Pub Date : 2026-04-11Epub Date: 2026-03-12DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145826
Dengfeng Lu , Xin Wang , Zhen Sun , Lining Ding , Jian Ding , Jialin Liu , Zhiyuan Chen , Zhishen Wu
Seismic retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) columns is essential for structural safety during earthquakes. However, using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) grids and embedded FRP bars makes it difficult to achieve high ductility, low residual drift, and acceptable cost simultaneously. This study develops a multi-objective optimization framework that couples a calibrated fiber-based finite element (FE) model with the Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm based on Decomposition (MOEA/D) to maximize ductility and minimize residual drift ratio (RDR) and material cost. The FE model is validated against cyclic tests on FRP-strengthened RC columns, and the framework produces well-distributed Pareto fronts within 60 generations. An energy-based regression model relates RDR to the hysteretic energy dissipation ratio and residual slip and crack components, identifying the energy dissipation ratio as the dominant factor. Under a design-level seismic loading, Pareto-optimal results show that engineered cementitious composite (ECC) jackets with basalt-FRP (BFRP) grids increase ductility by 26.4%, whereas carbon-FRP (CFRP) grid-and-bar systems reduce residual drift by up to 32.1% relative to a reference FRP grid-polymer cement mortar (PCM) retrofit. Low-cost BFRP grid-PCM schemes still provide moderate ductility and stable hysteretic responses. The proposed framework clarifies quantitative trade-offs among ductility, residual drift, and cost, and offers engineering guidance for designing efficient, performance-based seismic retrofit strategies for existing RC columns.
{"title":"Seismic design of FRP grid and bar strengthened RC columns via multi-objective optimization and decision analysis","authors":"Dengfeng Lu , Xin Wang , Zhen Sun , Lining Ding , Jian Ding , Jialin Liu , Zhiyuan Chen , Zhishen Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seismic retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) columns is essential for structural safety during earthquakes. However, using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) grids and embedded FRP bars makes it difficult to achieve high ductility, low residual drift, and acceptable cost simultaneously. This study develops a multi-objective optimization framework that couples a calibrated fiber-based finite element (FE) model with the Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm based on Decomposition (MOEA/D) to maximize ductility and minimize residual drift ratio (RDR<em>)</em> and material cost. The FE model is validated against cyclic tests on FRP-strengthened RC columns, and the framework produces well-distributed Pareto fronts within 60 generations. An energy-based regression model relates RDR to the hysteretic energy dissipation ratio and residual slip and crack components, identifying the energy dissipation ratio as the dominant factor. Under a design-level seismic loading, Pareto-optimal results show that engineered cementitious composite (ECC) jackets with basalt-FRP (BFRP) grids increase ductility by 26.4%, whereas carbon-FRP (CFRP) grid-and-bar systems reduce residual drift by up to 32.1% relative to a reference FRP grid-polymer cement mortar (PCM) retrofit. Low-cost BFRP grid-PCM schemes still provide moderate ductility and stable hysteretic responses. The proposed framework clarifies quantitative trade-offs among ductility, residual drift, and cost, and offers engineering guidance for designing efficient, performance-based seismic retrofit strategies for existing RC columns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145826"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-11Epub Date: 2026-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145897
Hao Duan , Sanpeng Mao , Quantao Liu , Zhenyu Zou , Shi Xu , Jianying Yu
To promote sustainable road construction and reduce harmful emissions during asphalt paving, a green bio-based adsorbent was developed by activating tea-stalk-derived biochar (TB) using phytic acid, a biodegradable plant-derived organophosphate. This activation introduced a multiple adsorption mechanism that integrates physical adsorption, chemical interactions, and catalytic transformation. The results show that phytic acid significantly increased the specific surface area and micropore volume of TB, facilitated the development of graphitic structures to enhance π–π interactions with aromatic hydrocarbons, and incorporated phosphorus-containing functional groups that enabled chemical bonding and catalytic conversion. At only 0.5% dosage, the activated biochar (PTB) achieved a 64.2% reduction in VOCs and a 93.1% for H2S, both exceeding the higher dosage of 2% TB (58.6% and 85.4%, respectively). GC-MS results confirmed that, under the influence of multiple adsorption mechanisms, PTB exhibited higher suppression efficiency across all categories of asphalt fume components, particularly for highly hazardous compounds such as benzene derivatives, alkenes, thiophenes, and ketones. This biochar-based approach offers a sustainable pathway for reducing asphalt-related air pollution during road construction, thereby supporting cleaner transport infrastructure and contributing to improved urban air quality.
