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Advances in Green Construction Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2022) | Viewed by 47309

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Yann Malecot

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
3SR Laboratory, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38400 Grenoble, France
Interests: structural mechanics; masonry structures; concrete material; earthen building; dynamic behavior; seismic loading; mesoscale modelling; X-ray tomography; inverse analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to invite you to participate in a Special Issue of Materials titled “Advances in Green Construction Materials”. The purpose of this Special Issue is to present the latest advances in the field of construction materials, the needs of which are growing very rapidly due to the development of our societies. This growth is, however, constrained by a double imperative of sustainability and safety, whether these constructions are new or old, whether they concern buildings or infrastructures. These two imperatives for construction include, on the one hand, sustainability with regards to the environment and, on the other hand, safety with regards to extreme events, and they must be considered in the context of climate change and the aging of existing constructions. You are therefore invited to submit articles on the development, characterization, or modeling of materials, constructive solutions, or solutions for reinforcing structures that are eco-responsible. Topics of interest may be related to the mechanical, multi-physical, multi-scale behavior of these materials in relation to service life (durability) or extreme loading situations (risks).

Prof. Dr. Yann Malecot
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Green building materials
  • Sustainability
  • Safety
  • Durability
  • Extreme loading
  • Service life

Published Papers (20 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 22971 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and Mechanism Analysis of Graphite Tailings Environment-Friendly Concrete
by Hourui Duan, Hongbo Liu, Bochen Li, Zhongrui Wang and Hongshuai Gao
Materials 2022, 15(24), 8870; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248870 - 12 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1352
Abstract
The development of tailings in concrete technology is not only conducive to the realization of the goal of reducing carbon emissions, but also conducive to the inhibition the occurrence of shortages of sand and gravel supplies. In this study, graphite tailings were used [...] Read more.
The development of tailings in concrete technology is not only conducive to the realization of the goal of reducing carbon emissions, but also conducive to the inhibition the occurrence of shortages of sand and gravel supplies. In this study, graphite tailings were used to replace sand in the range of 0~100%, and the mechanical mechanism of graphite tailings concrete was examined through compressive and flexural tests. The mechanical experimental results were evaluated and verified based on concrete macroscopic failure appearance, mesoscopic failure appearance, and physical characteristics of graphite tailings. The results revealed that the concrete strength increases first and then decreases with the increase of the graphite tailings content. Compared to GT00 (GT00 is a specimen with a graphite tailings content of 0%, and so on), GT10~GT60 exhibited better mechanical properties, of which 30% was recommended as the optimal replacement rate. The mechanical properties of GT10 and GT20 had an upward trend, and GT30 had low spalling, with aggregate fragmentation found on the fracture surface. GT30 showed the best resistance to bending and deformation. The mechanical properties of GT40~GT60 had a downward trend. When the graphite tailings content was higher than 70%, the interface defects of the aggregate matrix increased, thus making it easier for cracks to propagate along the interface. Furthermore, the mechanism of graphite tailings replacing sand verified the test results from different perspectives, which provides new analysis ideas for other tailings in environment-friendly concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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20 pages, 10016 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Sand Subjected to High Stress Levels in Wet and Dry Conditions
by Shadi Youssef, Abdallah Accary, Christophe Dano and Yann Malecot
Materials 2022, 15(19), 6775; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15196775 - 29 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1172
Abstract
This work aimed to understand the mechanical behavior of siliceous and calcareous sand materials under uniaxial confined compression loading at high stress levels. For this purpose, a series of quasi-oedometric compression tests were conducted on sand materials, to examine the effects of grain [...] Read more.
