Organic additives play important roles in enhancing the formation of Mg‑carbonates and reaction kinetics in MgO-based cements. However, little is known about the influences of organics on the formation pathways of carbonate phases and whether organo-modified Mg‑carbonates exist. We found that acetate can be involved in the formation of a new hydrated magnesium carbonate phase containing acetate: [Mg5(CO3)3

Alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar has substantial limitations owing to its autogenous shrinkage, which leads to crack formation, and the self-healing property presents a promising solution to maintain its integrity and durability. Based on this, the self-healing efficiency of AAS mortar under a stable alkaline environment was assessed, with exogenous calcium ions introduced via a Ca(OH)2 solution

The poor dispersion of nano-TiO2 adversely affects the photocatalytic performance of photocatalytic cementitious materials (PCMs). In this study, a supported composite photocatalyst TiO2/montmorillonite (TiO2/Mt) was employed to prepare PCMs, aiming to improve the dispersion behavior of nano-TiO2. The impact of TiO2/Mt on the photocatalytic and mechanical properties of cementitious materials was also

This paper studies the time dependence of corrosion resistance in belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement concrete. BCSA is a hydraulic cement that sets rapidly and has a lower carbon footprint than portland cement (PC). Some studies suggest that BCSA concrete is highly susceptible to chloride-induced corrosion, but these claims are based on testing at 28 days. No later-age results have been reported

Click on the article title to read more.

This study presents an in-depth examination of the sensitivity of highly nonlinear solitary waves (HNSWs) to variations in the curing period, the water-to-cement (w/c) ratio, and the mechanical properties of cement. Experimental results verify that the travel times and amplitude ratios of the HNSWs are highly sensitive to changes in curing time of 1 to 28 days, the w/c ratio of 0.3 to 0.6, the elastic

Grain morphology is a fundamental characteristic of lunar soil that influences its mechanical properties, sintering behavior, and in situ resource utilization. However, traditional two‐dimensional imaging methods are time‐consuming and lack full three‐dimensional (3D) structural information. This study presents an automated deep learning‐based segmentation and reconstruction algorithm for high‐resolution

Transport infrastructure is vulnerable to crack formation and deterioration due to aging and repetitive loading. Accurate and timely crack assessment and prediction are crucial for effective road maintenance, but existing studies often rely on individual indicators such as crack types, attributes, and severity, which fail to capture the full complexity of crack deterioration. Furthermore, limited research

This paper explores a novel methodology for identifying prestress force (and bending rigidity) from the perspective of static deflection methods and derives an incremental beam–column equation (iBCE) by elucidating the mechanisms underlying the long‐ and short‐term behaviors, with particular emphasis on a physical system that disregards long‐term deflections, including self‐weight and equivalent lateral

Accurate and efficient prediction of wind pressure distributions on high‐rise building façades is crucial for mitigating structural risks in urban environments. Conventional approaches rely on extensive sensor networks, often hindered by cost, accessibility, and architectural limitations. This study proposes a novel hybrid machine learning (ML) framework that reconstructs high‐fidelity wind pressure

This study presents a novel precast beam-column connection system featured with high constructability, stability during construction, and also fast-built construction by utilizing dry connection details. To examine its emulative seismic performance, a precast concrete (PC) beam-column connection specimen with strong connection details and a corresponding reinforced concrete (RC) control specimen with

New low-carbon concrete materials and technologies are urgently needed to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve sustainable development in the cement industry. Hybrid alkaline cement (HAC) is a new cement-based material that combines the advantages of ordinary Portland cement and alkali-activated cement. This study introduces a solid CO2 mixing method and investigated its impact on the performance and sustainability

Rapid and accurate automatic fall detection is essential for improving worker safety and reducing the severity of fall-related incidents on construction sites. To address the challenges of real-time detection in complex and obstructed construction environments, this paper develops a specialized dataset for fall scenarios and introduces a skeleton-based AI model called YOSAP-LSTM. This model integrates

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, intelligent algorithms for parameter nonlinear mapping provide a new design approach to address the long-term reliance on empirical design in tunnel engineering. This paper proposes an intelligent model for predicting support structure parameters based on tunnel background information. After comparing the characteristics of machine learning and

Recent advancements in AI-based Digital Twins (DTs) have substantially influenced bridge monitoring and maintenance, especially through Deep Learning (DL) for sensor-based damage detection. However, the effectiveness of DL models is constrained by the extensive training data they require, which is often costly and time-consuming to collect in bridge infrastructure contexts. To address this data scarcity