{"title":"Green activation of tea-stalk biochar for sustainable suppression of asphalt fume emissions via multi-mechanism adsorption","authors":"Hao Duan , Sanpeng Mao , Quantao Liu , Zhenyu Zou , Shi Xu , Jianying Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To promote sustainable road construction and reduce harmful emissions during asphalt paving, a green bio-based adsorbent was developed by activating tea-stalk-derived biochar (TB) using phytic acid, a biodegradable plant-derived organophosphate. This activation introduced a multiple adsorption mechanism that integrates physical adsorption, chemical interactions, and catalytic transformation. The results show that phytic acid significantly increased the specific surface area and micropore volume of TB, facilitated the development of graphitic structures to enhance π–π interactions with aromatic hydrocarbons, and incorporated phosphorus-containing functional groups that enabled chemical bonding and catalytic conversion. At only 0.5% dosage, the activated biochar (PTB) achieved a 64.2% reduction in VOCs and a 93.1% for H<sub>2</sub>S, both exceeding the higher dosage of 2% TB (58.6% and 85.4%, respectively). GC-MS results confirmed that, under the influence of multiple adsorption mechanisms, PTB exhibited higher suppression efficiency across all categories of asphalt fume components, particularly for highly hazardous compounds such as benzene derivatives, alkenes, thiophenes, and ketones. This biochar-based approach offers a sustainable pathway for reducing asphalt-related air pollution during road construction, thereby supporting cleaner transport infrastructure and contributing to improved urban air quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145897"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-11Epub Date: 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145871
Shibo Zhang , Jun Xie , Shaopeng Wu , Menglin Li , Derun Zhang , Fusong Wang
The hydration of free calcium oxide (f-CaO) leads to poor volume stability of steel slag, which cause cracking and performance degradation in pavement. This study explores innovative method by chelating Ca²⁺ to achieve volume stability of steel slag. The effects of chelating agents on the volume expansion, performance and its mechanisms for volume inhibition were investigated. The results show that the four chelating agents exhibit distinct efficiencies in chelating Ca²⁺. As polymeric chelators, polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyepoxysuccinic acid (PESA) demonstrate superior chelation capacity compared to phosphate-based agents such as sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) and sodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) due to their multidentate structure. This enhanced chelation thereby significantly reduces the f-CaO content in steel slag. Analysis of microstructure and properties revealed that the precipitates formed by the reaction of chelating agents with Ca²⁺ fill the pores of steel slag, reducing its water absorption and porosity, and enhancing the steel slag's resistance to crushing and abrasion. Among them, steel slag modified with PAA and PESA exhibits more excellent volume stability and mechanical properties, with water absorption rates reduced to 1.073% and 1.055% respectively. The water immersion expansion rate of the asphalt mixtures prepared from it is less than 1%, which fully meets the requirements of road engineering. It is found that chelating agents undergo ion exchange with Ca²⁺ liberated from f-CaO hydration, efficiently forming stable precipitates or amorphous chelates instead of crystalized Ca(OH)₂. This process promotes f-CaO dissolution and diffusion, thereby effectively inhibiting volumetric expansion in steel slag induced by delayed hydration of residual f-CaO.
