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Assessment Of Ggbs-Blended-Concrete Durability With Modified Water Permeability Method, Soumyaranjan Panda, Supratic Gupta, Saubhagya Kumar Panigrahi Oct 2025

Assessment Of Ggbs-Blended-Concrete Durability With Modified Water Permeability Method, Soumyaranjan Panda, Supratic Gupta, Saubhagya Kumar Panigrahi

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The construction industry is increasingly embracing sustainable materials to mitigate environmental concerns and reduce the carbon footprint of conventional practices. Concrete, a vital material in modern infrastructure, is valued for its versatility and durability. However, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), the primary binder in conventional concrete, presents significant environmental challenges, including high carbon dioxide emissions and substantial energy consumption. With an annual growth rate of 2.5%, cement production exacerbates these issues, necessitating sustainable alternatives. Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), a byproduct of the iron industry, is a promising supplementary material. Its use reduces cement consumption, enhances sustainability, and promotes eco-friendly construction …


Relationship Between Water Contents And Electrical Conductivity In Concrete, Ki-Tae Park, Jaehwan Kim, Dong-Woo Seo, Sangki Park Oct 2025

Relationship Between Water Contents And Electrical Conductivity In Concrete, Ki-Tae Park, Jaehwan Kim, Dong-Woo Seo, Sangki Park

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This study investigates the relationship between moisture absorption and electrical conductivity in concrete, aiming to evaluate the feasibility of using electrical impedance as a non-destructive indicator of moisture transport behaviour. Concrete specimens with varying water-to-cement (w/c) ratios were prepared and conditioned for 150 days under controlled air-drying conditions. Moisture absorption tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM C1585-20, and both weight change and impedance were measured over time. Impedance data were collected across a wide frequency range (10 Hz to 1 MHz) using a two-point measurement configuration, and direct current (DC) electrical conductivity was derived through nonlinear regression analysis based …


Advancing Monitoring And Self-Sensing Capabilities Of Smart Asphalt Concrete Containing Conductive Carbon Nanofillers, Mingjun Xie, Leqing Lin, Yilin Yin, Linglin Xu, Kai Wu, Zhengwu Jiang Oct 2025

Advancing Monitoring And Self-Sensing Capabilities Of Smart Asphalt Concrete Containing Conductive Carbon Nanofillers, Mingjun Xie, Leqing Lin, Yilin Yin, Linglin Xu, Kai Wu, Zhengwu Jiang

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Conventional asphalt pavements can withstand the traffic loading and provide safe, comfortable driving conditions, however, the intelligent functionality on self-monitoring and damage detection is also required for the construction of intelligent transport systems. This study develops a self-sensing conductive asphalt concrete inspired by smart cement-based materials, which is capable of continuous, real-time monitoring of stress, strain, and damage, enabling structural health monitoring (SHM) of asphalt pavements. The self-sensing characteristics relies on the piezoresistive effects that the internal conductive network deforms and causes measurable changes in electrical resistance under mechanical loading. To achieve this, carbon nanomaterials, graphene nanoplates (GNPs) and multi-walled …


Machine Learning Based Analysis Of Industrially Produced Concrete, Bassey Etim, Mzakwan Arab, Nabil El Mocayd, Mohammed Seaid, M Shadi Mohamed Oct 2025

Machine Learning Based Analysis Of Industrially Produced Concrete, Bassey Etim, Mzakwan Arab, Nabil El Mocayd, Mohammed Seaid, M Shadi Mohamed

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Machine learning (ML) has proven effective for predicting the compressive strength of laboratory-produced concrete, but industrially produced concrete exhibits greater variability and uncertainty, and remains less studied. This work analyses a dataset of 2,617 industrial concrete samples from a UK ready-mix supplier, spanning a full year of supply and demand. The study evaluates the impact of both mix proportions and categorical features—including cement type, admixture type, and mix specification—on model accuracy. A holistic model incorporating all curing ages outperforms single-age models, and the inclusion of categorical features, particularly mix specification, significantly enhances predictive performance. Five ML models were considered: CatBoost, …


An Architecture Ph-Unet-Mask Based On Multi-Task Joint Learning: Exploration In Real-Time Segmentation Of Concrete Corrosion, Xu Miao, Yuxi Zhao Oct 2025

