Materials and Structures最新文献

{"title":"Mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete: a RILEM TC 304-ADC interlaboratory study — approach and main results","authors":"Freek Bos,&nbsp;Costantino Menna,&nbsp;Annika Robens-Radermacher,&nbsp;Rob Wolfs,&nbsp;Nicolas Roussel,&nbsp;Hélène Lombois-Burger,&nbsp;Bilal Baz,&nbsp;Daniel Weger,&nbsp;Behzad Nematollahi,&nbsp;Manu Santhanam,&nbsp;Yamei Zhang,&nbsp;Shantanu Bhattacherjee,&nbsp;Zijian Jia,&nbsp;Yu Chen,&nbsp;Viktor Mechtcherine","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02686-x","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02686-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To show compliance to structural engineering codes and implement quality control measures, it is critical to obtain reliable mechanical properties of the materials in question. For conventional cast and precast concrete, the experimental procedures and relationships between mechanical properties, the material composition, and the production methods are globally known, but for 3D concrete printing (3DCP), these relations have not yet been established. Previous studies have shown little consistency in results, and the underlying experimental methods have not been established broadly. There is an urgent need to address these issues as the application of 3DCP in practice projects is growing rapidly. Therefore, RILEM TC 304-ADC: <i>Assessment of Additively Manufactured Concrete Materials and Structures</i> has set up a large interlaboratory study into the mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete. This paper presents key elements of the experimental approach detailed in the Study Plan and the supporting considerations. Furthermore, it reports on the response, consisting of 34 contributions from 30 laboratories, detailing global coverage, properties of the applied mixture designs and characteristics of the printing facilities that have been used. Subsequently, some fundamental results from compression, flexural, and E-modulus testing are presented and—considering cast specimens as a reference—discussed. On average, a reduction in strength was found in compression and E-modulus (all tested orientations). For flexure, on the other hand, an increase was found in two testing orientations, while a decrease was observed in the third orientation. Importantly, even though the applied experimental methods were found to be reasonably appropriate to obtain the required data, the differences found between individual contributions are significant and sometimes non-consistent, suggesting that testing on specific material-facility combinations is necessary to reliably determine the mechanical properties of objects produced from them. Furthermore, a theoretical framework needs to be developed to further explain the variations that were observed. Extensive analyses of all acquired data are out of the scope of this contribution, but presented in two associated papers, whereas a third presents the data management approach used to process the approximately 5,000 test results.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-025-02686-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145168977","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":"Mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete: a RILEM TC 304-ADC interlaboratory study — flexural and tensile strength","authors":"Rob Wolfs,&nbsp;Jelle Versteege,&nbsp;Manu Santhanam,&nbsp;Shantanu Bhattacherjee,&nbsp;Freek Bos,&nbsp;Annika Robens-Radermacher,&nbsp;Shravan Muthukrishnan,&nbsp;Costantino Menna,&nbsp;Onur Ozturk,&nbsp;Nilufer Ozyurt,&nbsp;Josef Roupec,&nbsp;Christiane Richter,&nbsp;Jörg Jungwirth,&nbsp;Luiza Miranda,&nbsp;Rebecca Ammann,&nbsp;Jean-François Caron,&nbsp;Victor de Bono,&nbsp;Renate Monte,&nbsp;Iván Navarrete,&nbsp;Claudia Eugenin,&nbsp;Hélène Lombois-Burger,&nbsp;Bilal Baz,&nbsp;Maris Sinka,&nbsp;Alise Sapata,&nbsp;Ilhame Harbouz,&nbsp;Yamei Zhang,&nbsp;Zijian Jia,&nbsp;Jacques Kruger,&nbsp;Jean-Pierre Mostert,&nbsp;Katarina Šter,&nbsp;Aljoša Šajna,&nbsp;Abdelhak Kaci,&nbsp;Said Rahal,&nbsp;Chalermwut Snguanyat,&nbsp;Arun Arunothayan,&nbsp;Zengfeng Zhao,&nbsp;Inka Mai,&nbsp;Inken Jette Rasehorn,&nbsp;David Böhler,&nbsp;Niklas Freund,&nbsp;Dirk Lowke,&nbsp;Tobias Neef,&nbsp;Markus Taubert,&nbsp;Daniel Auer,&nbsp;C. Maximilian Hechtl,&nbsp;Maximilian Dahlenburg,&nbsp;Laura Esposito,&nbsp;Richard Buswell,&nbsp;John Kolawole,&nbsp;Muhammad Nura Isa,&nbsp;Xingzi Liu,&nbsp;Zhendi Wang,&nbsp;Kolluru Subramaniam,&nbsp;Viktor Mechtcherine","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02687-w","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02687-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper discusses the flexural and tensile strength properties of 3D printed concrete, based on the results of a RILEM TC 304-ADC interlaboratory study on mechanical properties. These properties are determined using different testing techniques, including 