{"title":"Investigation of volume expansion and inhibiting method for steel slag by mean of calcium chelating: Performance characterization and mechanisms","authors":"Shibo Zhang , Jun Xie , Shaopeng Wu , Menglin Li , Derun Zhang , Fusong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hydration of free calcium oxide (f-CaO) leads to poor volume stability of steel slag, which cause cracking and performance degradation in pavement. This study explores innovative method by chelating Ca²⁺ to achieve volume stability of steel slag. The effects of chelating agents on the volume expansion, performance and its mechanisms for volume inhibition were investigated. The results show that the four chelating agents exhibit distinct efficiencies in chelating Ca²⁺. As polymeric chelators, polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyepoxysuccinic acid (PESA) demonstrate superior chelation capacity compared to phosphate-based agents such as sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) and sodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) due to their multidentate structure. This enhanced chelation thereby significantly reduces the f-CaO content in steel slag. Analysis of microstructure and properties revealed that the precipitates formed by the reaction of chelating agents with Ca²⁺ fill the pores of steel slag, reducing its water absorption and porosity, and enhancing the steel slag's resistance to crushing and abrasion. Among them, steel slag modified with PAA and PESA exhibits more excellent volume stability and mechanical properties, with water absorption rates reduced to 1.073% and 1.055% respectively. The water immersion expansion rate of the asphalt mixtures prepared from it is less than 1%, which fully meets the requirements of road engineering. It is found that chelating agents undergo ion exchange with Ca²⁺ liberated from f-CaO hydration, efficiently forming stable precipitates or amorphous chelates instead of crystalized Ca(OH)₂. This process promotes f-CaO dissolution and diffusion, thereby effectively inhibiting volumetric expansion in steel slag induced by delayed hydration of residual f-CaO.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145871"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-11Epub Date: 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145843
Zihao Song , Haoliang Wu , Rui Chen , Weipeng Chen , Xiaoyan Huang , Victor C. Li
For decarbonized and durable infrastructure, Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) must maintain tight crack control and strain-hardening behavior while drastically reducing clinker content. A promising approach is the use of solid-waste-based binder systems to lower carbon dioxide emissions. This study develops a gypsum-activated ternary solid-waste-derived binder composed of steel slag, blast-furnace slag, and desulfurization gypsum for zero-clinker ECC. The coupling between hydration and ductility under different curing humidity conditions is systematically quantified. The ECC exhibits a compressive strength of 45–65 MPa at 28 days. Meanwhile, it achieves stable multiple cracking with an average crack width of 53 μm and sustains a tensile strength of up to 5.61 MPa. When the curing humidity increases to 95%, the ECC demonstrates increased compressive strength; however, its tensile ductility decreases to 1.43% at 28 days. Isothermal calorimetry, XRD, SEM/EDS, and TGA results reveal that gypsum activation synergistically accelerates the hydration of slag and steel slag, leading to the formation of C–S–H and AFt phases. These hydration products densify the matrix and enhance fiber–matrix bonding. Adequate moisture promotes AFt accumulation and suppresses carbonation, whereas low humidity retards hydration. Overall, the findings demonstrate that waste-derived binders combined with humidity-controlled curing provide a simple and scalable strategy to produce low-carbon ECC with robust crack-width control and reliable strain-hardening, thereby advancing durable infrastructure with reduced clinker demand.