An Architecture Ph-Unet-Mask Based On Multi-Task Joint Learning: Exploration In Real-Time Segmentation Of Concrete Corrosion, Xu Miao, Yuxi Zhao

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Pixel-level segmentation of corrosion-induced damage in underground reinforced concrete (RC) structures is crucial for structural health monitoring but remains challenging due to complex backgrounds and the need for real-time models suitable for on-site inspections. To address these limitations, this paper introduces PH-UNet-Mask, a lightweight multi-task deep learning architecture designed for robust damage segmentation in challenging underground environments. The proposed model integrates Haar wavelet downsampling (HWD) within its encoder to preserve crucial edge details and employs a Parallel Channel-Spatial Attention (PCSA) module to adaptively refine feature representation by explicitly modelling spatial-channel dependencies. A key innovation is a multi-task joint learning framework …


Machine-Learning Pci Forecasts For Concrete Pavements: Evidence From A Nigerian Airfield, Abubakar Ahmad Shehu, Mohamed Shadi Mohamed, Arab M. Zakwan, Jinhui Jiang Oct 2025

Machine-Learning Pci Forecasts For Concrete Pavements: Evidence From A Nigerian Airfield, Abubakar Ahmad Shehu, Mohamed Shadi Mohamed, Arab M. Zakwan, Jinhui Jiang

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This study develops data-driven Pavement Condition Index (PCI) forecasting for rigid (jointed concrete) airfields to support maintenance planning, risk mitigation, and lifecycle analysis. Traditional PCI surveys per ASTM D5340 are manual, time-consuming, and subjective, motivating machine-learning alternatives. Using panel-level observations, five models predict next-year PCI from readily available variables: prior-year PCI, annual aircraft traffic, temperature, and rainfall. The models include ordinary least squares (linear), ridge, lasso, random forest (RF), and a feedforward artificial neural network (ANN). All models performed well on held-out validation data; the ANN was best, achieving ��2 = 0.985, MSE = 0.286, MAE = 0.397, and RMSE …


Effect Of Using Recycled Returned Concrete Aggregate On The Strength And Durability Aspects Of Concrete, Saugat Humagain, Ashish Bista, Prabir Kumar Sarker Oct 2025

Effect Of Using Recycled Returned Concrete Aggregate On The Strength And Durability Aspects Of Concrete, Saugat Humagain, Ashish Bista, Prabir Kumar Sarker

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

A considerable amount of concrete is returned from construction sites due to various reasons such as excess quantity remaining after casting, not meeting the site specifications and cancellation of orders. In this study, the hardened returned concrete was crushed and used as recycled aggregate to produce new concrete. However, due to young age and inadequate compaction, the properties crushed returned concrete aggregate (CRCA) are different from those of commonly used recycled aggregates obtained from construction and demolition wastes. CRCA was used as 50% and 100% replacements of natural coarse aggregate (NCA). The effect of CRCA was evaluated by workability, strengths, …


Towards The Use Of Quarry Wastes In Cementitious Composites For Sustainable Construction, Adrian Chajec Oct 2025

Towards The Use Of Quarry Wastes In Cementitious Composites For Sustainable Construction, Adrian Chajec

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This study explores the use of quarry waste powders as partial replacements for cement in concrete, aiming to improve the sustainability of construction materials. Three types of powders—granite (GP), limestone (LP), and quartz (QP)—were used to replace 20% of cement by mass in concrete mixes. The research evaluates the impact of these substitutions on fresh properties, mechanical performance, durability under sulphate attack, and overall environmental and economic efficiency. Experimental tests included slump flow, setting time, compressive strength at 28 and 90 days, and resistance to sulphate-induced mass and strength loss. Additionally, carbon dioxide emissions and material costs were calculated based …


Co-Creation Of Sustainable Concrete For Harsh Environments, Seyedalireza Mohammadirad, Jenny Harmon O'Driscoll, Michael O'Shea, Eoghan Clifford, Páraic Ryan Oct 2025

Co-Creation Of Sustainable Concrete For Harsh Environments, Seyedalireza Mohammadirad, Jenny Harmon O'Driscoll, Michael O'Shea, Eoghan Clifford, Páraic Ryan

