Materials and Structures最新文献

{"title":"Creep behaviour of alkali activated slag and fly ash concrete: effects of hypothetical thickness, aggregates, and loading age","authors":"Han Gao,&nbsp;Ehab Hamed,&nbsp;Iman Munadhil Abbas Al-Damad,&nbsp;Ailar Hajimohammadi,&nbsp;Stephen Foster","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02682-1","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02682-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Although alkali activated materials have been researched intensively over the last few decades, their time dependent properties such as creep and shrinkage remain less understood. This paper investigates the influence of major factors affecting the basic and total creep behaviour of Alkali Activated Slag and Fly ash concrete (AASF), focusing on loading age, sizes of exposed surface and aggregate size and content. Creep tests were performed for a period of 180 days. The variation in the mechanical properties, including the compressive strength and elastic modulus of both AASF and OPC concrete over time was also measured. The experimental results indicate that AASF concrete exhibits an upward trajectory in creep in log-time, while the rate of creep of OPC concrete with similar mix proportion diminishes in log-time, tending to a level of stability. The study also demonstrates that creep strain of AASF concrete decreases as the exposed surface area and the age of loading increase, albeit at different rates than OPC, as was demonstrated through comparison with prediction models calibrated for OPC concrete. The experimental program also includes basic and total creep testing of mortar specimens, which provides insights into the effect of aggregates. A preliminary meso-scale finite element model was used and validated against the test results to predict the creep response of AASF concrete from the mortar. Additionally, parametric studies regarding the effect of aggregate size and content were conducted. The results show that an approximately linear relationship was observed between the content of aggregate and total creep strain while aggregate size has little impact on the total creep of AASF concrete.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-025-02682-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144073901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recommendation of RILEM TC 274-TCE: test method to determine the apparent water vapor transfer coefficient of earthen materials","authors":"Antonin Fabbri,&nbsp;Thibaut Colinart,&nbsp;Samuel Auger,&nbsp;Jean-Emmanuel Aubert,&nbsp;Paulina Faria,&nbsp;Anne Cécile Grillet,&nbsp;Céline Perlot,&nbsp;Fionn McGregor","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02651-8","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02651-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This recommendation paper is based on the work carried out within the RILEM Technical Committee TC 274-TCE concerning a test method to determine the apparent vapor transfer coefficient of earthen building products. The objective is to provide guidance on the methodology for performing wet cup measurements, in addition to the international standard EN ISO 12572 applied for earthen products, which is significantly affected by surface resistance, even when the test is conducted in a ventilated climatic chamber.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144073806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiscale study on the deterioration of bitumen, bitumen-aggregate interface and asphalt mixture under the coupling effect of moisture and high temperature","authors":"Xuemei Zhang,&nbsp;Lingxi Zhou,&nbsp;Rong Luo,&nbsp;Xiankun Li,&nbsp;Inge Hoff,&nbsp;Ziwei Ye","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02680-3","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02680-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The combined effects of moisture and high temperatures have emerged as a globally significant challenge, leading to the progressive degradation of asphalt pavements. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the deterioration of bitumen, bitumen-aggregate interface and asphalt mixture under the coupling effect of moisture and high temperature. For this purpose, the conventional physical tests, Fourier transform infrared radiation spectrometer, peeling test, Wilhelmy Plate Test, Marshall stability test, wheel track test and universal testing machine were conducted. The results showed that temperature and moisture significantly impacted the performance characteristics of bitumen, bitumen-aggregate interface, and asphalt mixtures. Among the three components, asphalt mixtures demonstrated the highest susceptibility to coupled conditions, exhibiting up to 53% performance variation. The bitumen-aggregate interface and bitumen showed relatively lower but still notable susceptibility. A particularly significant observation was the phase separation of bitumen under coupled conditions, manifesting as precipitated spheres at the container bottom and surface-floating films, which are identified as primary contributors to the degradation of bitumen-aggregate interfaces and asphalt mixtures. The statistical analyses further confirmed that the deterioration of asphalt mixtures was primarily attributed to changes in both the bitumen and bitumen-aggregate interface. Among all examined parameters, penetration and dynamic stability exhibited the most notable changes, while maximum flexural strain correlated strongly with other parameters, making these three key indicators for evaluating pavement durability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144073805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Static and dynamic analysis of small walls reinforced with welded wire mesh: a numerical and experimental approach","authors":"Orlando M. L. Almeida,&nbsp;Hidelbrando J. F. Diógenes,&nbsp;Joel A. Nascimento Neto,&nbsp;Leandro M. Trautwein","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02685-y","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02685-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Structural masonry is one of humanity's oldest and most exploited structural systems. It has been used for thousands of years, with several monuments and historic buildings built in structural masonry. In recent decades, the system has gained even more relevance due to its economic competitiveness, and, in this context, the