{"title":"Ductility and hydration mechanisms of innovative engineered/strain-hardening cementitious composites (ECC/SHCC) incorporating solid-waste-derived binder","authors":"Zihao Song , Haoliang Wu , Rui Chen , Weipeng Chen , Xiaoyan Huang , Victor C. Li","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145843","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145843","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For decarbonized and durable infrastructure, Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) must maintain tight crack control and strain-hardening behavior while drastically reducing clinker content. A promising approach is the use of solid-waste-based binder systems to lower carbon dioxide emissions. This study develops a gypsum-activated ternary solid-waste-derived binder composed of steel slag, blast-furnace slag, and desulfurization gypsum for zero-clinker ECC. The coupling between hydration and ductility under different curing humidity conditions is systematically quantified. The ECC exhibits a compressive strength of 45–65 MPa at 28 days. Meanwhile, it achieves stable multiple cracking with an average crack width of 53 μm and sustains a tensile strength of up to 5.61 MPa. When the curing humidity increases to 95%, the ECC demonstrates increased compressive strength; however, its tensile ductility decreases to 1.43% at 28 days. Isothermal calorimetry, XRD, SEM/EDS, and TGA results reveal that gypsum activation synergistically accelerates the hydration of slag and steel slag, leading to the formation of C–S–H and AFt phases. These hydration products densify the matrix and enhance fiber–matrix bonding. Adequate moisture promotes AFt accumulation and suppresses carbonation, whereas low humidity retards hydration. Overall, the findings demonstrate that waste-derived binders combined with humidity-controlled curing provide a simple and scalable strategy to produce low-carbon ECC with robust crack-width control and reliable strain-hardening, thereby advancing durable infrastructure with reduced clinker demand.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145843"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-11Epub Date: 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145839
Furkan Yıldırım , Baha Vural Kök , Abdulkadir Şengür , Ahmet Münir Özdemir
Modification of asphalt pavements with various additives has become an inevitable situation in order to resist the increasing traffic conditions and the corrosive effects of the environment for a longer period of time. In this study, the effect of the use of crumb rubber (CR) obtained from waste vehicle tyres in combination with a reactive polymer (B2Last) on fracture performance of bituminous mixtures was investigated by semicircular bending (SCB) test. The performance of CR+B2Last combinations was also compared with the widely used styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modification. This study also examines fracture formation in hot mix asphalt using a U-Net-based image processing approach. It was found that B2Last used with CR realised the polyurethane reaction after short-term aging and was compatible with the bituminous mixture. 8%CR modification showed similar performance with 4% SBS modification, while the use of 2%B2Last in combination with 8%CR significantly increased the effectiveness of CR and offered much better fracture resistance than 4%SBS modification. With the U-net architecture, the crack area and propagation were successfully determined, and it was also found that there was a high correlation between these determined areas and SCB parameters.
{"title":"Assessment of the fracture performance of CR-modified bituminous mixtures enhanced with a reactive polymer using SCB test and image-based crack analysis","authors":"Furkan Yıldırım , Baha Vural Kök , Abdulkadir Şengür , Ahmet Münir Özdemir","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145839","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145839","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Modification of asphalt pavements with various additives has become an inevitable situation in order to resist the increasing traffic conditions and the corrosive effects of the environment for a longer period of time. In this study, the effect of the use of crumb rubber (CR) obtained from waste vehicle tyres in combination with a reactive polymer (B2Last) on fracture performance of bituminous mixtures was investigated by semicircular bending (SCB) test. The performance of CR+B2Last combinations was also compared with the widely used styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modification. This study also examines fracture formation in hot mix asphalt using a U-Net-based image processing approach. It was found that B2Last used with CR realised the polyurethane reaction after short-term aging and was compatible with the bituminous mixture. 8%CR modification showed similar performance with 4% SBS modification, while the use of 2%B2Last in combination with 8%CR significantly increased the effectiveness of CR and offered much better fracture resistance than 4%SBS modification. With the U-net architecture, the crack area and propagation were successfully determined, and it was also found that there was a high correlation between these determined areas and SCB parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145839"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The development of sustainable binders via valorizing industrial by-products is crucial for green geotechnical engineering. This study develops a novel titanium extraction residue (TER) modified magnesium oxysulfate cement (MOS) composite binder for the reinforcement of loess. The research first investigates the fundamental characteristics of the TER-MOS binder. The addition of TER is found to generally enhance the cohesion and durability of the MOS matrix. Microstructurally, the formation of the characteristic 5·1·7 phase (5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7 H2O) is confirmed, alongside the generation of additional cementitious gels from TER, leading to a densified structure. In its lightweight form, the composite achieves a density of 0.523 g/cm3 and a thermal conductivity of 0.181 W/(m·K)). The focus then shifts to its engineering application, where the TER-MOS binder demonstrates exceptional efficacy in stabilizing loess. At an optimal MgO/MgSO4 molar ratio of 10:1, the stabilized loess achieves a high 28-day compressive strength of 3.6 MPa. Most critically, it demonstrates superior durability under aggressive environmental conditions, specifically water immersion and freeze-thaw cycling. After 3 days of immersion, it retains a softening coefficient of 0.583, indicating improved water stability for a MOS-based system. Furthermore, it retains a strength of 2.6 MPa after 10 freeze-thaw cycles. This retained strength after prolonged water exposure and multiple freeze-thaw events highlights its robust durability. The stabilization mechanism is attributed to a synergistic framework of interlocking 5·1·7 crystals and TER-derived gels. This work presents a dual-value strategy that not only upcycles industrial waste but also provides a sustainable and effective technical alternative for soil stabilization and ground improvement.
