Self‐expansion polymer grouting technology is a new rapid trenchless method for repairing leakage and subsidence of underground concrete structures. The bond between polymer and concrete is critical to determine the ultimate conditions of repaired concrete. In this paper, a series of direct shear tests were performed to investigate the influence of normal pressure on the shear bond properties between self‐expansion polymer and concrete with different polymer density and concrete strength. Results indicate that failure modes and bond strength are greatly influenced by the normal pressure for specimens with a lower polymer density. For a given normal pressure, the bond strength linearly increases with the increasing polymer density. As the polymer density increased up to 0.43 g/cm3, the increased ratio decreases with the polymer density. Moreover, the displacement at the peak point reduces with an increase in polymer density. Finally, a finite element model is proposed to evaluate the bond strength for specimen failure in concrete and verified with the test results.
Infrared thermography for detecting defects in concrete structures is closely related to the heat source and the optimized method of the thermal image. Due to the limitation of the irradiation area of the heat source, it is inefficient to detect the defects in large concrete structures. In this paper, sunlight was employed as a heat source to detect the defects with different sizes and depths in concrete, and the measured infrared images were processed and optimized by an enhancement algorithm. The experimental results showed that the defects in concrete could be rapidly identified under sunlight. The effect of environment, view angle, and boundary can be eliminated by image preprocessing, and the histogram equalization algorithm can increase the detection depth of the defects. The research results can also provide a reference for the infrared detection technology of concrete under the weak heat source.
The utilization of recycled aggregate can significantly mitigate the extraction of natural sand and gravel. However, the practical application of recycled aggregate in engineering is impeded by its inherent characteristics, encompassing high water absorption, high crushing, and low apparent density. This study employed a soaking and air‐drying method to enhance the strength of three types of aggregates with varying initial strengths by utilizing permeated crystalline materials. The durability of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) was studied with three different aggregate replacement rates (0%, 50%, and 100%). The test results demonstrate that the slump, compressive strength, freeze resistance, and carbonation resistance of RAC exhibit a decreasing trend as the aggregate replacement rate increases. The freeze resistance and carbonation resistance of RAC are notably enhanced after incorporating permeated crystalline material. This study contributes to a sustainable and efficient solution for the treatment of construction waste, thereby enhancing the utilization rate of recycled concrete.
Concrete structures are vulnerable to sulfate attacks during their service life, as sulfate ions react with cement hydration products to form expansive phases, generating internal stresses that cause mechanical degradation. In this study, a cementitious capillary crystalline waterproofing material (CCCW) was incorporated into concrete to mitigate sulfate ingress and enhance sulfate resistance. The evolution of compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, dynamic elastic modulus, and the microstructure of concrete was investigated in sulfate-exposed concretes with varying CCCW dosages and strength grades; the sulfate ion concentration profiles were also analyzed. The results indicate that the enhancement effect of CCCW on sulfate resistance declines progressively with increasing concrete strength. The formation of calcium silicate hydrate and calcium carbonate fills the pores of concrete, hindering the intrusion of sulfate solution. Moreover, the self-healing effect of concrete further inhibits the diffusion of sulfate ions through cracks, improving the sulfate resistance of concrete. These findings provide critical insights and practical guidance for improving concrete resistance to sulfate-induced deterioration.
12 February 2026 in Construction and Building Materials