This work aimed to understand the mechanical behavior of siliceous and calcareous sand materials under uniaxial confined compression loading at high stress levels. For this purpose, a series of quasi-oedometric compression tests were conducted on sand materials, to examine the effects of grain size, nature, and moisture contents on the soil crushability and the compression behavior, using an upgraded thick pressure vessel device that can reach mean stress up to 500 MPa. All samples were prepared using an aspect ratio of 1:1 (diameter: height), placed inside a high strength steel vessel, and compressed at a uniform axial displacement rate of 5 µm/s. The vessel is instrumented with multiple strain gauges allowing for the characterization of the hydrostatic and deviatoric behavior of each test. The results of quasi-oedometric tests, conducted on these types of sand, up to a passive confinement of 500 MPa, show that particle breakage is enhanced by the presence of water. It was noticed that, for siliceous sand, smaller particles break more than larger particles, and that the calcareous grains manifest a rapid response to axial stress compared to siliceous sand. Testing various soil properties shows a great potential to better characterize the sensitivity to breakage of soils. Lastly, a post-mortem analysis of samples before and after testing, using the X-ray micro-tomography technique, was applied to study the mechanical damage of sand specimens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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12 pages, 4151 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Performance Study of Large Volume Foamed Lightweight Soil for an Intelligent Networked Vehicle Test Site
by Hao Liu, Gang Liu, Huqiang Wang, Huiwen Wan, Xiaoyang Xu, Cong Shen, Jiaqi Xuan and Qiqing He
Materials 2022, 15(15), 5382; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15155382 - 04 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1188
Abstract
The foamed lightweight soil (FLS) with superior performance was prepared to be used as a subgrade filling material in an intelligent networked vehicle test site. The production process of practical engineering FLS is simulated in the laboratory. The performance of the prepared FLS [...] Read more.
The foamed lightweight soil (FLS) with superior performance was prepared to be used as a subgrade filling material in an intelligent networked vehicle test site. The production process of practical engineering FLS is simulated in the laboratory. The performance of the prepared FLS is the same as that of practical engineering. The test results show that the FLS prepared with 30% cement, 30% granulated blast furnace slag, and 40% fly ash as cementing material has a flow factor of 175 mm. It has good fluidity and is easy to pump. Wet density reaches 593 kg/m3 within the range of the control index of 600 ± 30 kg/m3. The compressive strength of 7 d and 28 d reaches 0.82 MPa and 1.90 MPa, respectively, which is higher than the design strength of 0.5 MPa and 1.0 MPa. Compared with FLS made of pure cement as a cementing material, the FLS has a low heat of hydration, good volume stability, no cracks on the surface, excellent sulfate resistance, good economy, and low carbon characteristics. In the meantime, it can reduce 70% CO2 emissions in cement production. The advanced vehicle-mounted mobile intelligent control system is flexible and convenient in actual engineering construction. It can display the wet density of FLS online, which is easy to adjust and control to ensure the quality stability of FLS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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12 pages, 6334 KiB  
Article
Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Phosphoric Acid Activated Geopolymer Materials Reinforced with Mullite Fibers
by Qingxin Wei, Yang Liu and Huirong Le
Materials 2022, 15(12), 4185; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124185 - 13 Jun 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1902
Abstract
This article investigates several important properties, such as thermal resistance, mechanical properties, and phase evolution, of geopolymer ceramics reinforced with mullite fibers. This particular fiber reinforcing geopolymer composites was prepared from kaolinite and mullite fibers with phosphoric acid as activator. X-ray diffraction (XRD), [...] Read more.
This article investigates several important properties, such as thermal resistance, mechanical properties, and phase evolution, of geopolymer ceramics reinforced with mullite fibers. This particular fiber reinforcing geopolymer composites was prepared from kaolinite and mullite fibers with phosphoric acid as activator. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine the phase evolution and strengthening mechanisms. With the addition of mullite fibers, the mechanical properties increased by at least 20%. The optimum flexural strength exceeded 13 MPa. It was found that mullite fibers had desirable interface bonding with this type of geopolymer, promoting both crack deflection and fiber pullout strengthening mechanisms. This was correlated with a significant strengthening effect of the fibers. The linear shrinkage after heat treatment at 1150 °C~1550 °C was investigated and correlated with XRD analyses. The addition of mullite fibers reduced the linear shrinkage significantly up to 1350 °C. The large linear shrinkage above 1450 °C was correlated with the decomposition and melting of the AlPO4 phase. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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17 pages, 4151 KiB  
Article
Aplitic Granite Waste as Raw Material for the Production of Outdoor Ceramic Floor Tiles
by Milica Vidak Vasić, Nevenka Mijatović and Zagorka Radojević
Materials 2022, 15(9), 3145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093145 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2955
Abstract
One of the significant problems in the production of ceramic tiles is the very high consumption of natural resources such as clay, feldspar, and quartz. The possibility of replacing part of the formulation of ceramic batches is of great importance. In this research, [...] Read more.