{"title":"A residue-modified magnesium oxysulfate cement composite: Tailoring and efficacy for loess reinforcement","authors":"Qi Xu , Dongliang Chen , Shengwen Tang , Yanqin Wen , Cheng Yang , Jian Xiong , Yuan Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145916","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145916","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of sustainable binders via valorizing industrial by-products is crucial for green geotechnical engineering. This study develops a novel titanium extraction residue (TER) modified magnesium oxysulfate cement (MOS) composite binder for the reinforcement of loess. The research first investigates the fundamental characteristics of the TER-MOS binder. The addition of TER is found to generally enhance the cohesion and durability of the MOS matrix. Microstructurally, the formation of the characteristic 5·1·7 phase (5Mg(OH)<sub>2</sub>·MgSO<sub>4</sub>·7 H<sub>2</sub>O) is confirmed, alongside the generation of additional cementitious gels from TER, leading to a densified structure. In its lightweight form, the composite achieves a density of 0.523 g/cm<sup>3</sup> and a thermal conductivity of 0.181 W/(m·K)). The focus then shifts to its engineering application, where the TER-MOS binder demonstrates exceptional efficacy in stabilizing loess. At an optimal MgO/MgSO<sub>4</sub> molar ratio of 10:1, the stabilized loess achieves a high 28-day compressive strength of 3.6 MPa. Most critically, it demonstrates superior durability under aggressive environmental conditions, specifically water immersion and freeze-thaw cycling. After 3 days of immersion, it retains a softening coefficient of 0.583, indicating improved water stability for a MOS-based system. Furthermore, it retains a strength of 2.6 MPa after 10 freeze-thaw cycles. This retained strength after prolonged water exposure and multiple freeze-thaw events highlights its robust durability. The stabilization mechanism is attributed to a synergistic framework of interlocking 5·1·7 crystals and TER-derived gels. This work presents a dual-value strategy that not only upcycles industrial waste but also provides a sustainable and effective technical alternative for soil stabilization and ground improvement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145916"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-11Epub Date: 2026-03-09DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145822
Fan Yu , Tao Fan , Jie Liu , Jiangcheng Ai
Phosphogypsum artificial aggregate (PA) is a sustainable recycled material fabricated by pelletizing industrial solid waste phosphogypsum (PG) with cementitious binders. Utilizing this PA to replace natural aggregate (NA) in pervious concrete represents a potential pathway for PG's high-value valorization and large-scale consumption. This study systematically analyzed the effects of different PA replacement rates on the pore structure, permeability, mechanical properties, multifunctional benefits (water purification, thermal regulation, sound absorption), and environmental safety of pervious concrete. To address the mechanical performance degradation caused by PA, the reinforcement effects of fly ash (FA) and steel fibers (SF) were also evaluated. The results indicated that PA did not significantly alter the total porosity but optimized pore regularity, specifically by reducing geometric complexity and forming smoother, more circular pore channels due to its spherical morphology. The low intrinsic strength and weak interfacial characteristics of PA led to reduced mechanical properties, with compressive strength dropping by 47.1% at just 25% replacement. However, the PA-based pervious concrete exhibited multiple functional advantages: its heavy metal removal efficiency peaked at 75% replacement, while its thermal regulation capacity (peak temperature reduced by 3.06°C) and sound absorption performance (average coefficient increased by 8.8%) both monotonically improved with increasing PA content. Environmental safety was confirmed as heavy metals were undetected in all specimens, P and F⁻ were effectively immobilized by the cement matrix, and SO₄²⁻ concentrations remained within safety limits. The hybrid incorporation of FA and SF demonstrated a significant synergistic strengthening effect: a combination of 15% FA and 0.4% SF increased the compressive and flexural strengths of the PA25 specimen by 79.6% and 31.5%, respectively, restoring its mechanical properties to a level approaching that of the natural aggregate concrete.
