Blended cements, where Portland cement clinker is partially replaced by supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), provide the most feasible route for reducing carbon dioxide emissions associated with concrete production. However, lowering the clinker content can lead to an increasing risk of neutralisation of the concrete pore solution and potential reinforcement corrosion due to carbonation. carbonation of concrete with SCMs differs from carbonation of concrete solely based on Portland cement (PC). This is a consequence of the differences in the hydrate phase assemblage and pore solution chemistry, as well as the pore structure and transport properties, when varying the binder composition, age and curing conditions of the concretes. The carbonation mechanism and kinetics also depend on the saturation degree of the concrete and CO₂ partial pressure which in turn depends on exposure conditions (e.g. relative humidity, volume, and duration of water in contact with the concrete surface and temperature conditions). This in turn influence the microstructural changes identified upon carbonation. This literature review, prepared by members of RILEM technical committee 281-CCC carbonation of concrete with supplementary cementitious materials, working groups 1 and 2, elucidates the effect of numerous SCM characteristics, exposure environments and curing conditions on the carbonation mechanism, kinetics and structural alterations in cementitious systems containing SCMs.

Mechanical characteristics of self-consolidating concretes subjected to elevated temperatures up to 700°C were experimentally investigated in this paper. Eight different concretes [four self-consolidating concretes (SCC) and four conventional concretes (CC)] of different strength categories were produced. At the age of 120 days, specimens were placed in an electrical furnace and the heating was applied at a rate of 5°C∕min until the desired temperature was reached. A maximum temperature of 100, 300, 500, and 700°C was maintained for 1 h . Specimens were then allowed to cool in the furnace and tested for compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. Similar tests were also performed at room temperature (20°C) for the reference specimens. Residual strength of both SCC and CC was reduced almost similar up to the maximum temperature tested. Explosive spalling occurred in both SCC and CC of the highest strength category at temperatures greater than 380°C . The residual compre...