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The need to decarbonise construction has intensified interest in low-clinker, high-durability concretes for aggressive environments such as marine and water/wastewater infrastructure. This study presents a co-created research framework combining systematic literature review, stakeholder engagement, and performance-based experimental design to evaluate both conventional and emerging Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). SCM selection was guided by oxide composition (CaO/SiO₂, CaO/Al₂O₃), hydration kinetics, durability trends, and industry input. Meta-analyses of acid and sulphate resistance identified key compositional thresholds and performance anomalies, supporting the inclusion of biomass fuel ash (BFA) and limestone calcined clay cement alongside fly ash and GGBS. A standard industry mix (C32/40) …


Life Cycle Assessment Of Semi-Submerged Offshore Wind Turbines’ Foundation Materials: Concrete Versus Steel, Isabel C L Castellanos, Andrew Whyte, Stephen M. Urquhart Oct 2025

Life Cycle Assessment Of Semi-Submerged Offshore Wind Turbines’ Foundation Materials: Concrete Versus Steel, Isabel C L Castellanos, Andrew Whyte, Stephen M. Urquhart

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The offshore wind-generation energy sector in Australia has been growing steadily in lieu of non-renewable energy sources, towards addressing national calls for greenhouse gas emission reductions. However, the industry in Australia is still somewhat fledgling, hence localised studies on environmental impact are scarce. In this context, the work here analyses greenhouse gas emissions by comparing like-for-like steel versus concrete materials as the main components in the foundation element of an offshore wind turbine throughout its lifecycle, using an adapted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. This paper details a cradle-to-cradle LCA of the two alternative specifications for semi-submerged foundations supporting a …


Impact Of Systematic Classification And Identification Of Treatment Methods Of Mine Tailings On Concrete Durability, Berika Ceren Cihan Yilmaz, Ceren Ince, Demetrios M. Cotsovos, Richard James Ball Oct 2025

Impact Of Systematic Classification And Identification Of Treatment Methods Of Mine Tailings On Concrete Durability, Berika Ceren Cihan Yilmaz, Ceren Ince, Demetrios M. Cotsovos, Richard James Ball

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The rapid increase in mine tailings generation poses significant environmental challenges, with current disposal methods often unsustainable and leading to catastrophic failures such as tailing pond collapses or toxic slurry spills, resulting in fatalities and severe environmental damage. The urgency for sustainable construction materials is clear, particularly as the global focus shifts toward net-zero emissions and circular economies. Concrete, a primary construction material, traditionally depends on natural resources, making it imperative to explore alternatives that reduce environmental impacts. Mine tailings, with their rich elemental and oxide composition, present a promising option for partial replacement in concrete. Despite this potential, the …


Recycled Coarse Aggregate From Large-Panel Demolitions In Self-Compacting Concrete: Performance And Sustainability, Seweryn Daniel Malazdrewicz Oct 2025

Recycled Coarse Aggregate From Large-Panel Demolitions In Self-Compacting Concrete: Performance And Sustainability, Seweryn Daniel Malazdrewicz

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Buildings constructed with large-panel technology (LPS) before 1990 are increasingly being demolished in Western Europe, and this trend is likely to expand into Central and Eastern Europe due to rising construction activity and limited development space. Despite their age, the concrete from these structures often retains good strength, making it a viable candidate for recycling. This study investigates the reuse of coarse recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) from demolished LPS panels in self-compacting concrete (SCC), a mix known for its high water demand and sensitivity to aggregate properties. The research evaluates whether RCA from LPS should be treated as a distinct …


Comparison Of Mechanical And Durability Properties Of Concretes Containing Copper Heap Leach Residue, S. Khair, F.U.A. Shaikh, P.K. Sarker Oct 2025

Comparison Of Mechanical And Durability Properties Of Concretes Containing Copper Heap Leach Residue, S. Khair, F.U.A. Shaikh, P.K. Sarker

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This paper presents comparative properties of concretes containing washed and un-washed copper heap leach residue (CHLR) as partial replacement of natural aggregates at 25 to 75%. The mechanical and durability properties of the concrete are evaluated with unwashed saturated surface dried (SSD) CHLR and these properties are compared with the 60 min rigorously washed-SSD CHLR concretes. The mechanical properties of control concrete containing natural aggregates showed 46.7 MPa of compressive strength, 3.61 MPa of indirect tensile strength, and 4.80 MPa of flexural strength at 28 days, while the durability properties of the specimen indicated 450 μɛ of drying shrinkage, 5.8% …