{"title":"Multifunctional performance and environmental safety of pervious concrete incorporating phosphogypsum artificial aggregate: Synergistic enhancement by fly ash and steel fibers","authors":"Fan Yu , Tao Fan , Jie Liu , Jiangcheng Ai","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphogypsum artificial aggregate (PA) is a sustainable recycled material fabricated by pelletizing industrial solid waste phosphogypsum (PG) with cementitious binders. Utilizing this PA to replace natural aggregate (NA) in pervious concrete represents a potential pathway for PG's high-value valorization and large-scale consumption. This study systematically analyzed the effects of different PA replacement rates on the pore structure, permeability, mechanical properties, multifunctional benefits (water purification, thermal regulation, sound absorption), and environmental safety of pervious concrete. To address the mechanical performance degradation caused by PA, the reinforcement effects of fly ash (FA) and steel fibers (SF) were also evaluated. The results indicated that PA did not significantly alter the total porosity but optimized pore regularity, specifically by reducing geometric complexity and forming smoother, more circular pore channels due to its spherical morphology. The low intrinsic strength and weak interfacial characteristics of PA led to reduced mechanical properties, with compressive strength dropping by 47.1% at just 25% replacement. However, the PA-based pervious concrete exhibited multiple functional advantages: its heavy metal removal efficiency peaked at 75% replacement, while its thermal regulation capacity (peak temperature reduced by 3.06°C) and sound absorption performance (average coefficient increased by 8.8%) both monotonically improved with increasing PA content. Environmental safety was confirmed as heavy metals were undetected in all specimens, P and F⁻ were effectively immobilized by the cement matrix, and SO₄²⁻ concentrations remained within safety limits. The hybrid incorporation of FA and SF demonstrated a significant synergistic strengthening effect: a combination of 15% FA and 0.4% SF increased the compressive and flexural strengths of the PA25 specimen by 79.6% and 31.5%, respectively, restoring its mechanical properties to a level approaching that of the natural aggregate concrete.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145822"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study investigates the synergistic effects of lime-activated high-volume ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) binder and ferrochrome slag (FCS) coarse aggregate on the mechanical, durability, and microstructural performance of sustainable concrete. Concrete mixes incorporating 60% GGBS, 7% hydrated lime (lime), and FCS replacement levels of 50%, 75%, and 100% were evaluated through mechanical testing, durability assessment, and microstructural characterization using X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and U-Net-based semantic segmentation of SEM images. The optimized mix containing 75% FCS achieved a comparable 28-day compressive strength of 33.8 MPa, representing a marginal increase of 3.5% over the control mix, along with similar improvements of approximately 3% in split tensile strength and 2.5% in flexural strength. However, significant durability enhancements were observed, including a reduction of 23% in water absorption and 78% in carbonation depth in addition to an improvement of 72% in acid induced strength loss and 73% in abrasion resistance. Rietveld quantification confirmed substantial portlandite consumption, enhanced calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel generation, and a higher amorphous fraction, indicating intensified pozzolanic reaction and matrix densification. The presence of stable FCS-derived spinel phases such as forsterite, enstatite, and mullite further contributed to microstructural stability. SEM image segmentation of the optimum mix quantified a 43% reduction in porosity, a 20% increase in the degree of hydration, and a significant refinement of the interfacial transition zone thickness in comparison to the control mix. Environmental assessment demonstrated nearly 38% reduction in embodied carbon and 33% cost savings with a significant improvement of 151% in efficiency index, while TCLP results confirmed effective chromium immobilization less than 0.07 mg/L. Overall, the findings establish 75% FCS replacement as an optimal strategy for producing high-performance, eco-efficient concrete and highlight the potential of industrial by-product valorization in sustainable construction.
