Civil Engineering Commons^™

Low-Carbon Concrete For Sustainable Construction: A Comprehensive Review Of Performance Characteristics, Implementation Challenges, And Decarbonization Pathways, Fazel Azarhomayun, Jingjie Wei, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Reducing the carbon footprint of concrete has become a central objective in sustainable construction. Low-carbon concrete (LCC), developed primarily through clinker reduction, supplementary cementitious materials, and alternative binder strategies, offers a promising route for lowering embodied emissions while maintaining the performance requirements of structural concrete. This comprehensive review consolidates the current state of knowledge on LCC, identifies critical research and implementation gaps, and examines its material composition, mixture-design methodologies, performance characteristics, structural applications, implementation challenges, and decarbonization pathways. Single-SCM systems have been reported at clinker-replacement levels approaching 50%, although durability at these replacement levels, particularly carbonation resistance, remains system- and …

Mechanical, Durability, And Environmental Performance Of Limestone Powder-Modified Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, Yashovardhan Sharma, Meghana Yeluri, Srinivas Allena

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) delivers outstanding durability and strength but typically relies on high Portland cement content. This study evaluates a 20% cement replacement with limestone powder (LP) in UHPC and benchmarks performance under two curing regimes: moist curing (MC) and warm bath curing at 90 degrees C (WB). Metrics include workability, compressive and flexural behavior, shrinkage, freeze-thaw resistance, chloride transport (surface resistivity, RCPT), material cost, and embodied CO2. LP improved fresh behavior: flow increased by 14.3% in plain UHPC and 33% in fiber-reinforced UHPC (FR-UHPC). Compressive strengths remained in the UHPC range at 28-56 days (approximately 142-152 MPa with LP), …

Magnesium Sulfate Attack Of Alite Paste And Mitigation By Surface Carbonation: Monitoring And Comparison Using Novel Portable Fiber-Optic Raman Probe, Bohong Zhang, Gao Deng, Hongyan Ma, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sulfate attack on cement matrix is still a "confused world" especially when magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) is the sulfate source. Accurate assessment of sulfate attack is essential for evaluating the structural integrity and durability of concrete in relevant environments. This study presents a portable fiber-optic Raman probe approach with 125 μm spatial resolution, designed for depth-resolved sulfate ingress monitoring in tricalcium silicate (C₃S, Alite) pastes. The probe is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of surface carbonation in mitigating sulfate attack. The results demonstrate a strong correlation between sulfate penetration depth and Raman spectral intensity ratios of sulfate-related vibrational …

Characterization Of The Effects Of Waste Mullite Powder On Seawater Sea Sand Cementitious Materials, Xiao Sun, Zehui Zhou, Wenjie He, Yudong Bi, Yao Wang, Hengrui Liu, Rui Zhong, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Maintaining the durability of coastal concrete structures while reducing construction costs remains a formidable challenge. Drawing inspiration from the volcanic concrete used by ancient Greeks and Romans, this study explores the feasibility of using waste mullite powder (WMP) with a high alumina content in seawater sea sand concrete to conserve natural resources and enhance durability. The experimental results demonstrate that the incorporation of seawater and WMP exerts detrimental impacts on the flow characteristics and workability of cementitious composites. While the sulfate content in seawater and sea sand can bolster the early strength of sea sand seawater concrete, sulfate attack compromises …

Impact Of Nanoparticles On Performance Of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Mortar, Habiba A. Mohamed, Mohamed R. Sakr, Mohamed O. R. El Hariri

Journal of Engineering Research

In response to the growing demand for sustainable construction materials, this study explores the transformative potential of nanoparticles, specifically nano silica and Nano clay, to enhance the mechanical and durability properties of metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar without heat curing. Geopolymer mortars incorporating 2.5% and 5% Nano silica and Nano clay were evaluated for compressive strength, tensile strength and water absorption. Mixture with 5% nano silica exhibited the most significant improvements, achieving compressive and tensile strengths of 36 MPa and 3.5 MPa, alongside the lowest water absorption of 4.65%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) further confirmed the formation of …

Assessment Of Long Term Durability Of Prefabricated Frp Strip Systems For The Rehabilitation Of Concrete, Karunya Kanagavel

