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Special Issue "Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction"

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2023 | Viewed by 6880

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Enzo Martinelli

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Interests: structural analysis and design; structural concrete; seismic assessment and retrofitting; sustainable cementitious composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Carmelo Caggegi

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Composite Materials for Construction (LMC²), University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Site Bohr, 82 Boulevard Niels Bohr, Campus de la Doua, CEDEX, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
Interests: composite materials; masonry; mechanical strengthening; mechanical identification; durability; non-destructive measurement methods

Dr. Giuseppe Ferrara

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Assistant Guest Editor

Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, TO, Italy
Interests: inorganic and polymeric based composite systems for strengthening of masonry (FRCM/TRM; FRP); sustainable composites; durability of cementitious composites; hybrid wood-concrete structural systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inorganic matrix composites, including either traditional or innovative constituents, are a class of materials widely employed in construction. Cementitious composites are certainly among the most common construction materials and other composite systems belonging to this class have been developed more recently and are progressively gaining consensus. Specifically, a class of High-Performance (or Ultra-High Performance) Cementitious Composites (HPCC/UHPCC) has been developed with the aim to enhance both structural performance and environmental durability. Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites (FRCC), consisting of a cement-based matrix (or a more general non-organic one) and short fibers dispersed inside it as a diffused reinforcement, are widely employed in various situations, including pavements and structural strengthening of existing members. More recently, Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) or Textile-Reinforced Mortars (TRM) (the latter being made with either cement- or lime-based mortar) are becoming more and more common as a possible technical solution for strengthening existing concrete and masonry members, as they are particularly fitting for realising highly compatible and fully reversible interventions including use in the case of constructions located in historical centers. Recently, the increasing awarness towards environmental issues has led to the development of sustainable composites with the aim of promoting the use of renewable sources, low-energy components and waste materials.

The present Special Issue aims at attracting contributions from international research groups that are active in the field of sustainable inorganic matrix composites with the aim to collect the most recent advances in the field, with special reference (but not necessarily limited to) the following aspects:

Novel constituents for sustainable inorganic matrix composites, with emphasis on cementitious ones;
Innovative mixture compositions for new and existing structures;
Sustainable structural applications of inorganic matrix composites;
Materials for combined structural and energy retrofit;
Self-sensing and/or self-healing capabilities;
Mechanical modelling, through either theoretical or numerical approaches;
Prediction techniques based on deep-learning or other soft-computing techniques;
Durability to environmental exposure;
Guidelines adaptation proposals for new inorganic matrix composites;
Cost optimisation and comparative analysis of alternative solutions for specific problems;
Case studies.

Prof. Dr. Enzo Martinelli
Dr. Carmelo Caggegi
Dr. Giuseppe Ferrara
Guest Editors

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

sustainability
inorganic matrix composites
cementitious composites
experimental tests
theoretical models
durability, FRCC
UHPCC
FRCM
TRM

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Defects on Masonry Confinement with Inorganic Matrix Composites

Gian Piero Lignola

Gaetano Manfredi

and

Andrea Prota

Materials 2023, 16(13), 4737; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134737 - 30 Jun 2023

Viewed by 330

Abstract

Fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites are currently considered a suitable solution for strengthening existing structures. Confinement applications are still being investigated, since experimental programs showed significant scatter in the results and theoretical models are struggling to become established as a consequence. The main aim of this study is the identification of potential sources of scatter in the confinement efficiency of FRCM wrappings, in defects such as fiber slip within the matrix or imperfect straightening of fibers, or premature failure of fibers once exposed after complete matrix cracking. A theoretical incremental approach is proposed to simulate such effects. The approach is incremental, but not iterative, so that no convergence is required and the incremental step size has an impact only on the smoothness of the nonlinear theoretical stress vs. strain curves of the FRCM confined material, among other simulation results. Theoretical results are compared to experimental outcomes of previous tests. The main source of variability can be identified in the cited defects, and the approach can be considered satisfactory to simulate the effects of defects and the high scatter found in experimental results; however, further uncertainties in the behavior of materials can be included in future refinements of this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction)

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Open AccessArticle

Design of Strain-Hardening Natural TRM Composites: Current Challenges and Future Research Paths

Rogiros Illampas

Daniel V. Oliveira

and

Paulo B. Lourenço

Materials 2023, 16(13), 4558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134558 - 24 Jun 2023

Viewed by 689

Abstract

This paper discusses the challenges in using natural fibers for the development of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) composites with pseudo-strain-hardening and multiple cracking behavior. The particular characteristics of natural vegetal fibers are analyzed with reference to data from the literature. It is concluded that the efficient use of these fibers as composite reinforcement requires the development of treatment or impregnation protocols for overcoming durability issues, eliminating crimping effects in tensile response and imparting dimensional stability. Relevant experimental research on the synthesis and performance of natural TRMs is reviewed, showing that the fabrication of such systems is, at present, largely based on empirical rather than engineering design. In order to set a framework regarding the properties that the constituents of natural TRM must meet, a comparative analysis is performed against inorganic matrix composites comprising synthetic, mineral and metallic reinforcement. This highlights the need for selecting matrix materials compatible with natural fibers in terms of stiffness and strength. Furthermore, a rational methodology for the theoretical design of natural TRM composites is proposed. First-order analysis tools based on rule-of-mixtures and fracture mechanics concepts are considered. Based on the findings of this study, paths for future research are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction)

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Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Numerical Modelling of the Constitutive Behaviour of FRCM Composites through the Use of Truss Elements

and

Materials 2023, 16(3), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031011 - 22 Jan 2023