need for structural reinforcements in this system is increasingly common. Whether for the restoration of older structures or changes in the behavior of static and dynamic loads in systems, it becomes increasingly necessary to know reinforcement techniques and, therefore, the dynamic and static characteristics of structural masonry walls. This need arises from slender walls and because these structures may be subject to dynamic loads such as those caused by machinery or earthquakes, for example. Thus, this work is dedicated to studying reinforced walls and their dynamic and static properties through experimental and computational models. The study addresses variations of reinforcements with welded wire mesh, to improve the masonry's load capacity by increasing the reinforcements' adherence. The groups comprise the walls: without reinforcement, with reinforcement using four anchoring, with reinforcement using four anchoring and additive to improve adhesion, and with reinforcement and using eight anchoring. The studies demonstrated that the use of reinforcements significantly increased the rigidity of the specimens, in addition to an increase of up to 83% in compressive strength of the reinforced walls when compared to the group with no reinforcement.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143949525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of FRP wrapping of heat-damaged concrete in compression for different cooling procedures","authors":"Yunus Emrahan Akbulut,&nbsp;Safa Nayır,&nbsp;Ahmet Can Altunışık,&nbsp;Volkan Kahya,&nbsp;Muhammet Oğuz Sünnetci,&nbsp;Hakan Ersoy","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02683-0","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02683-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study explores the application of FRP strengthening for enhancing the performance and resilience of fire-damaged concrete elements subject to different cooling regimes, with a focus on their effectiveness in restoring structural capacity and durability following fire exposure. To achieve this aim, 90 concrete cylinder specimens were produced and exposed to high temperatures of 200, 400, and 600 °C to induce fire damage. They were then subjected to different cooling methods, including natural cooling in the furnace, natural cooling in air, and fast cooling by water. In the last technique, the specimens were first immersed in water to shock them, and then water spraying was applied for ten minutes. Subsequently, strengthening was applied using two layers of FRP sheets, and compression tests were performed. The investigation is aimed at assessing to what extent the different cooling procedures may impair the effectiveness of FRP wrapping, with specific reference to FRP contribution to the improvement of concrete residual compressive strength. Based on the test results, and as expected, FRP strengthening was found to mitigate the adverse effects of different temperature levels and cooling regimes on the compressive strengths of specimens. Furthermore, the findings indicate that the cooling rate or process does not significantly affect residual strength and that the effectiveness of FRP wrapping should be assessed with reference not only to strength, but also to structural behavior. It is, therefore, necessary to extend the analysis to the structural context.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-025-02683-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143949684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasonic testing methodology for the mechanical characterization of concrete blocks","authors":"Rafaela de Oliveira Amaral,&nbsp;Armando Lopes Moreno Junior,&nbsp;Gisleiva Cristina dos Santos Ferreira,&nbsp;Marinara Andrade do Nascimento Moura","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02648-3","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02648-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ultrasonic testing is a widely recognized non-destructive method for estimating the mechanical strength of concrete blocks. Despite its potential, there is no international consensus on a standardized ultrasonic testing procedure for these applications. In the absence of standardization, practitioners often adapt methods from Brazilian, American, and European concrete testing standards. However, determining the ultrasonic propagation velocity (UPV) in concrete blocks presents unique challenges, particularly due to differences in geometry compared to cylindrical test specimens. This paper discusses the parameters involved in the ultrasonic testing of concrete blocks and proposes a testing recommendation. The proposed method is applied to investigate the correlation between UPV and compressive strength of concrete blocks, considering variations in their dimensions and nominal strength.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143944266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The use of ZnO for the stabilisation of C3S polymorphs","authors":"Luciana Queiroz,&nbsp;Waleska Barbosa,&nbsp;Ana Paula Kirchheim,&nbsp;Carlos Bergmann","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02675-0","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02675-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The doping technique is widely used to stabilise C₃S polymorphs, combined with synthesis temperature and cooling techniques. This work studied the doping technique using ZnO as a dopant at contents of 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, and 10.0wt% and evaluated its effect on the polymorphism and reactivity of C₃S. The characterisation of the phases in the anhydrous state was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the effect of doping on chemical bonds and displacements in the crystalline structure was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy (RAMAN). Hydration was assessed using isothermal calorimetry and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results show a delay in the hydration process in all the doped pastes, a reduction in the average crystallite size with increasing dopant content, and changes in the displacements and symmetry of the polymorphs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143944267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The heterogeneous characteristics of the microstructure in cement stone under the effect of self-weight segregation","authors":"Zhiheng Wang,&nbsp;Xiuhao