One of the significant problems in the production of ceramic tiles is the very high consumption of natural resources such as clay, feldspar, and quartz. The possibility of replacing part of the formulation of ceramic batches is of great importance. In this research, the possibility of using aplitic granite waste from dimensional stone production was analyzed in detail. The waste is considered a low-cost substitute for feldspar in Serbia. The milled powdery waste was analytically tested to reveal its chemical and mineralogical contents, particle size distribution, and other important properties. The ceramic tiles containing aplitic granite waste (GW) and GW/raw clay mixture (CGW) were hydraulically pressed, and the ceramic and technological properties determined. This waste can act as a filler while forming, drying, and firing, since the high content of quartz helps to control the shrinkage and acts as a fluxing agent in high temperatures due to its feldspathic nature. The waste was found favorable in the production of ceramic tiles, as the gained values of modulus of rupture and water absorption were 28.68 MPa and 1.33%, respectively. The parameters defined in the series of standards EN ISO 10545 were tested on a semi-industrial probe, determining that this combination of materials (without the addition of quartz) may be efficiently used to produce ceramic floor tiles. The usage of what would otherwise be waste material contributes to sustainable management and environmentally friendly solutions by avoiding landfilling, while at the same time it enabling the conservation of scarce natural feldspar deposits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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15 pages, 3457 KiB  
Article
Glass Lightweight Aggregates from Glass Cullet and Mining and Food Industry Carbonate Waste
by Isabel Padilla, Aurora López-Delgado and Maximina Romero
Materials 2022, 15(3), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031223 - 06 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2522
Abstract
Lightweight aggregates are extensively used in construction and other industrial applications due to their technological characteristics. The extraction of natural aggregates results in serious environmental effects. Thus, within the circular economy concept, the valorization of waste through the optimization of materials and product [...] Read more.
Lightweight aggregates are extensively used in construction and other industrial applications due to their technological characteristics. The extraction of natural aggregates results in serious environmental effects. Thus, within the circular economy concept, the valorization of waste through the optimization of materials and product design is encouraged. In this work, glass lightweight aggregates were prepared from mixtures of white glass cullet and carbonate wastes from mining (wastes originating from the extraction, manufacture and marketing of magnesite and its derivatives) and the food industry (eggshell and mussel shell). The effects of different processing parameters, such as the particle size of the base glass, percentage of the blowing additive, shaping method, heating rate, temperature and processing time, were evaluated. The results indicate that the mineralogical composition of the blowing agent and the particle size of the base glass are the two processing parameters with the greatest impact on expansion efficiency. Thus, glass artificial aggregates were obtained with characteristics similar to those of commercial products (density values ranged between 0.3 and 0.8 g/cm3 and mechanical strength between 0.7 and 1.5 MPa) from thermal shock expansion treatments in the temperature range 800–900 °C and with dwell times no longer than 15 min. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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16 pages, 3194 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of the Stress–Strain Behavior and Strength Characterization of Rubberized Reinforced Concrete
by Hanif Ullah, Mudassir Iqbal, Kaffayatullah Khan, Arshad Jamal, Adnan Nawaz, Nayab Khan, Fazal E. Jalal, Abdulrazak H. Almaliki and Enas E. Hussein
Materials 2022, 15(3), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15030730 - 19 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1809
Abstract
Due to the rapid increase in population, the use of automobile vehicles increases day by day, which causes a considerable increase in the waste tires produced worldwide. Research studies are in progress to utilize scrap tires and waste rubber material in several fields [...] Read more.
Due to the rapid increase in population, the use of automobile vehicles increases day by day, which causes a considerable increase in the waste tires produced worldwide. Research studies are in progress to utilize scrap tires and waste rubber material in several fields to cater the pollution problems in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. In this research, the shredded waste tires were used in concrete to replace fine aggregates in different percentages. The fine aggregates in the rubberized concrete were replaced 10%, 15%, and 20% by rubber. The stress–strain behavior of the concrete models is then determined and compared with the already established analytical models, i.e., Modified Kent and Park Model, Mander’s model, and Razvi and Saatcioglu Model. A total of 12 standard concrete cylinders and 18 models of each type of concrete, i.e., normal concrete, reinforced rubberized concrete with 10%, 15%, and 20% addition of rubber, were fabricated. Specimens fabricated in each replacement of rubber were laterally confined, employing 3 in (76 mm) and 6 in (152 mm) c/c tie spacing. The model and cylinders were subjected to uni-axial compression tests using Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The drop in compressive strength, stress–strain constitutive law, strain limits, and overall behavior of the rubberized reinforced concrete were explored experimentally. The results were then compared with the analytical results of the established models. The research can help explore the possible future for the use of rubberized concrete for the potential application as a structural material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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15 pages, 2751 KiB  
Article
Strength and Durability Properties of Antimony Tailing Coarse Aggregate (ATCA) Concrete
by Long Li, Jianqun Wang, Longwei Zhang, Renjian Deng, Saijun Zhou and Gongxun Wang
Materials 2021, 14(19), 5606; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14195606 - 27 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1487
Abstract
Antimony (Sb) is a trace element applied widely in modern industry. A large number of tailing solid wastes are left and accumulated in the mining area after purifying the precious antimony from the antimony ores, causing serious pollution to the environment. The major [...] Read more.
