Materials and Structures

Abstract Enhancing the durability of cement paste through the incorporation of appropriate additives represents a promising approach to improving the sustainability of cement production. In particular, the inclusion of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) in cementitious systems has been shown to enhance their corrosion resistance to Cl − and SO 4 2− anions. However, LDHs, due to their anionic exchan…

Abstract This study offers a detailed analysis of water sorption isotherms in raw earth materials, which are increasingly recognized as sustainable alternatives to traditional building materials. The water retention behavior of Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs) was examined under steady-state conditions using sorption isotherms, which do not fully capture transient moisture buffering performance at …

Abstract Non-destructive techniques such as the contact sponge method (CSM) and the Karsten tube have been developed to assess the water absorption properties of building materials during field measurements. In contrast, laboratory investigations typically rely on capillary rise tests (CR) on centimetric specimens imposing a one-dimensional water flow. Although the results obtained from these met…

Abstract This paper presents a pipeline for investigating crack development and strain changes in concrete beams that are reinforced with a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebar using 4D image data. Concrete beam samples were loaded and imaged simultaneously using computed tomography at several load stages. The displacement fields were estimated from the resulting time series of images usin…

Abstract Corrosion of steel reinforcement is a major cause of deterioration in concrete structures, yet the mechanical response at the steel-mortar interface remains insufficiently understood. This study introduces an image-informed mechanics framework that quantifies the stress–strain behaviour of the corrosion layer and its role in cover cracking. X-ray and neutron computed tomography of a rein…

Abstract Cracking in earth-based construction materials poses significant durability challenges, necessitating sustainable solutions. 3D printing offers efficient, scalable construction with earthen materials, but requires durable, eco-friendly matrices. This study explores enzymatic-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) using urease to improve water resistance and self-healing in earthen-based …

Abstract The anchor design for Low-Carbon Concretes still lacks parameters that link microchemistry to structural performance. This work introduces a microstructural coefficient $$\eta$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>η</mml:mi> </mml:math> , defined from gel density and interfacial porosity of the N-A - S-H / C - A - S-H networks, to extend the classical Tepfer…

Abstract Concrete 3D printing faces challenges due to the global shortage of natural sand. In this context, construction and demolition waste, scallop shell waste, and recycled PET offer sustainable alternatives. This study develops and validates a concrete mix design methodology incorporating these recycled aggregates, using the Funk-Dinger model to optimize particle size distribution for 3D pri…