Li,&nbsp;Meng Wang,&nbsp;Yu’an Gong,&nbsp;Rentai Liu,&nbsp;Bingchuan Cheng,&nbsp;Jiwen Bai,&nbsp;Zhijing Zhu","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02627-8","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02627-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Under the influence of self-weight segregation, the microstructure of cement stone exhibits significant heterogeneous characteristics, but the mechanisms of these variations have not been revealed. In this study, the pore size distribution and porosity of the cement stone with various water-to-cement (w/c) ratios and the initial height were measured using NMR methods. The relationships between cement stone porosity and height position were fitted using a simplified self-weight consolidation finite model and a small strain model. The results show that under the same w/c ratios, the density and porosity of the stones formed at the bottom of cement grout columns with different initial heights are essentially consistent. As the height increases, the amount of ettringite increases while the formation of C-S-H gels decreases, leading to a higher content of transitional and capillary pores, which primarily contributes to the overall increase in the porosity of the cement stone. The variation trend in the porosity of cement stone with a lower w/c ratio, such as 0.8, aligns with the predictions of the finite strain model. As the w/c ratio increases, like 1.0 or 1.2, the reduction in effective stress between particles delays the self-weight consolidation process, enhancing the influence of cement hydration. This ultimately makes the porosity change more consistent with the small strain model.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143938204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microwave heating-induced self-healing of steel slag asphalt concrete: 3D mesoscopic simulations and experimental insights","authors":"Bin Li,&nbsp;Junrui Chai,&nbsp;Zengguang Xu,&nbsp;Yunhe Liu,&nbsp;Kaiqiang Geng,&nbsp;Han Fu,&nbsp;Junrui Wang,&nbsp;Xiangjie Liu","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02671-4","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02671-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microwave heating (MH) is a sophisticated technique for asphalt facility maintenance, effectively enhancing the self-healing (S-H) of cracks in asphalt concrete (AC). This study selects steel slag (SS) to enhance MH performance in AC, and proposes an innovative theoretical framework that integrates numerical simulations, theoretical analyses, and experimental research to address the challenge of uneven MH. A randomized aggregate placement algorithm was employed to simulate the mesostructure of AC, enabling the precise optimization of MH technology and the creation of an energy-based performance evaluation method that addresses the limitations of traditional surface temperature-based assessments. Key findings demonstrate that the standing wave field, determined by the cavity frequency, governs the internal temperature distribution. Optimization of SS content and distribution significantly improves S-H performance, with the AS60 mixture achieving a healing efficiency of 79.62% at 2.45 GHz. These findings provide robust theoretical support and practical guidelines for MH applications.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143938704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergy of tests and finite element analysis for predicting axial structural behavior of CFRP-confined activated red mud-based geopolymer composites","authors":"Ali Raza,&nbsp;Abdellatif Selmi,&nbsp;Yasser Alashker,&nbsp;Nejib Ghazouani","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02676-z","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02676-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>As sustainability gains prominence, the demand for eco-friendly materials is increasing, particularly those with minimal carbon footprints. Geopolymer concrete (GC), utilizing waste materials and by-products, is emerging as a promising low-carbon alternative to traditional Portland cement concrete. Despite its potential, GC’s long-term compressive strength (CS) remains relatively low, necessitating ongoing research to enhance its mechanical properties. While substantial research has explored the mechanical behavior of unconfined GC, there is a notable gap in understanding the structural performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)-confined GC, crucial for material selection and application. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of CFRP sheet confinement on the axial performance of activated red mud-based geopolymer concrete composite (RMGCC). A total of 36 cylindrical RMGCC samples, with strengths of 15 MPa and 30 MPa, were tested, using either one or two layers of CFRP sheets. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to predict the structural behavior of CFRP-confined RMGCC samples under axial compression, utilizing an enhanced concrete damaged plasticity model. A detailed parametric study was also performed using proposed FEA model to investigate the effect of various parameters of confined concrete. The study also included a theoretical assessment of compressive strength using various existing models and proposed a new theoretical equation for more accurate prediction of axial strength in CFRP-confined RMGCC. The results demonstrated significant improvements in strength with CFRP confinement. For 15 MPa RMGCC, single and double CFRP layers increased compressive strength by 90.96% and 151.89%, respectively. For 30 MPa RMGCC, the enhancements were 51.37% and 98.78% with single and double CFRP layers, respectively. CFRP confinement proved more effective in enhancing the strength, strain, and ductility of low-strength (15 MPa) RMGCC compared to higher-strength (30 MPa) samples. The average discrepancies between the experimental and FEM results for the axial compressive strength and corresding strains were 9.1% and 6.6%, respectively. The newly proposed theoretical model achieved a close match with the experimental results of compressive strength for low-strength FRP-confined RMGCC samples, demonstrating a high correlation with an <i>R</i>² value of 0.96%. The model showed a minor deviation of just 4.45% from the observed outcomes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143938379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}