Training workers in safety protocols is crucial for mitigating job site hazards, yet traditional methods often fall short. This paper explores integrating virtual reality (VR) and large language models (LLMs) into iSafeTrainer, an AI-powered safety training system. The system allows trainees to engage with trade-specific content tailored to their expertise level in a third-person perspective in a non-immersive

3D multibeam sonar is a feasible solution for detecting bridge scour. However, the reliance on technicians for the identification of the morphological characteristics of local scour pits is time-consuming and subjective, and the absence of surface data hinders scour morphology analysis. Hence, an algorithm is proposed for the unsupervised identification and precise reconstruction of bridge scour morphology

The construction industry has experienced significant transformation with the adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, which provides a virtual representation of both the physical and functional components of construction projects. In this context, project scheduling becomes a vital tool for site managers to assess construction progress. This paper introduces an augmented reality

Building performance modeling and analysis using Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms remains fragmented, requiring various software applications to address different disciplines. Challenges in data extraction, transfer, and integration arise due to inconsistencies in vendor-specific data schemas and limited interoperability. Moreover, OpenBIM data schemas lack comprehensive object definitions

Plastic pipes have become the primary material of choice for underground infrastructure, including water, gas, and sewer systems, due to their corrosion resistance, lightweight properties, and cost-effectiveness. However, despite their promising long design life, plastic pipes are relatively new compared to traditional materials, and limited empirical data exist on their long-term failure modes. To

Under complex geological conditions, disc cutter wear in tunneling is inevitable, and excessive wear poses risks to construction safety and efficiency. This study presents a case analysis of disc cutter wear in the earth pressure balance shield (EPBS) employed in Chengdu Metro Line 18 Phase III, examining geological conditions, wear morphologies, and the relationship between driving parameters and

The nonlinear mechanical behaviour of pipeline joints influences the seismic response of water supply pipelines. This study presents an experimental investigation of the tensile behaviour of push-on joints of ductile iron (DI) pipelines, subjected to axial tensile forces and internal water pressure. The axial performance and damage states of joints are determined for push-on joints with different diameters

The flow resistance of modern high-workable concrete during pumping is usually considered linearly related to the flow rate, but some studies have found a non-linear relationship. An accurate assessment model of concrete flow resistance at different flow rates remains unclear. This study presents a methodology for calculating the boundary resistance of high-workable concrete based on other flow velocity

Motor graders are heavy construction equipment that specialize in leveling ground surfaces. These machines adjust the blade beneath the vehicle body to perform various tasks. With the growing interest in the automation of motor grader operations, the complexity of the earthmoving mechanism and multitasking while driving degrade the efficiency and performance of these operations. Controlling the blade

Early-age cracking of face slab concrete (FSC) is a complex problem related to the mechanical properties and hydration process (HP), representing a critical durability concern for concrete face rockfill dam. The excellent physical and chemical properties of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) enable their potential to mitigate early-age cracking in FSC. This study investigated the potential application of the

The timber frame is the primary lateral load-resisting component in traditional Chinese timber structures. However, its limited lateral performance may lead to significant structural damage or even collapse under seismic action. Three scaled specimens of penetrated mortise-tenon frame (PMTF) were fabricated and tested under low-cyclic reversed loading to evaluate the lateral performance. This study

The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete production is critical for reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry. However, the potential of lower-grade clays as SCMs has not been fully explored, and a deeper understanding of their thermal activation is needed to enhance their reactivity and performance in cementitious systems. This paper investigates the thermal

The integration of geopolymer with locally sourced seawater and sea sand offers a sustainable approach to reducing carbon emissions and alleviating material shortages in marine construction. The corrosive ions present in seawater sea-sand geopolymer concrete (SSGC) can be effectively mitigated by using stainless steel reinforcement (SSR), thereby significantly improving mechanical performance and durability

This study investigates the seismic behavior of L-shaped precast concrete double-faced superposed shear walls (PCDSSWs) through both experimental and numerical analyses. A full-scale quasi-static cyclic test was conducted on an L-shaped PCDSSW specimen and a comparative cast-in-place specimen. A detailed finite element model was developed and validated using ABAQUS. Key variables, including axial load