{"title":"Experimental and SEM image segmentation analysis to establish the optimum content of ferrochrome slag aggregate in lime activated high-volume GGBS-based concrete","authors":"Laren Satpathy , Suraj Kumar Parhi , Sanjaya Kumar Patro , Amar Nath Nayak","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the synergistic effects of lime-activated high-volume ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) binder and ferrochrome slag (FCS) coarse aggregate on the mechanical, durability, and microstructural performance of sustainable concrete. Concrete mixes incorporating 60% GGBS, 7% hydrated lime (lime), and FCS replacement levels of 50%, 75%, and 100% were evaluated through mechanical testing, durability assessment, and microstructural characterization using X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and U-Net-based semantic segmentation of SEM images. The optimized mix containing 75% FCS achieved a comparable 28-day compressive strength of 33.8 MPa, representing a marginal increase of 3.5% over the control mix, along with similar improvements of approximately 3% in split tensile strength and 2.5% in flexural strength. However, significant durability enhancements were observed, including a reduction of 23% in water absorption and 78% in carbonation depth in addition to an improvement of 72% in acid induced strength loss and 73% in abrasion resistance. Rietveld quantification confirmed substantial portlandite consumption, enhanced calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) gel generation, and a higher amorphous fraction, indicating intensified pozzolanic reaction and matrix densification. The presence of stable FCS-derived spinel phases such as forsterite, enstatite, and mullite further contributed to microstructural stability. SEM image segmentation of the optimum mix quantified a 43% reduction in porosity, a 20% increase in the degree of hydration, and a significant refinement of the interfacial transition zone thickness in comparison to the control mix. Environmental assessment demonstrated nearly 38% reduction in embodied carbon and 33% cost savings with a significant improvement of 151% in efficiency index, while TCLP results confirmed effective chromium immobilization less than 0.07 mg/L. Overall, the findings establish 75% FCS replacement as an optimal strategy for producing high-performance, eco-efficient concrete and highlight the potential of industrial by-product valorization in sustainable construction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145835"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-11Epub Date: 2026-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145898
Xiang Liu , Jun Yang , Haitao Su , Jingpeng Jia , Xiaolong Li , Xianglin He
Polyphosphoric acid (PPA)-modified asphalt provides cost-effectiveness and performance advantages, making it well-suited for stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixtures. However, the performance and interactions of the modified asphalt mastic in the mixture require further investigation. This study investigates the wide-temperature rheological properties and interactions of PPA-modified asphalt mastics with a high filler-to-binder ratio, considering asphalt source (Shell 70# and DH 70#), fiber type (lignin fibers (LF) and basalt fibers (BF)). The rheological characteristics were examined using a dynamic shear rheometer, and the interactions in the PPA-asphalt-filler-fiber system were analyzed using Cole-Cole, Han, and Van Gurp-Palmen (vGP) plots. Mechanisms of PPA and fiber interaction were explored through microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that PPA forms a strongly modified mastic system with DH 70# (asphaltene content 20.7%). The Jnr3.2 decreases by 43.6%, indicating improvement in high-temperature performance. In contrast, Shell 70# exhibits only weak modification; its Jnr3.2 even increases by 2.7%. PPA improves the fatigue life of asphalt mastic, particularly at low-strain. BF further enhances the fatigue life across the entire-strain. However, LF exhibits a positive effect only in the strongly modified system. Meanwhile, fibers (particularly BF) reduce the low-temperature stress relaxation capacity. In addition, PPA improves the compatibility of the asphalt–filler system. However, the fibers fail to provide further benefits and instead intensify high-temperature heterogeneity in weakly modified system. Esterification reactions may occur between PPA and LF. However, PPA has reacted with the asphalt binder. As a result, system interactions are dominated by physical adsorption, ultimately leading to heterogeneous structure.