Antimony (Sb) is a trace element applied widely in modern industry. A large number of tailing solid wastes are left and accumulated in the mining area after purifying the precious antimony from the antimony ores, causing serious pollution to the environment. The major aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing antimony tailing coarse aggregate (ATCA) as a complete substitute for natural coarse aggregate (NCA) in high-strength concrete. Concrete specimens with 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% ATCA replacing the NCA in conventional concrete were prepared for evaluating the performance of ATCA concrete. The investigators find that ATCA concrete has good workability, and the mechanical properties and long-term behavior (shrinkage and creep) of ATCA concrete with all replacement levels are superior to those of NCA concrete. The durability indices of ATCA concrete, such as the frost-resistant, chloride permeability, and resistance to carbonation, are better than those of NCA concrete. While the alkali activity and cracking sensitivity behavior of ATCA concrete seem to be decreased, nevertheless, the difference is not significant and can be neglected. The researchers demonstrate that all of the control indices of ATCA concrete meet the requirements of the current industry standards of China. Overall, ATCA can be used in concrete to minimize environmental problems and natural resources depletion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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14 pages, 4282 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Applications for Utilizing Antimony Tailing Coarse Aggregate (ATCA) in Concrete: Characteristic of ATCA and Toxicity Risks of Concrete
by Jianqun Wang, Long Li, Longwei Zhang, Bei Li, Renjian Deng and Defeng Shi
Materials 2021, 14(19), 5480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14195480 - 22 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1425
Abstract
In this research, the sustainable applications for utilizing antimony tailing coarse aggregate (ATCA) in concrete is investigated. Comprehensive verifications were performed by a series of experiments on the characteristic of ATCA and the toxicity risks of concrete. Firstly, a real case study of [...] Read more.
In this research, the sustainable applications for utilizing antimony tailing coarse aggregate (ATCA) in concrete is investigated. Comprehensive verifications were performed by a series of experiments on the characteristic of ATCA and the toxicity risks of concrete. Firstly, a real case study of utilization of ATCA as a complete substitute for natural coarse aggregate (NCA) in high strength concrete was conducted. Then, chemical composition of ATCA was tested. It is demonstrated that the essential mineral is SiO2 and the lithology of ATCA is quartzite. The mechanical properties, coarse quality of ATCA, and NCA were studied and compared. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and compressive elastic modulus of ATWR are 221.51 MPa, 5.93 MPa, and 3.33 × 104 MPa, which are 1.31, 2.22, 1.40 times of that of NR, respectively. All of the quality control indices of ATCA meet the requirements of the current industry standards of China. Finally, the toxicity risks of ATCA concrete were investigated. It is illustrated that the leaching of main heavy metals including Sb, As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Zn in the ATCA concrete under different pH conditions are below the regulatory limits. The utilization of antimony tailing has significant environmental and economic benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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18 pages, 7954 KiB  
Article
Torsional Crack Localization in Palm Oil Clinker Concrete Using Acoustic Emission Method
by Safdar Khan, Soon Poh Yap, Chee Ghuan Tan, Reventheran Ganasan, Muhammad M. Sherif and Ahmed El-Shafie
Materials 2021, 14(18), 5446; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14185446 - 20 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1790
Abstract
Palm oil clinker (POC) aggregates is a viable alternative to the naturally occurring sand and gravel in the manufacturing of concrete. The usage of POC aggregates assists in the reduction of solid waste and preserves the consumption of natural resources. Although researchers investigated [...] Read more.