Enhancing The Pozzolanic Reactivity Of Bauxite Refinery Residue For Cementitious Applications Through Calcination Treatment, Pukar Siwakoti, Jaya Acharya Nepal, Salim Barbhuiya, Bamdad Ayati Oct 2025

Enhancing The Pozzolanic Reactivity Of Bauxite Refinery Residue For Cementitious Applications Through Calcination Treatment, Pukar Siwakoti, Jaya Acharya Nepal, Salim Barbhuiya, Bamdad Ayati

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Bauxite refinery residue (BRR), a byproduct of alumina production, has significant potential for applications in the construction industry due to its favourable chemical composition and abundant availability. However, its use as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) is limited by its low pozzolanic reactivity. This study investigates the pozzolanic reactivity of BRR through both indirect and direct methods. BRR was used to replace Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% by weight. Mortar compressive strength was tested at 3, 7, and 28 days, while pozzolanic reactivity was directly assessed using the modified Chapelle test. BRR characterisation …


Utilising 'Filter Cake' For Low-Carbon Non-Structural Concrete: A Sustainable Approach To Waste Management, Feysal Shifa, Imrose B. Muhit, David J. Hughes, Thadsha Suntharalingam Oct 2025

Utilising 'Filter Cake' For Low-Carbon Non-Structural Concrete: A Sustainable Approach To Waste Management, Feysal Shifa, Imrose B. Muhit, David J. Hughes, Thadsha Suntharalingam

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Scott Bros (SB) Ltd.’s recycling plant for soil and aggregate washing is projected to generate 225,000 tonnes of residual waste material, known as 'filter cake,' annually. This high-volume, low-value waste stream presents significant management and disposal challenges. This study explores the potential of using 'filter cake' as a raw material in low-carbon non-structural (non-standard) concrete production, contributing to the circular economy. The research aimed to develop low-carbon concrete by maximising recycled ingredients and minimising CEM-I content. Concrete cube samples (150 mm) were prepared, cured, and tested according to BS 8500 and BS 12390 standards. The study investigated the 28-day compressive …


Structural Behaviour Of Preflex Beams In Bridges During Concrete Repair And Maintenance, Liam Simpson, Imrose Muhit Oct 2025

Structural Behaviour Of Preflex Beams In Bridges During Concrete Repair And Maintenance, Liam Simpson, Imrose Muhit

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Preflex beams are composite structural members that combine a steel universal beam with reinforced concrete, enabling longer spans with reduced deflection. Their strength and stiffness rely on a preflexion process, where the bottom flange is initially placed in tension and later compressed by the surrounding concrete. Despite their advantages, repairing preflex beams, particularly the bottom flange concrete, presents challenges due to its role in load distribution and deflection control. This study investigates the structural behaviour of preflex beams when the bottom flange concrete, an integral component of the load distribution mechanism, is altered during concrete repairs, addressing the need for …


Performance Optimisation And Field Application Research Of Emergency Repair Mortar In High-Cold And High-Altitude Areas, Tiejun Hou, Hao Jing, Chenchen Zhang, Shuxuan Bai, Yuan Yuan, Leqing Liu, Pengkun Hou Oct 2025

Performance Optimisation And Field Application Research Of Emergency Repair Mortar In High-Cold And High-Altitude Areas, Tiejun Hou, Hao Jing, Chenchen Zhang, Shuxuan Bai, Yuan Yuan, Leqing Liu, Pengkun Hou

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Qinghai Province is located in a high-cold and high-altitude area, with low average annual temperature, large daily temperature difference, strong ultraviolet irradiation, and arid climate with little rain in some places, which greatly exacerbates the deterioration of the material and structural performance, especially the frequent occurrence of earthquakes, mudslides, landslides, and other geologic hazards have also resulted in structural damage. However, common emergency repair materials have decreased strength at low temperatures and require complex maintenance conditions to harden, which increases the difficulty of repair. Based on the characteristics of high-cold and high-altitude areas, this study systematically investigated the working performance, …


Use Of A Bulk Resistivity Index To Evaluate The Permeability Performance Of Blended Cements And Scms, Robert Douglas Hooton Oct 2025

Use Of A Bulk Resistivity Index To Evaluate The Permeability Performance Of Blended Cements And Scms, Robert Douglas Hooton