3- and 4-point flexural tests, splitting tests, and uniaxial tension tests, on specimens extracted from large 3D printed elements in accordance with a prescribed study plan. The relationship between compressive and flexural or tensile strengths, cast or printed samples, different types of tests, and different loading orientations, are analysed to understand the influence of 3D printing. As expected, the strength can reduce significantly when the main tensile stress is acting perpendicular to the interface between layers. The role of deviations from the standard study procedure, in terms of the time interval between the placing of subsequent layers, or the adoption of a different curing strategy, are also assessed. While the increased time interval significantly impacts the strength in the critical direction, the use of variable curing conditions does not seem to have a clear-cut effect on the strength ratios of the printed to cast specimens. Additionally, the paper looks at the variability in the results for the printed specimens, in order to emphasize the need for multiple replicates for obtaining a proper result. An extensive insight into the aspects affecting the variability is presented in the paper. Finally, with the limited dataset available for specimens tested at a larger scale, it is difficult to arrive at a clear understanding of the role of specimen size (i.e., greater number of layers).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-025-02687-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145168963","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":"Mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete: a RILEM 304-ADC interlaboratory study – compressive strength and modulus of elasticity","authors":"Viktor Mechtcherine,&nbsp;Shravan Muthukrishnan,&nbsp;Annika Robens-Radermacher,&nbsp;Rob Wolfs,&nbsp;Jelle Versteege,&nbsp;Costantino Menna,&nbsp;Onur Ozturk,&nbsp;Nilufer Ozyurt,&nbsp;Josef Roupec,&nbsp;Christiane Richter,&nbsp;Jörg Jungwirth,&nbsp;Luiza Miranda,&nbsp;Rebecca Ammann,&nbsp;Jean-François Caron,&nbsp;Victor de Bono,&nbsp;Renate Monte,&nbsp;Iván Navarrete,&nbsp;Claudia Eugenin,&nbsp;Hélène Lombois-Burger,&nbsp;Bilal Baz,&nbsp;Maris Sinka,&nbsp;Alise Sapata,&nbsp;Ilhame Harbouz,&nbsp;Yamei Zhang,&nbsp;Zijian Jia,&nbsp;Jacques Kruger,&nbsp;Jean-Pierre Mostert,&nbsp;Mateja Štefančič,&nbsp;Lucija Hanžič,&nbsp;Abdelhak Kaci,&nbsp;Said Rahal,&nbsp;Manu Santhanam,&nbsp;Shantanu Bhattacherjee,&nbsp;Chalermwut Snguanyat,&nbsp;Arun Arunothayan,&nbsp;Zengfeng Zhao,&nbsp;Inka Mai,&nbsp;Inken Jette Rasehorn,&nbsp;David Böhler,&nbsp;Niklas Freund,&nbsp;Dirk Lowke,&nbsp;Tobias Neef,&nbsp;Markus Taubert,&nbsp;Daniel Auer,&nbsp;C. Maximilian Hechtl,&nbsp;Maximilian Dahlenburg,&nbsp;Laura Esposito,&nbsp;Richard Buswell,&nbsp;John Kolawole,&nbsp;Muhammad Nura Isa,&nbsp;Xingzi Liu,&nbsp;Zhendi Wang,&nbsp;Kolluru Subramaniam,&nbsp;Freek Bos","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02688-9","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02688-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Traditional construction techniques, such as in-situ casting and pre-cast concrete methods, have well-established testing protocols for assessing compressive strength and modulus of elasticity, including specific procedures for sample preparation and curing. In contrast, 3D concrete printing currently lacks standardized testing protocols, potentially contributing to the inconsistent results reported in previous studies. To address this issue, RILEM TC 304-ADC initiated a comprehensive interlaboratory study on the mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete. This study involves 30 laboratories worldwide, contributing 34 sets of data, with some laboratories testing more than one mix design. The compressive strength and modulus of elasticity were determined under three distinct conditions: Default, where each laboratory printed according to their standard procedure followed by water bath curing; Deviation 1, which involved creating a cold joint by increasing the time interval between printing layers; and Deviation 2, where the standard printing process was used, but the specimens were cured under conditions different from water bath. Some tests were conducted at two different scales based on specimen size—“mortar-scale” and “concrete-scale”—to investigate the size effect on compressive strength. Since the mix design remained identical for both scales, the only variable was the specimen size. This paper reports on the findings from the interlaboratory study, followed by a detailed investigation into the influencing parameters such as extraction location, cold joints, number of interlayers, and curing conditions on the mechanical properties of the printed concrete. As this study includes results from laboratories worldwide, its contribution to the development of relevant standardized testing protocols is critical. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-025-02688-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145168964","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":"Mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete: a RILEM TC 304-ADC interlaboratory study-Design and implementation of a database system for querying, sharing, and analyzing experimental data","authors":"Annika Robens-Radermacher,&nbsp;Cezary Kujath,&nbsp;Freek Bos,&nbsp;Viktor Mechtcherine,&nbsp;Jörg F. Unger","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02650-9","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02650-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Interlaboratory studies are essential for implementing standardized test methods for new innovative materials or technologies such as 3D concrete printing, certifying reference materials, and validating methods. They provide the basis for recommendations and design standards. Typically, the collected data are used only for one study and are published in paper form, without open access to the raw data files. However, preserving the collected data and analysis procedures in a shareable and reusable way leads to advantages for further usage. New data with the same structure can be added or the data can be analyzed by a new analysis procedure generating new knowledge. Additionally, resources are saved by avoiding the repetition of the same measurements. In line with the recent digitalization trend in material science and engineering, a database for the interlaboratory study on mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete conducted in RILEM Technical Committee 304-ADC is established. The challenges and experiences from defining the data structure, uploading the data, and using the database for evaluations are discussed. The openBIS software is used to create and fill the database, while an export method to an SQLite format is developed and discussed to generate a shareable and reusable database. With the exported database, querying the data is possible independently of a particular data management system. Additionally, examples of data processing with reusable workflows automating the analysis procedure are demonstrated.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-025-02650-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169327","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 TC RILEM TC 274-TCE: 3-point bending test procedure for earthen bricks—quality control of earth bricks for structural masonry by flexural strength","authors":"Céline Perlot,&nbsp;Noémie Prime,&nbsp;Jean-Emmanuel Aubert,&nbsp;Rogiros Illambas,&nbsp;Erwan Hamard,&nbsp;Emmanuel Keita,&nbsp;Thibaut Lecompte,&nbsp;Abhilash Holur Narayanaswamy,&nbsp;Jean-Claude Morel","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02702-0","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02702-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Building with unstabilised earth bricks (EB) as units for structural masonry walls offers a sustainable alternative to mitigate resource depletion's negative impact and global warming. Using locally sourced earth for EB production is required to achieve these benefits. This leads to large variations in material composition. Consequently, quality control becomes critical to ensure adequate mechanical performance of the masonry units. In the framework of the RILEM TC 274-TCE, the characterisation of the flexural strength of bricks has been examined. A comprehensive inter-laboratory campaign involving seven laboratories across three countries was conducted, during which flexural tests were performed on 98 bricks. This article details the TC 274-TCE recommendations on the procedure to conduct a 3-point bending test on an EB. Key test parameters such as specimen pre-conditioning, setup boundary conditions, loading rate and determination of material flexural strength are discussed. The calculation of flexural strength was evaluated by comparing results obtained from the beam theory model and a solid mechanics approach, validated through finite element modelling. The findings confirm that the 3-point bending test is a reliable method to assess the mechanical performance of EB and to control their quality.