Palm oil clinker (POC) aggregates is a viable alternative to the naturally occurring sand and gravel in the manufacturing of concrete. The usage of POC aggregates assists in the reduction of solid waste and preserves the consumption of natural resources. Although researchers investigated the mechanical response of POC-containing concrete, limited research is available for its torsional behavior. In general, the torsional strength depends on the tensile strength of concrete. This research investigates the compressive, tensile, and torsional response of concrete with various ratios of POC-aggregates. Five batches of concrete were casted with POC-aggregate replacing granite at ratios of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 100%. The selection for the mixture proportions for the various batches was based on the design of experiments (DOE) methodology. The hard density, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength of concrete with a 100% replacement of granite with POC-aggregates reduced by 8.80, 37.25, 30.94, and 14.31%, respectively. Furthermore, a reduction in initial and ultimate torque was observed. While cracks increased with the increase in POC-aggregates. Finally, the cracking of concrete subjected to torsional loads was monitored and characterized by acoustic emissions (AE). The results illustrate a sudden rise in AE activities during the initiation of cracks and as the ultimate cracks were developed. This was accompanied by a sudden drop in the torque/twist curve. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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19 pages, 9212 KiB  
Article
The Energy Impact of Building Materials in Residential Buildings in Turkey
by Pınar Usta and Başak Zengin
Materials 2021, 14(11), 2793; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112793 - 24 May 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2866
Abstract
In Turkey, heat loss from existing and new buildings constitutes a large part of energy waste, so usage of suitable construction material is quite important. The building selected in this study was analyzed by applying different building materials considering the annual energy consumption [...] Read more.
In Turkey, heat loss from existing and new buildings constitutes a large part of energy waste, so usage of suitable construction material is quite important. The building selected in this study was analyzed by applying different building materials considering the annual energy consumption allowed, and according to the different heat zones and different thicknesses of insulation material in relation to demand. The most suitable building material in terms of energy and cost uptake and cost given to the regions was determined; the results were measured in the study in terms of the maximum allowable annual heating energy requirement and the optimum values were determined. Comparison of the optimum values and the total energy consumption rates was conducted for the analyzed cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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13 pages, 3881 KiB  
Article
Use of Bioproducts Derived from Mixed Microbial Cultures Grown with Crude Glycerol to Protect Recycled Concrete Surfaces
by Lorena Serrano-González, Daniel Merino-Maldonado, Manuel Ignacio Guerra-Romero, Julia María Morán-del Pozo, Paulo Costa Lemos, Alice Santos Pereira, Paulina Faria, Julia García-González and Andrés Juan-Valdés
Materials 2021, 14(8), 2057; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14082057 - 19 Apr 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1849
Abstract
The large increase in the world population has resulted in a very large amount of construction waste, as well as a large amount of waste glycerol from transesterification reactions of acyl glycerides from oils and fats, in particular from the production of biodiesel. [...] Read more.
The large increase in the world population has resulted in a very large amount of construction waste, as well as a large amount of waste glycerol from transesterification reactions of acyl glycerides from oils and fats, in particular from the production of biodiesel. Only a limited percentage of these two residues are recycled, which generates a large management problem worldwide. For that reason, in this study, we used crude glycerol as a carbon source to cultivate polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)-producing mixed microbial cultures (MMC). Two bioproducts derived from these cultures were applied on the surface of concrete with recycled aggregate to create a protective layer. To evaluate the effect of the treatments, tests of water absorption by capillarity and under low pressure with Karsten tubes were performed. Furthermore, SEM-EDS analysis showed the physical barrier caused by biotreatments that produced a reduction on capillarity water absorption of up to 20% and improved the impermeability of recycled concrete against the penetration of water under pressure up to 2.7 times relative to the reference. Therefore, this bioproduct shown to be a promising treatment to protect against penetration of water to concrete surfaces increasing its durability and useful life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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26 pages, 6511 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Performance of High-Strength Sustainable Concrete under Fire Incorporating Locally Available Volcanic Ash in Central Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia
by Muhammad Nasir Amin and Kaffayatullah Khan
Materials 2021, 14(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14010021 - 23 Dec 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2646