{"title":"Evaluation on wide-temperature rheological properties and compatibilization of polyphosphoric acid-modified asphalt mastic","authors":"Xiang Liu , Jun Yang , Haitao Su , Jingpeng Jia , Xiaolong Li , Xianglin He","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyphosphoric acid (PPA)-modified asphalt provides cost-effectiveness and performance advantages, making it well-suited for stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixtures. However, the performance and interactions of the modified asphalt mastic in the mixture require further investigation. This study investigates the wide-temperature rheological properties and interactions of PPA-modified asphalt mastics with a high filler-to-binder ratio, considering asphalt source (Shell 70# and DH 70#), fiber type (lignin fibers (LF) and basalt fibers (BF)). The rheological characteristics were examined using a dynamic shear rheometer, and the interactions in the PPA-asphalt-filler-fiber system were analyzed using Cole-Cole, Han, and Van Gurp-Palmen (vGP) plots. Mechanisms of PPA and fiber interaction were explored through microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that PPA forms a strongly modified mastic system with DH 70# (asphaltene content 20.7%). The J<sub>nr</sub>3.2 decreases by 43.6%, indicating improvement in high-temperature performance. In contrast, Shell 70# exhibits only weak modification; its J<sub>nr</sub>3.2 even increases by 2.7%. PPA improves the fatigue life of asphalt mastic, particularly at low-strain. BF further enhances the fatigue life across the entire-strain. However, LF exhibits a positive effect only in the strongly modified system. Meanwhile, fibers (particularly BF) reduce the low-temperature stress relaxation capacity. In addition, PPA improves the compatibility of the asphalt–filler system. However, the fibers fail to provide further benefits and instead intensify high-temperature heterogeneity in weakly modified system. Esterification reactions may occur between PPA and LF. However, PPA has reacted with the asphalt binder. As a result, system interactions are dominated by physical adsorption, ultimately leading to heterogeneous structure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145898"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lightweight, bio-based walls often suffer from low thermal inertia, leading to sensitivity to external temperature fluctuations. This study explores how clay-based plaster can enhance this behaviour through analytical and experimental investigations. The analytical approach highlights the role of internal areal heat capacity and show that increasing the effusivity and thickness of the inner plaster layer improves the wall’s dynamic thermal response. Experimental results demonstrate that applying the studied clay plaster increases the internal surface heat capacity of wood walls from 16.8 kJ·m−2·K−1 to 60.8 kJ·m−2·K−1, which represents about 90% of the value observed in heavier structures. These findings provide practical insights into the use of earthen coatings to enhance thermal inertia and energy performance in lightweight construction systems.
{"title":"Potential of clay-based plaster for improving thermal inertia in lightweight constructions: Analytical and experimental investigations","authors":"Zineb Boutayeb, Matthieu Labat, Claire Oms, Stéphane Ginestet","doi":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lightweight, bio-based walls often suffer from low thermal inertia, leading to sensitivity to external temperature fluctuations. This study explores how clay-based plaster can enhance this behaviour through analytical and experimental investigations. The analytical approach highlights the role of internal areal heat capacity and show that increasing the effusivity and thickness of the inner plaster layer improves the wall’s dynamic thermal response. Experimental results demonstrate that applying the studied clay plaster increases the internal surface heat capacity of wood walls from 16.8 kJ·m<sup>−2</sup>·K<sup>−1</sup> to 60.8 kJ·m<sup>−2</sup>·K<sup>−1</sup>, which represents about 90% of the value observed in heavier structures. These findings provide practical insights into the use of earthen coatings to enhance thermal inertia and energy performance in lightweight construction systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":288,"journal":{"name":"Construction and Building Materials","volume":"519 ","pages":"Article 145858"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}