Viewed by 941

Abstract

The modeling of the mechanical behavior of Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites is a difficult task due to the complex mechanisms established at the fibre-matrix and composite-support interface level. Recently, several modeling approaches have been proposed to simulate the mechanical response of FRCM strengthening systems, however a simple and reliable procedure is still missing. In this paper, two simplified numerical models are proposed to simulate the tensile and shear bond behavior of FRCM composites. Both models take advantage of truss and non-linear spring elements to simulate the material components and the interface. The proposed approach enables us to deduce the global mechanical response in terms of stress-strain or stress-slip relations. The accuracy of the proposed models is validated against the experimental benchmarks available in the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction)

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Open AccessArticle

Experimental Characterisation of Lime-Based Textile-Reinforced Mortar Systems Made of Either Jute or Flax Fabrics

and

Materials 2023, 16(2), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020709 - 11 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1023

Abstract

Existing buildings are often in need of strengthening interventions, and several technical solutions have been recently developed for this purpose. Among them, the use of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) composites has gained consensus as a technically viable and economically convenient option. Moreover, TRM has the potential to be employed as a reversible and sustainable strengthening technique for masonry buildings. In this context, the present paper aims to investigate the mechanical properties of TRM systems consisting of sustainable phases, such as lime-based matrices and natural fabrics produced by waiving fibers obtained from plants, such as Jute or Flax. This class composite system can be referred to as natural TRM and is denoted by the acronym NTRM. The present study moves from the geometric and mechanical characterisation of fibres and fabrics and, after having also investigated the properties of the mortar, it reports the results of tensile tests carried out on specimens of the NTRM systems under consideration, with the main aim of providing the empirical bases of the relationships between the geometric and physical properties of the constituents and the resulting mechanical response of the composite system. The obtained results show that the considered Flax-TRM system has an apparent composite behavior, as its response to tension is clearly characterised by the well-known three stages corresponding to the elastic response, the formation of cracks, and the reinforcement response up to rupture. Conversely, the Jute-TRM system needs to be further improved in terms of balance between the properties of the matrix and the internal reinforcement. Further studies will be devoted to this specific aspect and, more generally, to investigating the relationships between constituents’ properties and the NTRM behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction)

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Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Theoretical Modelling of the Degradation Processes Induced by Freeze–Thaw Cycles on Bond-Slip Laws of Fibres in High-Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete

and

Materials 2022, 15(17), 6122; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15176122 - 03 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 824

Abstract

High-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) is a composite material in which the advantages of fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) are combined with those of a high-performance concrete (HPC), which mitigates the weaknesses of conventional concrete and improves its overall performance. With the aim to reduce the long-term maintenance costs of structures, such as heavily loaded bridges, HPFRC is highly recommended due to its major durability performance. Specifically, its good antifreezing property makes it suitable for application in cold regions where cyclic freeze–thaw conditions cause the concrete to degrade. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the degradation processes induced by freeze–thaw cycles on bond-slip laws in HPFRC beam specimens has been developed so as to assess their effect on the flexural response of specimens as the fibres’ volume percentage changes. Their cracking strength, postcracking strength, and toughness were predicted, with the present model being able to predict the cracking strength, postcracking strength and toughness of the HPFRC beam element under bending load conditions. Its accuracy was confirmed by comparing the model predictions with experimental results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction)

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Open AccessArticle

Development in Sustainable Concrete with the Replacement of Fume Dust and Slag from the Steel Industry

Maria Eugenia Parron-Rubio

Benaissa Kissi

Francisca Perez-García

and

Maria Dolores Rubio-Cintas

Materials 2022, 15(17), 5980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15175980 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1020

Abstract

Nowadays, the reuse of waste is a challenge that every country in the world is facing in order to preserve the planet and introduce a circular economy. The chemical composition of some steel waste suggests that there are potentially appropriate substances for reuse, since this type of slag undergoes a process similar to that of cement in its manufacture. The advantages for the environment are obvious, as it valorises waste that is deposited in landfills. This paper studies the field of stainless steel, because its composition is different from that of carbon steel, and the replacement of cement with material or waste produced in the manufacture of stainless steel in a concrete matrix. This paper presents the results of replacing 25% of cement with material or waste produced in the manufacture of stainless steel in a concrete matrix whose values in the substitutions carried out were around 21% and 25% in terms of increased resistance capacity. These results have been obtained by carrying out tests, in terms of both strength and environmental capacity, allowing us to determine viable applications for the use of steel waste to improve the performance of cement or at least match it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction)

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Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Properties of Hybrid PVA–Natural Curaua Fiber Composites

Bartosz Zukowski

Yasmim Gabriela dos Santos Mendonça

Igor José Koury Tavares

and

Romildo Dias Toledo Filho

Materials 2022, 15(8), 2808; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15082808 - 11 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1097

Abstract

This work presents the experimental study of hybrid cement-based composites with polyvinyl alcohol fiber (PVA) and alkali-treated, short, natural curaua fiber. The objective of this research is to develop composites reinforced with PVA and curaua fiber to present strain-hardening behavior with average crack width control. To achieve this objective, three groups of composites were investigated. The first group had only PVA fiber in volumes of 0.5, 1, and 2%. The composite with 2% PVA fiber was the only one with strain-hardening and crack width control. The second group had 0.5% PVA fiber and volume fractions of 2, 2.5, and 3% curaua fiber, and presented only deflection-hardening behavior. The third group had 1% PVA and volumes of 1, 1.5, and 2% curaua fiber, and presented strain-hardening behavior. Based on the results, the hybrid combination of 1% PVA and 1.5% curaua was the optimal mixture as it presented strain-hardening behavior and crack width control, with a lower volume of synthetic PVA fiber. Additionally, compressive strength and mix workability were calculated for the investigated composites for comparison. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Inorganic Matrix Composites for Construction)

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