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of high-strength sustainable concrete incorporating volcanic ash (VA). For comparison, control and reference concrete specimens with fly ash (FA) were also cast along with additional specimens of VA and FA containing [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effect of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of high-strength sustainable concrete incorporating volcanic ash (VA). For comparison, control and reference concrete specimens with fly ash (FA) were also cast along with additional specimens of VA and FA containing electric arc furnace slag (EAFS). Before thermal exposure, initial tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties (compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus) of cylindrical concrete specimens with aging. Additionally, 91 day moist-cured concrete specimens, after measuring their initial weight and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), were exposed up to 800 °C and cooled to air temperature. Subsequently, the weight loss, residual UPV, and mechanical properties of concrete were measured with respect to exposure temperature. For all concrete specimens, test results demonstrated a higher loss of weight, UPV, and other mechanical properties under exposure to higher elevated temperature. Moreover, all the results of concrete specimens incorporating VA were observed before and after exposure to elevated temperature as either comparable to or slightly better than those of control and reference concrete with FA. According to the experimental results, a correlation was developed between residual UPV and residual compressive strength (RCS), which can be used to assess the RCS of fire-damaged concrete (up to 800 °C) incorporating VA and EAFS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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13 pages, 2445 KiB  
Article
A Pathway toward a New Era of Open-Cell Polyurethane Foams—Influence of Bio-Polyols Derived from Used Cooking Oil on Foams Properties
by Maria Kurańska, Elżbieta Malewska, Krzysztof Polaczek, Aleksander Prociak and Joanna Kubacka
Materials 2020, 13(22), 5161; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13225161 - 16 Nov 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 1977
Abstract
In order to create greener polyurethane (PUR) foams, modified used cooking oils (UCO) were applied as starting resources for the synthesis of bio-polyols. The bio-polyols were produced using transesterification of UCO with diethylene glycol (UCO_DEG) and triethanolamine (UCO_TEA). Next, open-cell PUR foams were [...] Read more.
In order to create greener polyurethane (PUR) foams, modified used cooking oils (UCO) were applied as starting resources for the synthesis of bio-polyols. The bio-polyols were produced using transesterification of UCO with diethylene glycol (UCO_DEG) and triethanolamine (UCO_TEA). Next, open-cell PUR foams were synthesized by replacing 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of the petrochemical polyol with the bio-polyol UCO_DEG or UCO_TEA. It was observed that an increasing bio-polyol content (up to 60%) led to an increase of the closed cell content. However, a further increase in the bio-polyol content up to 100% resulted in foam cell opening. The bio-foams obtained in the experiment had an apparent density of 13–18 kg/m3. The coefficient of thermal conductivity was determined at three different average temperatures: 10, 0 and −10 °C. The PUR bio-foams modified with bio-polyol UCO_TEA had lower values of thermal conductivity, regardless of the average temperature (35.99–39.57 mW/m·K) than the foams modified with bio-polyol UCO_DEG (36.95–43.78 mW/m·K). The compressive strength of most of the bio-foams was characterized by a higher value than the compressive strength of the reference material (without bio-polyol). Finally, it was observed that the bio-materials exhibited dimensional stability at 70 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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19 pages, 6489 KiB  
Article
Influence of Parent Concrete Properties on Compressive Strength and Chloride Diffusion Coefficient of Concrete with Strengthened Recycled Aggregates
by Jingwei Ying, Zewen Han, Luming Shen and Wengui Li
Materials 2020, 13(20), 4631; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13204631 - 16 Oct 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 2715
Abstract
Parent concrete coming from a wide range of sources can result in considerable differences in the properties of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA). In this study, the RCAs were obtained by crushing the parent concrete with water-to-cement ratios (W/Cparent) of 0.4, [...] Read more.
Parent concrete coming from a wide range of sources can result in considerable differences in the properties of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA). In this study, the RCAs were obtained by crushing the parent concrete with water-to-cement ratios (W/Cparent) of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6, respectively, and were strengthened by carbonation and nano-silica slurry wrapping methods. It was found that when W/Cparen was 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, respectively, compared with the mortar in the untreated RCA, the capillary porosity of the mortar in the carbonated RCA decreased by 19%, 16% and 30%, respectively; the compressive strength of concrete containing the carbonated RCA increased by 13%, 11% and 13%, respectively; the chloride diffusion coefficient of RAC (DRAC) containing the nano-SiO2 slurry-treated RCA decreased by 17%, 16% and 11%; and that of RAC containing the carbonated RCA decreased by 21%, 25% and 26%, respectively. Regardless of being strengthened or not, both DRAC and porosity of old mortar in RCAs increased with increasing W/Cparent. For different types of RCAs, DRAC increased obviously with increasing water absorption of RCA. Finally, a theoretical model of DRAC considering the water absorption of RCA was established and verified by experiments, which can be used to predict the DRAC under the influence of different factors, especially the water absorption of RCA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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21 pages, 5423 KiB  
Article
Modulus and Strength of Concretes with Alternative Materials
by Ana Elisabete Paganelli Guimarães de Avila Jacintho, Ivanny Soares Gomes Cavaliere, Lia Lorena Pimentel and Nádia Cazarim Silva Forti
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4378; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194378 - 01 Oct 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1758
Abstract
This paper presents a study with concretes produced with natural aggregates, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and waste porcelain aggregates (WPA). The study analyzed the influence of recycled aggregates in the mechanical properties of conventional concretes and evaluated the difference between measured and predicted [...] Read more.