Mortar-spraying is currently one of the most widely used trenchless pipeline rehabilitate methods, suitable for repairing various rigid and flexible pipes. Among flexible pipes, the corrugated steel pipe (CSP) is one of the primary targets for mortar-spraying rehabilitation. Different from plain pipes, the corrugation imparts lower longitudinal stiffness and more complex mechanical behavior to CSPs

The non-stationary and random characteristics of seismic ground motions (SGMs) are of utmost importance in seismic design and assessment. Besides, these characteristics can be amplified by the obliquely incident SGMs resulting from topographic and geological conditions, leading to unforeseen damage in underground structures. To reveal this unfavorable phenomenon, 230 non-stationary random SGMs is developed

This study investigated microstructural changes in hardened cement paste with and without a water-dispersible polyurethane (PU) ether compound under varying relative humidity (RH) levels. The small-angle X-ray scattering technique was used to analyse the agglomeration, piling, and densification of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) units. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and water vapour sorption isotherms

High strain rate loadings lead to fundamental modifications in the tensile stress-strain response of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC). These modifications include higher tensile strength and corresponding strain and fracture energy. This paper investigates the effect of strain rate on the tensile behavior of SFRC, covering ranges from quasi-static (10−6 to 10−1 s−1) to impact (10–50 s−1). For

Raw point clouds collected from real-world scenes are sparse, incomplete and noisy, posing significant challenges for their integration into automation workflows in construction. Thus, completing plausible and fine-grained point clouds is a critical prerequisite for downstream applications. Current methods primarily focus on learning patch-level features and modeling their relationships for inferring

The constructional backfill body (CBB) serves as an underground mining structure intended to form a stable void space within the goaf. However, CBB typically exhibits high brittleness and poor flexural performance. In this study, scrap tire steel fiber (SSF) was utilized to enhance the properties of CBB, and the effects of varying SSF dosages (0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, and 1.5 %) on the three-point flexural

Through the cable flame experiment in utility tunnel, the influence law of reverse ventilation and cable layer spacing on cable flame spreading behavior in utility tunnel is studied, and the variation law of cable flame shape, flame spread rate and the highest temperature distribution in utility tunnel with the above factors is clarified. The experimental results show that, the cable flame inclination

Regularly diagnosing sewer siltation (RDS) is critical for informed dredging decisions and mitigating urban overflow pollution. However, traditional sewer siltation diagnosing frameworks face two major obstacles: high detection costs and low diagnostic efficiency. This study aims to develop a diagnostic method based on readily accessible and limited data to diagnose siltation in urban sewer networks

In this paper, a theoretical model for the vibration response of surrounding rock induced by a tunnel blasting is developed based on stress-wave theory and explosion characteristics of cylindrical charges. The theoretical results are validated through comparisons with simulations conducted using dynamic finite element software. Using the theoretical model, the particle vibration response of surrounding

During the shield tunnel design, the joints of the lining segments are given special attention due to the relatively low strength and the risk of leakage. The stability and durability of the whole tunnel structure will significantly decrease once the joints fail, especially for large-diameter tunnels. In this paper, a new connector composed of major-D part, minor-D part, C part, I part and anchor bars

Community-scale building retrofits are not merely scaled-up versions of single-building retrofits. They involve complex challenges, such as reconciling individual interests with collective goals and managing the dynamic interplay between buildings through mechanisms like power grids and social connections. Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity holds the potential to leverage these interplays to balance

As climate change continues to pose significant challenges, redefining building design for enhanced lifecycle efficiency has become imperative. This paper investigates how different optimization objectives and varying climatic conditions shape optimal building configurations. This paper explores these performance objectives through an optimization framework that merges genetic algorithms with simulation

The present study investigates the influence of mix design ratios on the self-sensing behavior of geopolymer pastes. The increase in silicate content, corresponding to high alkali content, leads to higher self-sensing, mechanical strength, and lower resistivity. The alterations in mix design ratios result in modifications to the ions in the pore solution and microstructure of the geopolymer, which

Fragmentation and poor collaboration in contract-heavy industries hinder innovation. While smart contracts offer promising automation for digital documents, the transformation process presents significant challenges. Current approaches are promising but are often constrained by technical limitations, domain-specific requirements, and limited flexibility, restricting widespread adoption. This paper