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Most specifications for supplementary cementitious materials focus on reactivity as related to strength development. However, beyond strength, the other major benefit from use of SCMs, whether added separately or in blended cements, is their impact on changing the pore structure of the cementitious matrix resulting in improved resistance to ingress of aggressive fluids, i.e. lower permeability. ASTM C1876 and similar test methods in other standards for assessing the bulk resistivity of concrete already exist, but in 2025, ASTM subcommittee C09.48 on Performance of Cementitious Mixtures has adopted ASTM C1952, a standard test method for assessing the relative bulk resistivity of …


Chloride Transport In Low Clinker Content Concretes And Modeling, Pu Yang, Narayanan Neithalath, Manu Santhanam, Yuvaraj Dhandapani Oct 2025

Chloride Transport In Low Clinker Content Concretes And Modeling, Pu Yang, Narayanan Neithalath, Manu Santhanam, Yuvaraj Dhandapani

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Chloride ion transport behaviour has been reported to be significantly influenced by the use of supplementary cementing materials in concrete, both due to physical effects such as pore structure refinement and chemical effects including chloride binding. This paper provides experimental results on diffusion of chloride ions through concretes containing limestone calcined clay as a cement replacement material at ~50% replacement level, demonstrating the beneficial effects of high-volume replacement of cement with calcined clay. A numerical simulation framework that considers the pore structure of concrete, the concentration-dependence of diffusion coefficient, and Freundlich binding is also presented. The diffusion model is augmented …


Challenges And Opportunities In Concrete Precast Sector And Its Transition To A Net-Zero Future, Sreejith Nanukuttan, Rory Doherty, Daniel Mcpolin, Marios Soutsos, Mark Russell Oct 2025

Challenges And Opportunities In Concrete Precast Sector And Its Transition To A Net-Zero Future, Sreejith Nanukuttan, Rory Doherty, Daniel Mcpolin, Marios Soutsos, Mark Russell

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This article explores key factors shaping the transition of the precast concrete sector toward net-zero carbon. While not exhaustive, it highlights areas of scientific and technical interest for a specialist audience. The discussion is structured around priority themes: beginning with cement and clinker replacement, followed by production efficiency improvements, rethinking steel usage, carbon sequestration strategies, and, finally, structural optimisation or volume reduction. These areas are often interdependent: for instance, clinker replacement, production efficiency, and structural optimisation are all influenced by the 16 – 18 hour production cycle typical of precast manufacturing. Unlike the readymix sector, precast operates on a fast-paced, …


Enhancing The Durability Of Concrete Structures Through Digital Twins And Advanced Numerical Simulation, Tetsuya Ishida, Yuya Takahashi Oct 2025

Enhancing The Durability Of Concrete Structures Through Digital Twins And Advanced Numerical Simulation, Tetsuya Ishida, Yuya Takahashi

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This study applies a digital twin–based multi-scale and multi-physics simulation framework for durability assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The framework integrates thermo-hygro-chemical and structural analyses using DuCOM–COM3 to capture time-dependent deterioration processes such as fatigue and corrosion, and to assess their effects on structural performance under realistic environmental and loading conditions. Two case studies illustrate the methodology. The first addresses the fatigue behaviour of RC bridge slabs under moving wheel loads in both dry and wet environments. Numerical simulations reproduced field-observed deterioration patterns, including top-surface disintegration in wet conditions, and led to the development of a simplified predictive equation …


Enhancing Concrete Circularity In Construction: The Recyclebim Framework In Closing Material Loops, Miguel Azenha, Artur Kuzminykh, José Granja, Manuel Parente, M. Albadri, P. González-Cabaleiro, R. Túñez-Alcalde, Lucía Díaz-Vilariño, C. Cao, N. Ukrainczyk, E. Koenders, A. J. Babafemi, M. Colyn, W. De Villiers, A. Ditlhokwa, H. Els, K. Timm, G. Van Zijl, E. Ameh, J. Immelman, V. Ndjate, L. Petrik, E. Ciampi, G. Nisivoccia, M. G. Orecchio, E. Sandonis, V. Garcia, D. Garcia, A. Delaplace Oct 2025

Enhancing Concrete Circularity In Construction: The Recyclebim Framework In Closing Material Loops, Miguel Azenha, Artur Kuzminykh, José Granja, Manuel Parente, M. Albadri, P. González-Cabaleiro, R. Túñez-Alcalde, Lucía Díaz-Vilariño, C. Cao, N. Ukrainczyk, E. Koenders, A. J. Babafemi, M. Colyn, W. De Villiers, A. Ditlhokwa, H. Els, K. Timm, G. Van Zijl, E. Ameh, J. Immelman, V. Ndjate, L. Petrik, E. Ciampi, G. Nisivoccia, M. G. Orecchio, E. Sandonis, V. Garcia, D. Garcia, A. Delaplace