This paper presents a study with concretes produced with natural aggregates, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and waste porcelain aggregates (WPA). The study analyzed the influence of recycled aggregates in the mechanical properties of conventional concretes and evaluated the difference between measured and predicted values of elasticity modulus. The incorporation of WPA in concrete showed better mechanical results compared to the concretes produced with RCA. Measured elasticity moduli were lower than moduli predicted by NBR 6118:2014 and fib Model Code 2010, while measured results were greater than values predicted by Eurocode 2:2004 and ACI 318:2014, as expected, which indicated the safety of the latter two standards. Full article
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12 pages, 3123 KiB  
Article
Effects of Adding Neutralized Red Mud on the Hydration Properties of Cement Paste
by Sukpyo Kang, Hyeju Kang and Byoungky Lee
Materials 2020, 13(18), 4107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13184107 - 16 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2265
Abstract
Red mud is a highly alkaline waste by-product of the aluminum industry. Although recycling of red mud is being actively researched, a feasible technological solution has not been found yet. In this study, we propose that neutralization of red mud alkalinity could assist [...] Read more.
Red mud is a highly alkaline waste by-product of the aluminum industry. Although recycling of red mud is being actively researched, a feasible technological solution has not been found yet. In this study, we propose that neutralization of red mud alkalinity could assist in its use as a construction material. Neutralized red mud (LRM + S; pH 6–8) was prepared by adding sulfuric acid to liquefied red mud (LRM; pH 10–12). After adding LRM and LRM + S to cement paste, the heat of hydration, compressive strength, and hydration products were examined. The experiments revealed that the calorific value of the cement paste with LRM was low, and its peak was delayed, when compared with that of plain cement paste (referred to as Plain), whereas the calorific value of the cement paste with LRM + S was similar to that of Plain. At the age of 28 d, the compressive strength of the cement paste with 10% LRM + S was 99% whereas that with 20% LRM was only 55% of the strength of Plain. Thus, our results help to resolve the issue of strength degradation of cementitious materials observed upon the addition of red mud and enable its reuse as a construction material. Full article
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20 pages, 8984 KiB  
Article
Quicklime and Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement Used as Mineral Accelerators to Improve the Properties of Cemented Paste Backfill with a High Volume of Fly Ash
by Hangxing Ding and Shiyu Zhang
Materials 2020, 13(18), 4018; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13184018 - 10 Sep 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2297
Abstract
In order to reduce the CO2 emission and cost of binders used in cemented paste backfill (CPB) technology, new blended binders with a large amount of fly ash (FA) were fabricated. Different doses of quicklime and calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CṠA) were used [...] Read more.
In order to reduce the CO2 emission and cost of binders used in cemented paste backfill (CPB) technology, new blended binders with a large amount of fly ash (FA) were fabricated. Different doses of quicklime and calcium sulfoaluminate cement (CṠA) were used as mineral accelerators to improve the early workability of CPB. The effects of CṠA and quicklime on flowability, compressive strength, pore structure, hydration heat, and hydration evolution were investigated experimentally. The results showed that the addition of quicklime and CṠA reduced the spread diameter of the fresh backfill and improved the mechanical performance of the hardened CPB. With increasing quicklime and CṠA, the cumulative hydration heat of the blended binder distinctly increased in the first 6 h. CṠA improved the initial hydration by increasing the reactivity, and quicklime increased the hydration rate by activating FA. The blended binder (15% quicklime + 10% CṠA) with the lowest CO2 emission and cost had potential application in filling technology. Full article
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23 pages, 4225 KiB  
Article
Leachate Analysis of Heavy Metals in Cigarette Butts and Bricks Incorporated with Cigarette Butts
by Halenur Kurmus and Abbas Mohajerani
Materials 2020, 13(12), 2843; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13122843 - 25 Jun 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3996
Abstract
Billions of cigarette butts (CBs) are discarded as litter in the environment every year worldwide. As CBs have poor biodegradability, it can take several years for them to break down while leaching toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Mohajerani et al. (2016), based on [...] Read more.