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites provide an extremely effective means of rehabilitating deteriorating and understrength concrete elements due to their characteristics of high specific strength and stiffness, corrosion resistance, and potential long-term durability, lightweight nature, and ease of placement in the field. Despite significant use of these materials, there is still a lack of long-term durability data. With this in mind, the current study investigates the impact of environmental exposure and aging on 3 commercially available prefabricated carbon fiber reinforced composite strips and their recommended adhesives used in externally bonded rehabilitation with the aim of providing a comprehensive set of …

A Durability Evaluation Of Class B Concrete Bridge Substructures Under West Virginia Freeze–Thaw Conditions, Nathaniel Wayne Dunbar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluates whether the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Class B concrete specification for bridge substructures remains adequate under modern durability and design-life expectations. The current specification, which permits a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 psi, reflects practices established when shorter service lives were generally assumed. Modern AASHTO LRFD provisions are based on a 75-year design life, raising concern that this lower-strength concrete may not provide sufficient durability under West Virginia’s climatic conditions.

To address this issue, bridge inspection data, regional climate mapping, and durability modeling were used to assess the condition and performance of concrete substructures across …

Enhancing Concrete Sustainability With Self-Healing Technologies, Al Shimaa Abdullatif

Theses and Dissertations

Thanks to its strength, durability and affordability, Portland cement concrete is the most commonly used building material worldwide. However, concrete cracking is inevitable due to numerous factors including shrinkage, exposure to external chemicals, internals reactions, excessive loads, to name but a few. Self-healing is a promising technique that can enable concrete to autogenously heal cracks and alleviate much of the damage. Such healing can without a doubt extend the service life with less need for external repair works therefore it contributes to sustainability. Over the years, several means of self-healing agents have been explored including bio-based procedures and the incorporation …

An Investigation Of The Effect Of Performance Engineered Mixture (Pem) Design On Durability And Air Void Matrix Of Concrete Pavements, Jacob Ortlieb

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Performance Engineered Mixture (PEM) design is a novel method of creating concrete pavement that is economical achieving desirable performance properties such as durability, strength, and workability. Performance-based design is critical for concrete pavements, so the fresh concrete can be placed without issue and the hardened concrete can withstand deterioration and environmental damage such as freezing and thawing. To achieve economical concrete, PEM utilizes tools such as the tarantula curve for aggregate grading, and the Super Air Meter (SAM) test, providing information regarding the air void matrix while the concrete is fresh. To achieve these properties with less cement will lead …

Moisture And Glass Transition Temperature Kinetics From Long Term Hygrothermal Aging Of Carbon/Epoxy Composites, Behnaz Hassanpour

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The durability of fiber reinforced polymer composites used in civil infrastructure rehabilitation has become increasingly critical, especially under long-term hygrothermal aging conditions. This study focuses on the results of long-term (up to 6 years) hygrothermal aging of wet layup carbon/epoxy composites and investigates the effects of moisture, as well as accelerated aging at elevated temperatures with varying thicknesses and fabric areal weights. The primary objective is to establish a comprehensive understanding of moisture uptake kinetics and its subsequent effects on the glass transition temperature (T_g), mechanical performance, and the resulting implications for material durability. Four papers form …

Self-Consolidating Concrete Design For Drilled Shaft Structural Applications, Grady S. Caton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a relatively new concrete technology which allows the concrete to be placed without the need for manual or machine vibration. This innovation reduces labor costs, construction times, and can provide a smooth, finished surface. However, this technology is used in the United States primarily in the precast and prestressed concrete industry. The utility of SCC in structural applications, such as areas of dense reinforcement or locations where complex geometry makes consolidation impossible, is also advantageous. In this study, a series of SCC mixtures were developed both with and without fly ash replacement. These mixtures were then …

Developing Asphalt Mix Design Specifications Based On Apa And Ideal-Ct Testing, Jonathan Stonestreet

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Some asphalt mixes, following the Superpave mix design procedure, have been reported to be too stiff, making cracking a prevalent form of pavement distress. Additionally, cracking has been reported to be the main form of distress of asphalt pavements in the State of Arkansas. These facts have heightened state agencies’ interest in better performing asphalt pavements, with Arkansas resolving to explore performance-based balanced mix designs (BMD), not yet explored in the state. The primary objective of this document is to present the completed study of balanced mix designs, based on the rutting and cracking potential of asphalt pavement mixtures through …

Assessment Of The Mechanical And Durability Characteristics Of Bio-Mineralized Bacillus Subtilis Self-Healing Concrete Blended With Hydrated Lime And Brick Powder, Mohd Abu Bakr, Birendra Kumar Singh, Ahmed Farouk Deifalla, Shatrudhan Pandey, Ahmed Hussain, Sahir Sultan Alvi, S.M. Mozammil Hasnain

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Highlights

• The present paper studied the effect of biomineralization on the properties of HBr concrete.