Existing methods for signal timing and vehicle trajectory coordination often rely on fixed‐phase designs or leading vehicle guidance, limiting efficiency in dynamic traffic and multi‐vehicle coordination. This study models signal timing as right‐of‐way allocation for each inbound lane at discrete time intervals and integrates trajectory planning into a mixed integer linear programming framework for

Climate change has intensified extreme weather events, with floods causing significant socioeconomic and environmental damage. Accurate flood forecasting is crucial for disaster preparedness and risk mitigation, yet traditional hydrodynamic models, while precise, are computationally prohibitive for real‐time applications. Machine learning surrogates, such as graph neural networks (GNNs), improve efficiency

Optimizing the building parameters of low/high-rise building clusters using wind-induced vulnerability (WIV) is valuable for minimizing building envelope damage losses due to strong winds and windborne debris. In general, the building parameters with the minimum WIV from typical scenarios are selected as the optimal ones. However, due to the multitude of parameter variables influencing the WIV of building

The potential risk of airborne cross-infection in multi-compartment dental clinics (MCDCs) requires significant attention. Ventilation systems are crucial for preventing airborne pathogens, but the data available for MCDCs are still inadequate. Therefore, this study evaluated the ventilation performance under different ventilation strategies in an MCDC, including different ventilation modes, the relative

The knee braced steel frame (KBSF) has seen widespread application in practical engineering due to its minimal spatial requirements and ease of assembly. However, the absence of key research findings regarding the synergistic between knee braces and joints has hindered the accurate calculation of the stress state in structural components. This limitation makes a challenge for the better seismic performance

Timber frames with wood infill walls are common lateral load resisting systems in traditional timber structures. There has been much research on timber frames with different infill types, which confirmed the crucial role of infill walls on the seismic response of frames. However, the influencing factors of the lateral performance of wood infill walls are less understood. Monotonic tests were conducted

This study investigates a method to regulate the in-situ foaming behaviour of hematite in red mud by controlling the firing atmosphere. The effects of the atmosphere on iron valence states, phase evolution, pore structure, and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. Results demonstrate that compared to air, a N2 atmosphere significantly accelerated the Fe2O3-FeO transformation, increasing

The natural shell structure shows organic matter regulating nano-grain ordered orientation boosts inorganic material toughness. The potential strategy to enhance the toughness of cement involves tailoring the ordered packing of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H). However, the mechanism to achieve ordered packing of C–S–H is still limited. Here, we report a method to modify the self-assembly pathway by

Degradation of permeable concretes due to chemical effects under outdoor conditions is one of the most important problems affecting permeability. In this study, resin-based binders were used as an alternative solution to this problem and permeable concretes with sustainable performance were obtained. Resin-based binders offer an alternative to traditional cementitious materials in acidic and coastal

The development of sustainable and eco-friendly building materials is imperative to reduce environmental impacts and improve structural efficiency. This study presents an innovative cement-based composite incorporating olive pomace, a bio-admixture derived from agricultural waste, and nano-TiO2, a nanomaterial known for its photocatalytic properties. The synergistic effects of these two admixtures

Due to factors such as low water-to-cement ratio, high cement content, absence of formwork, and high surface area-to-volume ratio, 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) is prone to early plastic shrinkage and cracking, posing risks to mechanical properties and long-term durability. This paper investigated the influence of substituting natural river sand with recycled brick fine aggregates (RBFA) on the performance

Addressing the specific challenges faced by low-income communities, such as poor housing conditions, is crucial while simultaneously working toward global sustainability goals, including net-zero emissions and climate change mitigation. This study explores the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing the Water, Energy, Food, and Environment (WEFE) nexus within the Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable

The improvement of seismic toughness is one of research focuses on coupled shear walls. In this paper, a prestressed precast coupled wall with friction coupling beams (PPCW-FCB) was assembled, in which the prestressed tendons mainly provided lateral resistance and self-centering capability, and the friction coupling beams (FCB) provided energy dissipation capacity. Based on the quasi-static tests of

This study aims to investigate the load-transfer mechanism of Perfobond Leiste (PBL) shear connectors between ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) slabs and steel beams. Twelve standard push-out specimens were designed and tested to examine the effects of the number of holes, hole spacing, steel fiber content, and perforating rebar diameter on the shear performance of PBLs. The failure modes, load-slip

The application of basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcements offers benefits such as high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and eco-friendliness, making it a focal point in architectural advancements. The integration of polypropylene fiber (PPF) enhances the crack resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams and fiber-reinforced polymer