Maria Vălean

Maria Vălean


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 February 2024 in Buildings
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MVMaria Vălean
Maria Vălean
Daniela Lucia ManeaDaniela Lucia Manea
Daniela Lucia Manea
CLAUDIU ACIUCLAUDIU ACIU
CLAUDIU ACIU
FPFlorin Popa
Florin Popa
LPLuminita Monica Pleşa
Luminita Monica Pleşa
Gabriel FurtosGabriel Furtos
Gabriel Furtos
The rising concern for the environment and the need for a sustainable economic model has stimulated experimentation in the field of construction materials, notably in replacing certain components from cementitious materials with construction and demolition waste. The main objective of this study is to replace a significant proportion of natural aggregates with glass waste, in the composition of plastering mortars, and to observe the evolution of physical–mechanical characteristics in the fresh state: apparent density, consistency, and segregation tendency, and in the hardened state: apparent density, flexural strength, compression strength, and adhesion to the substrate, across time, at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. SEM and EDX tests were also performed to observe the microscopical characteristics. The experimental program studied four types of plastering mortars: the reference mortar—CS IV, and three mortars in which aggregates have been replaced with glass waste in the following proportions, by mass: 15%, 30%, and 45%. Results obtained on fresh properties (apparent density and consistency) indicate a decrease in values as the percentage of glass increases, with the exception of the mortar with 30% aggregated glass replacement. The flexural strength and the compressive strength were improved by replacing 30% of the aggregates with glass waste and were not significantly impacted by a replacement of 15%. Mechanical properties decreased at a replacement level of 45%. All glass aggregate mortars had lower adhesion strength to the brick substrate than the reference mortar by up to 70%. SEM and EDX analyses showed the morphology of the studied mortars and the processes taking place to increase mechanical strength. Further research directions are proposed, including studying the glass particles, the occurrence of alkali–silica reactions, durability, and improvement of adhesion to the substrate, for progressing towards the most viable, locally sourced, waste-containing plastering mortar.

25 November 2024 in Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov. Series I :Engineering Sciences
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Journal Article
Open access
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MVMaria Vălean
Maria Vălean
DMD.L. Manea
D.L. Manea
AZA. Zaharie
A. Zaharie
IPI.M. Plesa
I.M. Plesa
GBG. Bigea
G. Bigea
Plastering mortars with construction and demolition waste (CDW) contents is considered a potential path to lowering the environmental damage caused by CDW. This paper presents an application of a multi-criteria decision-making analysis matrix based on physical-mechanical characteristics as well as life cycle assessment (LCA) criteria, from cradle to gate. Six new plastering mortars with concrete and brick CDW components, created for this study, were analyzed. The conclusion is that the mortar with 30% replacement of natural aggregates with concrete waste was the best overall performing mortar, followed by the mortars with 15% replacement with brick waste and 30% replacement with brick waste. The last section discusses practical implications and further research directions.