• Strength and durability properties are improved by calcite precipitation produced by bacteria.

• CaCO3 Precipitation was confirmed in the microstructure analysis through FESEM and EDS.

Abstract

Cement is the main constituent of the concrete structure. Using rejected brick as pozzolana in replacement of cement reduced the utilization of natural resources, conserved the environment, and controlled waste disposal. Hydrated lime has been utilized as a chemical additive to improve the pozzolanic reaction of finely ground waste brick particles. This research investigates the process of biomineralization to enhance …

Evaluating The Permeability Of Porous Aggregate Concrete Using Electrical Resistivity-Based Measurements, Ariel Miguel Mendez Aragoncillo

Theses and Dissertations

Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and lightweight aggregates (LWA) are popular alternative aggregates for concrete. However, due to their highly porous structure, concrete with RCA and LWA shows a different microstructure and higher permeability than conventional concrete. Thus, the existing relationships used to evaluate the permeability and, consequently, the durability of concrete are not applicable in concretes with RCA and LWA. This research examined the permeation properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) and lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). The relationships between electrical resistivity-based measurements in RAC and LWAC and their permeation properties were determined and compared to that of normal weight aggregate …

Evaluation Of The Chloride Ions Penetration Into Concrete Structure With The Surface Penetrants Served In Cold Marine Environment For 20 Years, Yanhua Kuang, Yuki Sakoi Associate Professor, Naoto Takashima Postgraduate, Minoru Aba Professor, Yoichi Tsukinaga Professor,

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The intrusion of chloride ions in concrete served in the marine environment is the leading cause of corrosion of steel bars. This paper examined the result of a long-term survey on the actual structure (the Tomakomai breakwater) treated with a set of penetrants partly. The survey was conducted twice, in the 12th and 20th years after construction.

The results showed that the penetrants could effectively reduce the penetration of chloride ions into concrete. After using the penetrants, the calculated surface chloride ion concentration was decreased by 5.04%/72.18% (the 12th year/the 20th year). As the service years increase, surface chloride ion …

Production Of Low-Cost Self-Consolidating Concrete (Scc) Using Manufactured Aggregates, Rabab Raydan, Farah Chamseddine, Ali Jahami, Oussama Baalbaki, Jamal Khatib, Adel Elkordi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Limitations to the sources of aggregates and the unavailability of sand is becoming a problematic issue for concrete production. A novel technology of manufactured aggregates can produce well graded round aggregates that can substitute natural aggregates while maintaining the same characteristics needed and preserving the resources. Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) using manufactured aggregates is assessed in this experimental work to understand the variability of workability properties and mechanical properties with the changes in w/c ratio and percentages of Coarse Aggregates and Manufactured Sand to Natural Sand in order to choose the best mixture that satisfies an adequate overall performance. Targeting compressive …

Development, Characterization, And Modeling Of Physical, Mechanical, And Durability Properties Of Sustainable Ultra-High Performance Concrete, Tawsif M. Hasan

ETD Archive

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is an advanced concrete material with superior mechanical strength, high tensile ductility, and exceptional durability, including negligible permeability. Despite these excellent material properties, the use of UHPC in structural applications is limited because of the high cost of commercially available UHPC products. Therefore, developing non-proprietary UHPC mixtures using local materials is a viable way to reduce the initial cost of UHPC. In this research, sustainable and cost-effective UHPC mixtures were developed using locally sourced materials so that UHPC may be more affordable to a wider variety of applications. Specifically, locally available Type I-II cement, local sand …

Durability Properties Of Concrete With 100 Percent Coarse Recycled Concrete Aggregates, Tasnia Tarannum Khan