Billions of cigarette butts (CBs) are discarded as litter in the environment every year worldwide. As CBs have poor biodegradability, it can take several years for them to break down while leaching toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Mohajerani et al. (2016), based on long-term research, developed a method for the recycling of CBs in fired clay bricks with promising results. This paper presents and discusses the leaching behavior of potentially hazardous metals from used, unused, and shredded used CBs, and unfired and fired clay bricks incorporating CBs. The leachate analysis was conducted according to the Australian Bottle Leaching Procedure (ABLP) for pH values 2.9, 5.0, and 9.2. The aim was to quantify the amount of heavy metals leached, determine the relationship between the metal concentration leachate, pH of the solution and condition of the sample, and examine the effect of firing on the leaching capability of bricks. The leachate results were then compared to the concentration limits for heavy metals set by the United States Environmental Protection Authority (USEPA) national primary drinking water and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) solid industrial waste hazard categorization thresholds to assess the suitability of fired clay bricks incorporating CBs. Metals Cu, Zn, Mn, Al, Fe, Ti, and Ba demonstrated the highest leachate concentrations for pH 2.9 and pH 5.0 for used CBs. This suggests that used CBs are more prone to leaching heavy metals in areas with highly acidic rain compared to the natural range of precipitation. The leaching behavior of fired bricks incorporating CBs was considerably lower than that for the unfired bricks due to the immobilization of heavy metals during the firing process. However, the leaching of Cr and Ni was almost completely impeded after the firing of the bricks, and more than 50% of all the tested heavy metals were hindered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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Review

Jump to: Research

33 pages, 3761 KiB  
Review
Green Concrete for a Circular Economy: A Review on Sustainability, Durability, and Structural Properties
by Abathar Al-Hamrani, Murat Kucukvar, Wael Alnahhal, Elsadig Mahdi and Nuri C. Onat
Materials 2021, 14(2), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020351 - 12 Jan 2021
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5748
Abstract
A primary concern of conventional Portland cement concrete (PCC) is associated with the massive amount of global cement and natural coarse aggregates (NCA) consumption, which causes depletion of natural resources on the one hand and ecological problems on the other. As a result, [...] Read more.
A primary concern of conventional Portland cement concrete (PCC) is associated with the massive amount of global cement and natural coarse aggregates (NCA) consumption, which causes depletion of natural resources on the one hand and ecological problems on the other. As a result, the concept of green concrete (GC), by replacing cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), fly ash (FA), silica fume (SF), and metakaolin (MK), or replacing NCA with recycled coarse aggregates, can play an essential role in addressing the environmental threat of PCC. Currently, there is a growing body of literature that emphasizes the importance of implementing GC in concrete applications. Therefore, this paper has conducted a systematic literature review through the peer-reviewed literature database Scopus. A total of 114 papers were reviewed that cover the following areas: (1) sustainability benefits of GC, (2) mechanical behavior of GC in terms of compressive strength, (3) durability properties of GC under several environmental exposures, (4) structural performance of GC in large-scale reinforced beams under shear and flexure, and (5) analytical investigation that compares the GC shear capacities of previously tested beams with major design codes and proposed models. Based on this review, the reader will be able to select the optimum replacement level of cement with one of the SCMs to achieve a certain concrete strength range that would suit a certain concrete application. Also, the analysis of durability performance revealed that the addition of SCMs is not recommended in concrete exposed to a higher temperature than 400 °C. Moreover, combining GGBFS with FA in a concrete mix was noticed to be superior to PCC in terms of long-term resistance to sulfate attack. The single most striking observation to emerge from the data comparison of the experimentally tested beams with the available concrete shear design equations is that the beams having up to 70% of FA as a replacement to OPC or up to 100% of RCA as a replacement to NCA were conservatively predicted by the equations of Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE-1997), the American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19), and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA-A23.3-14). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Construction Materials)
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