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Despite significant progress in digitalisation across various sectors, the development of data-driven applications in the built environment remains ongoing, with a focus on improving labour productivity and addressing global sustainability challenges. The circular economy framework for reusing and recycling construction materials is still underexplored. Metrics on the amount and impact of construction and demolition waste (CDW) highlight the need for more effective circularity strategies. Although the circular economy seeks to minimise waste, maximise material reuse, and reduce environmental impacts, practical implementation within the construction sector requires further development—an area where digital technologies can offer substantial support. This study introduces the …


Bubbling Effect Of Air-Entraining Agents In Naoh-Activated Slag, Jun Ren, Tao Li, Mintai Tuo, Yunhong Cai, Dafu Wang, Jianghong Mao Oct 2025

Bubbling Effect Of Air-Entraining Agents In Naoh-Activated Slag, Jun Ren, Tao Li, Mintai Tuo, Yunhong Cai, Dafu Wang, Jianghong Mao

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Surfactants, particularly air-entraining agents (AEAs), significantly influence the pore structure of concrete, thereby determining its durability performance, in which their role in alkali-activated slag (AAS) materials remains unclear. This study systematically investigated the foaming behaviour, rheological properties, and pore structure effects of four typical AEAs, in terms of alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS), didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), disodium lauroamphodiacetate (DSLA), decyl glucoside (DG), the representive anionic, cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic AEAs, in NaOH-activated slag systems. Results indicated that AOS exhibited the strongest foaming capability, while DSLA demonstrated excellent foam stability across various environments. AEAs notably enhanced paste fluidity; a 1.5% DSLA dosage increased …


Effect Of Carbonation On Rebar Corrosion In Mgo-Sio2 Binder Concrete, Bharati, Dirk Engelberg, Cise Unluer Oct 2025

Effect Of Carbonation On Rebar Corrosion In Mgo-Sio2 Binder Concrete, Bharati, Dirk Engelberg, Cise Unluer

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

MgO-SiO2 binders are a promising alternative to Portland cement (PC) offering comparable strength performance to the conventional PC concrete. However, their application in reinforced concrete has been limited due to the inherently low pH of these binders. This study investigated the mechanical, microstructural, and corrosion performance of MgO-SiO2 binder concrete after carbonation. MgO-SiO2 concrete samples were subjected to 14 days of carbonation and subsequently tested after one year. The degree of carbonation was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis while corrosion assessment was done using Wenner four-probe resistivity meter, half-cell potential and a handled device called Rapicor. The results showed that MgO-SiO2 …


Decalcification Of Calcium Silicate Hydrate By Sulfate Attack: Material Degradation By Heterogeneous Charges, Muhan Wang, Xiangming Zhou, Chengbo Liu, Pan Wang, Dongshuai Hou Oct 2025

Decalcification Of Calcium Silicate Hydrate By Sulfate Attack: Material Degradation By Heterogeneous Charges, Muhan Wang, Xiangming Zhou, Chengbo Liu, Pan Wang, Dongshuai Hou

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Sulfate attack is a key factor limiting the durability of concrete in aggressive environments, primarily through the degradation of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H), the main binding phase of cement. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of C–S–H decalcification under sulfate exposure by combining semi-empirical Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) with density functional theory (DFT). A C–S–H model with a Ca/Si ratio of 1.5 was simulated in aqueous environments with and without sulfate ions. BOMD trajectories revealed that while C–S–H remained largely stable in pure water, sulfate ions rapidly promoted Ca²⁺ desorption, leading to silicate chain fragmentation and Q²→Q¹ transitions. Electronic structure …


Mdea-Enhanced Co2 Sequestration Via Steel Slag Waste: Mechanisms And Microstructural Evolution During Aqueous Carbonation, Yanming Liu, Tao Shi, Xiangming Zhou Oct 2025

Mdea-Enhanced Co2 Sequestration Via Steel Slag Waste: Mechanisms And Microstructural Evolution During Aqueous Carbonation, Yanming Liu, Tao Shi, Xiangming Zhou