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145168976","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 role of graphite, graphene nanoplatelets, and MXene in improving the physical properties and workability of bitumen","authors":"Amirhosein Dashtbozorg,&nbsp;Behnaz Safarianbana,&nbsp;Mehdi Shanbedi,&nbsp;Ahmad Amiri","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02708-8","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02708-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study explores the enhancement of thermal and rheological properties of 60/70 grade bitumen by the incorporation of nano-additives, including graphite, graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), and MXene. This research presents the first performance evaluation of MXene as a nano-additive in bitumen, comparing its effects directly with those of other common additives, GNP and graphite, under identical conditions. Bitumen was modified to assess the impact of these nano-additives on properties such as softening point, penetration, flash point, dynamic shear, and viscosity. Using high-shear mixing and curing methods, modified bitumen samples were prepared and tested following ASTM standards to analyze their workability and performance at elevated temperatures. Key findings show that MXene significantly enhances the softening point (a 1.51 °C increase) and dynamic shear modulus, offering superior high-temperature stability compared to GNP and graphite. Additionally, GNP-modified bitumen exhibited the most substantial reduction in weight loss during aging tests (74% decrease), suggesting improved oxidative stability. Optimal performance across parameters was observed at 1–2% concentrations of nano-additives, with higher dosages resulting in agglomeration and reduced effectiveness. These findings highlight MXene’s potential as an innovative additive for improving bitumen’s durability, with a 59.2% enhancement in rutting resistance at 1–2% concentration, and recommend field trials to validate long-term performance in practical applications. Field validation studies are recommended to assess long-term durability under traffic loading.</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 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145167823","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":"Water vapour sorption in twelve mineral and bio-based building materials measured by the Dynamic Dewpoint Isotherm (DDI) method","authors":"Kirstine Meyer Frandsen,&nbsp;Yovko Ivanov Antonov,&nbsp;Per Møldrup,&nbsp;Rasmus Lund Jensen","doi":"10.1617/s11527-024-02500-0","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-024-02500-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Water vapour sorption is essential to understand the hygric behaviour of building materials. This study introduces an experimental method for quantifying vapour sorption dynamics. We applied the automated, non‑equilibrium Dynamic Dewpoint Isotherm (DDI) method to generate detailed ad- and desorption isotherms for 12 building materials. An overall sorption response surface (SRS; moisture storage as function of water activity or relative humidity) was generated for each material by completing a cyclic run of 14 ad- and desorption isotherms. DDI-measured moisture storage capacity at apparent equilibrium agreed well with an equilibrium method. The wideness (magnitude of hysteresis) and shape (surface and pore-network controlled) of the SRS varied greatly in regard to material composition, porosity, and density. This was used to group the materials in regard to level of moisture dynamics with high-porosity and bio-based materials showing the highest level of sorption dynamics. The DDI-SRS concept seems useful to illustrate and quantify dynamic moisture storage behaviour of building materials and elements under changing relative humidity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-024-02500-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145167629","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":"Exploring the dynamic mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete with recycled asphalt pavement through FDM and DEM coupling approach","authors":"He Liu,&nbsp;Zhiyong Yan,&nbsp;Wei Bian,&nbsp;Fengchi Wang,&nbsp;Yanhai Yang,&nbsp;Ji Zhang,&nbsp;Peng Zhang","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02710-0","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02710-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To achieve efficient resource recycling, recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) was used to replace natural coarse aggregate (CA) in self-compacting concrete (SCC). This paper provides a comprehensive and insightful evaluation of dynamic mechanical properties of SCC with RAP. This paper used a coupled finite difference method (FDM) and discrete element model (DEM) to establish a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) experiment system for analyzing the impact loading of SCC with RAP. A three-dimensional concrete specimen model was created using the PFC3D method by employing the Parallel Bond Model (PBM) and realistic-shaped crushable aggregate models. Through numerical simulation, the obtained stress waves were consistent with the stress waves from theoretical calculations. This consistency validates the SHPB model’s dynamic characteristics. The different types microcrack of SCC with various RAP contents under impact loading was revealed. Results indicate that mortar microcrack of SCC without RAP is dominant. At peak stress, as the RAP contents increase from 0 to 100%, the proportion of RAP-mortar interface microcracks increases from 0 to 61% at the lowest strain rate. At the highest strain rate, the proportion increases from 0 to 31%. Meanwhile, the proportion of microcracks within the mortar decreases from 83 to 39% and from 89 to 69%, respectively. Furthermore, the simulation results show that RAP makes the crack propagation more tortuous under impact load. These research results will be useful for a comprehensive understand the damage evolution mechanism of SCC with different RAP contents.