Theses and Dissertations

The supplies of concrete aggregates from natural sources are rapidly reducing. Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) are produced by crushing the concrete obtained from demolished concrete structures. The purpose of this study is to determine the durability properties of concrete with 100% recycled concrete coarse aggregates and relate the durability of such concrete to the physical, mechanical, and durability properties of RCA and the RCA parent concrete. The correlations of several properties are determined by developing model equations to predict RCA properties. The parent concrete is crushed and graded at two nominal maximum sizes, 1" and 0.75", to determine the RCA …

Corrosion Propagation Of Stainless Steel Reinforced Concrete, Nelly Sofía Orozco Martínez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Structural durability is a growing concern in global infrastructure. The infrastructure report card released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) indicates that approximately 9.1% of the total bridges in the United States were structurally deficient in 2016. In addition, it suggests that about 40% of the total bridges in the country are now 50 years or older. This issue becomes even more critical in structures exposed to aggressive environments such as marine structures. Thus, federal and regional efforts are now being directed towards infrastructural durability improvement to improve the long-term cost-efficiency of civil infrastructure.

Corrosion prevention strategies may …

Corrosion Durability Service Life Of Calcium Silicate-Based Reinforced Concrete, Carolina Páez Jiménez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Corrosion of reinforcing steel is a major area of study for assessing durability of reinforced concrete infrastructure. Conventional concrete infrastructure designs use ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as the primary cementitious material. However, the world's current challenge to achieve sustainable development requires the cement industry to reduce its environmental impact, as it is responsible for 8% of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Hence, a new type of cement has been developed. This novel calcium silicate cement (CSC) reduces the carbon dioxide emissions during its manufacturing process as compared to OPC, providing an environmentally-sound alternative for reinforced concrete fabrication.

Corrosion of steel reinforcement …

Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bar Investigation: Long-Term In-Situ Durability And Bond Strength Assessment In Conventional And Sustainable Concrete, Ali Fadhil Al-Khafaji

Doctoral Dissertations

"Corrosion of steel reinforcement and carbon dioxide emissions are two major global problems. Different methods, techniques, and materials have been implemented to mitigate these problems. Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bar presents itself as a solid alternative to replace conventional steel reinforcement owing to its fantastic features in resisting corrosion. Its demand is progressively increasing. Cement-based concrete, on the other hand, is not eco-friendly due to the excessive amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions yielded from its cement production. One of the alternatives used to mitigate the use of cement in concrete is fly ash. Fly ash is considered …

The Impact Of Grinding Time On Properties Of Cement Mortar Incorporated High Volume Waste Paper Sludge Ash, Ali A. Shubbar, Monower Sadique, Mohammed S. Nasr, Zainab S. Al-Khafaji, Khalid S. Hashim

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Cement is considered a base material in preparing blending mixtures that applying in various projects in the civil engineering field. Nevertheless, the cement production process cause indubitable negative environmental influences such as emitting CO₂. The production of cement produces around 7% of the global CO₂ emissions. Thus, searching for alternate binders in building processes to minimise or substitute cement has been one of the social problems. A by-product or waste products are among the potential alternatives to the mentioned problem. The present investigation involves the consumption of paper sludge ash (PSA) waste as cement replacement to produce …

Moisture Monitoring Of A Clt Structure In A Southern Climate, Elizabeth Poblete

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding of moisture behavior in cross laminated timber (CLT) is critical to the widespread use of CLT in construction in the United States. Currently, very little data exists on the long-term impact of moisture on CLT. The objective of this research is to collect data regarding the long-term moisture variation in the CLT panel at the University of Arkansas Adohi Hall residence hall. The climate of Northwest Arkansas is different from previously monitored buildings, as they were in the Pacific Northwest. Comparatively, Northwest Arkansas has a warmer climate with higher average annual precipitation. Waterproofing efforts are usually employed to prevent …

Durability And Prediction Of Long-Term Performance Of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (Cfrp) Laminates Under Environmental Conditions, Eyad Alsuhaibani

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Strengthening deteriorated concrete structures with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been widely validated through laboratory experiments and field tests. Questions and concerns persist related to the CFRP’s long-term performance and service life, however, thus the main objective of this research was to evaluate its durability under various environmental conditions. This research is divided into four distinct phases. In the first phase, the deterioration trends of CFRP laminate under environmental regimes were evaluated after immersion in water at 23, 45, and 60 °C for periods up to 32 weeks. In the second phase, four prediction models of the long-term performance …