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The current CO2 sequestration efficiency (CO2 SE) of steel slag waste (SSW) remains relatively low, and the underlying mechanisms of the carbonation reaction are not fully understood, limiting its potential for resource utilisation. In this study, N-methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) was introduced into an aqueous carbonation system to enhance the CO2 SE of SSW, and the associated reaction mechanisms and microstructural evolutions were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the addition of 5 wt.% MDEA increased the CO2 sequestration rate (CO2 SR) to 14.44%, representing a 68.5% improvement over the control group. MDEA enhanced CO2 dissolution and diffusion in the aqueous …


Fractal Characterisation Of Crack Tortuosity And Its Correlation With Permeability In Concrete, Yuan Shen, Tamon Ueda Oct 2025

Fractal Characterisation Of Crack Tortuosity And Its Correlation With Permeability In Concrete, Yuan Shen, Tamon Ueda

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This study investigated fracture behaviour in four concrete grades (C40-C70) through controlled splitting tests. Using high-resolution 3D profilometry, we quantitatively characterised crack surface morphology and proposed a novel fractal dimension metric for tortuosity D_T. Post-repair permeability tests on 12 specimens (24 fracture surfaces) revealed: (1) conventional tortuosity showed weak permeability correlation (R²<0.350), while (2) D_T demonstrated superior predictive capability (R²=0.430). The developed fractal tortuosity index provides a robust multiscale quantification method for crack flow mechanism analysis.


Experimental Study On Freeze–Thaw Cycles Response In Mortar Under Controlled Partially Saturated Conditions, Hussain Hafiz Wahab, Yanyue Qin, Xi Ji, Yuya Takahashi Oct 2025

Experimental Study On Freeze–Thaw Cycles Response In Mortar Under Controlled Partially Saturated Conditions, Hussain Hafiz Wahab, Yanyue Qin, Xi Ji, Yuya Takahashi

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Freeze–thaw cycle (FTC) deterioration is one of the major durability concerns for concrete structures in cold climates. While many studies focus on fully saturated conditions, real structures often undergo FTCs under unsaturated conditions, where damage mechanisms are not well understood. This study investigates FTC damage in mortar under controlled unsaturated conditions to improve understanding of moisture-driven deterioration. Mortar specimens with water-to-cement (W/C) ratios of 0.50 and 0.75 were cast in thin specimens (100 mm × 100 mm × 10 mm) to promote rapid thermal response and enhance moisture redistribution, allowing for early detection of expansion. Specimens were preconditioned to specific …


Mechanical Behaviour Of Cement-Based Materials In Deep Seas: A Review, Yuichiro Kawabata, Keisuke Takahashi, Hong Song Wong Oct 2025

Mechanical Behaviour Of Cement-Based Materials In Deep Seas: A Review, Yuichiro Kawabata, Keisuke Takahashi, Hong Song Wong

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The ocean covers approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface, with over 80% categorized as deep sea. The deep sea, defined as depths greater than 200 m, is considered the most significant and last frontier within the marine environment. Emerging innovative projects have recently explored offshore wind power generation, seabed resource mining, carbon dioxide capture and storage, and deep-sea cities. One of the key challenges with construction in the deep sea is the high-water pressure, which increases by 1 MPa per 100 m of depth. The surrounding water pressure constrains concrete and increases its strength, but, because concrete is porous, seawater …


Durability Of Cement-Based Materials In Deep Seas: A Review Of Chemical Aspects With New Results, Keisuke Takahashi, Yuichiro Kawabata, Hong Wong Oct 2025

Durability Of Cement-Based Materials In Deep Seas: A Review Of Chemical Aspects With New Results, Keisuke Takahashi, Yuichiro Kawabata, Hong Wong

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The application of cement-based materials in deep-sea environments presents serious durability challenges due to high hydrostatic pressure and low temperatures. This study reviews previous research and presents new findings from field exposure tests, including a 3-year exposure at 3500 m depth. Portland cement (PC) and blast furnace slag (BFS)-blended systems exhibited severe degradation, with BFS-based specimens showing complete disintegration. Microstructural analysis revealed calcium leaching, C–S–H decalcification, and secondary phase formation such as ettringite and Mg-based hydrates. In contrast, calcium aluminate cement (AC) demonstrated excellent resistance, retaining its shape and chemical integrity even after long-term exposure. Thermodynamic modelling partially supported these …