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145167410","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":"Comprehensive evaluation on the properties of blended cement containing calcined paper sludge","authors":"Mohammed K. H. Radwan,&nbsp;Farooq Ahmed Athar,&nbsp;Jerome Song Yeo,&nbsp;Ahmed Mahmoud Alnahhal,&nbsp;Haider Hamad Ghayeb,&nbsp;Chee Ban Cheah,&nbsp;Kim Hung Mo","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02701-1","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02701-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper investigates the feasibility of exploiting paper sludge (PS) waste as partial cement replacement. Initially, PS was subjected to treatment by calcination to obtain paper sludge ash (PSA) followed by physical and chemical characterization. The influence of PSA inclusion at various cement replacement levels (5, 10, and 15% by weight) on cement properties was initially assessed. Next, the fresh properties, mechanical strengths, water transport, sulfate resistance, and drying shrinkage of blended cement mortars were observed and evaluated. Finally, the microstructure of selected blended cement pastes was observed through SEM–EDS, XRD, and TGA analysis. It was confirmed that using up to 15% of PSA complies with BS EN 196–3 requirements. The results also demonstrated that incorporation of up to 10% PSA was favourable as it has minimal influence on the consistency, early and late age, as well as residual strengths. Meanwhile, the filler effect of PSA imparted an improvement in drying shrinkage (&gt; 7%), sulfate resistance (− 40%) as well as sorptivity when 5–10% of cement was replaced with PSA. While slight changes were observed from the diffractogram, both SEM–EDS and TGA–DSC analysis suggested that limited hydration occurred, hence PSA filler effect is more dominant. Overall, this study suggests limiting PSA incorporation in blended cement mortar mixtures up to 10% to attain adequate performance. Consequently, an eco-friendly blended cement can be produced with reduced cement usage while valorising waste streams from the paper industry simultaneously.</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 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1617/s11527-025-02701-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166755","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":"Numerical simulation of moisture dynamics in manufactured sand concrete: impact of diffusion and self-desiccation","authors":"Weina Xu,&nbsp;Yunsheng Zhang,&nbsp;Yu Zhang,&nbsp;Qiliang Wang","doi":"10.1617/s11527-025-02691-0","DOIUrl":"10.1617/s11527-025-02691-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The increasing demand–supply disparity of natural sand has induced the widespread adoption of manufactured sand in various projects. The particular stone powder in manufactured sand has a notable impact on the hydration process of cementitious materials, which causes variations in the internal moisture content of the manufactured sand concrete (MSC). One of the key components of many degradation processes, such as shrinkage and cracking, is the amount of water content in the MSC pores. Establishing a dynamic moisture distribution model for MSC with regard to hydration level is the aim of this work. The modeling method accounts for variations in humidity brought on by moisture diffusion as well as cement hydration. The dynamic humidity distribution of MSC during the separate impacts of self-desiccation and water diffusion was discussed along with parameters of the moisture model, i.e., hydration degree (<i>α</i>), hydration-induced humidity reduction value (<i>H</i>_s), and moisture transfer coefficient (<i>D</i>). Subsequently, the HETVAL (a user subroutine for defining heat generation and transfer) and USDFLD (a user-defined field variable subroutine for material property modification) were compiled on the ABAQUS secondary development platform to simulate the dynamic moisture distribution within MSC, based on the parameters of the moisture model. The fitting results of the model agreed well with the results from experiments. The proposed model can be subsequently utilized to analyze shrinkage-induced stress fields, as well as to control cracking in MSC structures.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":691,"journal":{"name":"Materials and Structures","volume":"58 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166916","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}