Evaluation Of Long Term Durability In Concrete With External Pre-Saturated Cfrp Laminate, Ramya Anandhan

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Many studies have investigated the use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) wraps to strengthen structural members, but there is limited literature on the application of presaturated CFRP wraps on reinforced concrete members. The main objective of this research is to study the long-term effectiveness of presaturated CFRP wraps in preventing corrosion of reinforced concrete specimens in severe environments. This paper presents numerical and experimental studies that were conducted to determine whether CFRP presaturated wraps provide a barrier against the ingress of chloride and permeability of water into concrete and thereby decelerate the corrosion process. The results show that the …

The Impact Of Conversion On The Durability Of Calcium Aluminate Cement Concrete Systems, Marwa Mohsen Korayem

Dissertations

The deterioration of infrastructure in North America has resulted in a significant need for concrete repair materials that can be used to maintain service life of these structures. Hydraulic cement based rapid repair materials can be used to repair pavement and bridge deterioration with minimal impact on economic activities such as freight handling or public transportation. While there are many options for use in repair situations, calcium aluminate cements have become more popular recently, particularly in situations where repairs must be completed rapidly.

Calcium aluminate cement (CAC) is a cement characterized by its rapid strength gain, even at low temperatures …

Will Blended-Cement Systems With Similar Chloride Penetration Potentials Resist Similarly To Corrosion?, William Wilson, Vincent Labattaglia, Arezki Tagnit-Hamou, Luca Sorelli

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The capacity of concrete to prevent chloride ions penetration represents a key durability factor for steelreinforced structures exposed to de-icing salts and/or marine environments. Although blended-cement systems are commonly characterized with accelerated chloride penetration tests developed for Portlandcement concrete (e.g. the ASTM C1202 method), their microstructures and pore solutions are very different. This study aims to illustrate how the full potential of blended-cement systems to resist chloride ingress (and thus, chloride-induced corrosion) may not be justly disclosed by these accelerated tests using electrical current, even when tested after three months of curing. A Portland-cement-only mortar and five binary blended-cement mortars …

An Investigation On Moisture And Water Absorption In Cement Paste With Electrical Resistance Method, Manami Mizoguchi, Tatsuya Kitagawa, Totsawat Daungwilailuk, Yuko Ogawa, Kenji Kawai

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Moisture in concrete is one of main factors related to degradation and deterioration of concrete structure, and there are various moisture transport phenomena in concrete such as drying and absorbing. There are a lot of previous studies on the drying process of concrete to clarify the mechanisms of creep as well as shrinkage. However, few studies have been reported on the process of water absorption and moisture absorption although carbonation and chloride attack are strongly related to moisture and water absorbing. It is necessary to investigate moisture transfer in concrete in detail. This study investigated the moisture transfer in moisture …

Influence Of Pore Structure On Relative Chloride Diffusion Coefficient In Unsaturated Cementitious Materials, Yong Zhang, Guang Ye

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Chloride-induced corrosion of reinforcement in concrete structures is a serious issue in engineering practice. This paper investigates the influence of pore structure on the relative chloride diffusion coefficient Drc in unsaturated cementitious materials. The effects of various pore features, including porosity, pore size, and pore connectivity, on the continuity of water-filled pores in unsaturated porous systems are analyzed based on the Kelvin law and water desorption process. In the experimental program, different cementitious materials (OPC, slag, fly ash, and limestone powder) were used to prepare paste and mortar samples. The Drc of the mortar samples (one year old) at various …

Characterization Of Vibration Effects On The Internal Structure And Strength Of Regular And High Strength Recycled Concrete, Jovanca Smith, Rekha Rampit, R. Parey

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

There is a need for more in depth understanding of the consolidation effect of concrete on its durability, especially in tropical climates. During placement of fresh concrete in molds vibration is required to prevent quality problems such as honeycombs and desegregation. Nevertheless, precise monitoring of concrete vibration time has been avoided by construction professionals. This results in concrete durability reduction of appropriately designed concrete due to variation in aggregate settlement, air void content and change in water to cement ratio. In this study, the effects of vibration time on concrete strength, aggregate segregation, and physical properties were experimentally investigated on …