic deformation of the link parts in boundary beams. The boundary columns significantly contributed to the ductility of structure. Based on these shear mechanism, the formulas for the shear stiffness and strength of CPSW-PF-SF were proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 113147"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanical properties of hybrid fiber reinforced coral aggregate seawater concrete based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM)","authors":"Dai Junyan , Yin Shiping","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Based on the cubic compressive strength and flexural strength tests of 18 sets of hybrid fiber reinforced coral aggregate seawater concrete (HFRCASC) and 1 set of C40 grade benchmark CASC, the effects of different mixing methods of polypropylene fibers (PPF), basalt fibers (BF), and glass fibers (GF), as well as the mixing amounts, on the mechanical properties of HFRCASC were investigated. The results show that the cubic compressive strength and flexural strength of HFRCASC are higher than that of C40 benchmark CASC, and the maximum improvement of cubic compressive strength reaches 28.7 % and flexural strength increases by 26 % when the mixing amount of PPF and BF is 2 kg/m<sup>3</sup>. PPF is a significant factor affecting the compressive strength of HFRCASC, and with the increase of PPF dosage flexural strength showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, GF is not obvious to improve the compressive strength. Diversified regression analysis of the test results using SPSS resulted in a predictive model for the compressive strength of HFRCASC cubes with high model accuracy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 113194"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306688","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gaoqiao Wu , Yongjie Tan , Jiayu Zeng , Jianlong Zheng , Rui Zhang , Yufei Liu , Shao Yue
{"title":"Laboratory tests of an eccentrically loaded strip footing above single underlying void","authors":"Gaoqiao Wu , Yongjie Tan , Jiayu Zeng , Jianlong Zheng , Rui Zhang , Yufei Liu , Shao Yue","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Underlying voids inherently compromise the bearing capacity and amplify settlement in superstructures. This study presents a series of laboratory model tests examining the ultimate bearing capacity of eccentrically loaded strip footings situated above such voids. Key variables including load eccentricity, void depth, and the horizontal offset between footing and void are systematically analyzed. Comprehensive design tables detailing the ultimate bearing capacities are provided to inform engineering applications. A self-developed digital image correlation (DIC) technique facilitates real-time monitoring of deformation fields within the footing-void system, elucidating the progression of failure mechanisms under varying conditions. Experimental observations identify three distinct failure modes and their evolutionary patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 113211"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144321674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Seismic performance assessment of building retrofitted with superelastic shape memory alloy steel slit damper (SMA-SSD)","authors":"Rahul Kumar, Sourav Gur, Vaibhav Singhal","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent seismic vulnerability to high-rise buildings has driven interest in passive dampers to reduce damage and prevent collapse. Among these, yield dampers are commonly used, yet their efficacy in stable energy dissipation and residual deformation remains uncertain, often rendering buildings non-operational after an earthquake. A modification of yield damper i.e. steel slit damper (SSD) supplemented with superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) has been proposed with a noble and simple 2D modelling in SAP2000. The SSD's performance was analysed for various fractions of SMA strength based on energy dissipation capacity and residual deformation. Cyclic loading tests revealed that increasing SMA fraction decreased energy dissipation capacity by 20 %–45 % but improved recentring by 55 %–100 %, than SSD. Pushover analysis of 5, 10, and 20-story buildings indicated that SMA-SSD had minimal impact on the structural performance, but improves load-carrying capacity by 5 %–20 % at a 2 % drift ratio and shifted damage state from collapse to immediate occupancy. Also, SMA-SSD enhances interstorey and residual interstorey drift control efficiency without sacrificing the acceleration control efficacy. Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) under near-fault earthquakes revealed that the SMA-SSD increased spectral acceleration at 50 % failure probability, improving peak floor acceleration (5 %–27 %), interstorey drift (15 %–63 %), residual drift (27 %–95 %), and system-level failure (10 %–85 %), compared to the SSD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 113208"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144321813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ziyang Guo, Hao Wang, Pang Chen, Jianzhao Feng, Geng Zhang
{"title":"Axial compressive behavior of fiber-reinforced alkali-activated slag concrete with seawater and sea-sand: mechanical properties and constitutive modeling","authors":"Ziyang Guo, Hao Wang, Pang Chen, Jianzhao Feng, Geng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113166","url":null,"abstract":"alkali-activated slag concrete with seawater and sea-sand (AAS-SSC) is an innovative type of green building material that utilizes seawater and sea sand instead of freshwater and river sand. Despite the broad application prospects for AAS-SSC, no relevant research on the axial compressive properties of AAS-SSC has been conducted. This study investigates the effects of fiber type (basalt fiber, polypropylene fiber) and content (0%∼1%) on the failure modes, elastic modulus, axial compressive strength, and stress-strain relationship of AAS-SSC under axial compressive loads. Additionally, it evaluates the applicability of existing elastic modulus calculation formulas and concrete constitutive models for AAS-SSC. The results indicate that in AAS-SSC, shear failure is the dominant mode, though the inclusion of fibers effectively reduces crack width. When reinforced with basalt fibers, AAS-SSC demonstrates a notable 17.2% enhancement in peak strain. Concurrently, the elastic modulus of AAS-SSC is found to be 48% lower than that of ordinary concrete, a critical mechanical property requiring attention in structural design. To characterize its mechanical behavior, a constitutive model capable of predicting the stress-strain relationship of AAS-SSC is proposed. These findings contribute to the promotion of AAS-SSC in structural engineering and virtual simulation.","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144305066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hamidreza Karimian, Rana Muhammad, Mohamed M. Ouf, Sherif Goubran
{"title":"Investigating the Dynamics of Thermal Perception, Physiological Responses, and Task Performance in Office Environments","authors":"Hamidreza Karimian, Rana Muhammad, Mohamed M. Ouf, Sherif Goubran","doi":"10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113164","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding occupant thermal comfort in office environments can be achieved by examining the interplay between environmental data, physiological measurements, and subjective feedback. The increasing adoption of wearable sensing technologies enables inferring thermal comfort based on physiological data, potentially transforming HVAC system design to better respond to occupant needs. However, there is a research gap regarding accurate methods to infer occupants’ perceptions of comfort. Furthermore, thermal comfort comparisons across different genders and locations are understudied. This study presents findings from an experimental investigation focused on the relationship between physiological signals, thermal comfort and task performance. Three key physiological measures—electroencephalography (EEG), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and skin temperature (ST)—were captured from 52 participants exposed to three distinct thermal conditions (slightly cool, neutral, and slightly warm) in a controlled office setting. The analysis compared thermal comfort perception, physiological measurements, and task performance across male and female participants and two locations: Cairo, characterized by a hot desert climate (BWh, ASHRAE climate zone 1B), and Montreal, characterized by a cold temperate climate (Dfb, ASHRAE climate zone 6A). Data from 156 tests were statistically analyzed, revealing gender differences in skin temperature responses across thermal conditions. Additionally, participants in Cairo exhibited heart rates approximately 15% higher under slightly warm conditions than those in Montreal, indicating location-based physiological variations. Moreover, task performance was about 20% more sensitive to thermal conditions for males than females. These findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between physiological responses, thermal comfort perceptions, and occupant performance in office environments, supporting the development of more responsive thermal comfort models.","PeriodicalId":15064,"journal":{"name":"Journal of building engineering","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144304975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}