Using meso-structural representations of concrete, with aggregates dispersed in mortar, has become a standard approach for damage and fracture analysis. However, there is no full agreement on appropriate modelling different phases the inclusion interfacial transition zones (ITZ). This work explores mortar ITZ formulations by comparison own experiments demonstrates that optimal strategy balancin...

Nacre-mimetic materials are of great interest, but difficult to synthesize, because they require the ordering of organic and inorganic materials on several length scales. Here we introduce peptoid nanosheets as a versatile two-dimensional platform to develop nacre mimetic materials. Free-floating zwitterionic nanosheets were mineralized with thin films of amorphous calcium carbonate (of 2-20 nm...

Incidents of injuries caused by tiles falling from building exterior walls are frequently reported in Taiwan. Humidity is an influential factor in tile deterioration but it is more difficult to measure the humidity inside a building structure than the humidity in an indoor environment. Therefore, a separable microsensor was developed in this study to measure the humidity of the cement mortar la...

Ferrocement as a form of reinforced concrete constructed of hydraulic cement mortar strengthened with closely spaced layers of continuous and relatively small diameter wire mesh. It has been used worldwide as a construction material to provide better construction and rehabilitation of structures. Moreover, there may be structural deterioration of ferrocement due to the exposure of saline water....

The aim of the present study was to predict damage to masonry by combining structural analysis and homogenization methods. In the case of a masonry structure composed of bricks and mortar, a third material is assumed to exist, which is a mixture of the two materials sandwiched between the other two. This new layer has a small thickness, a low stiffness and a given damage ratio. The mechanical p...

In this paper, a new type of plant fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (PFRCC) is developed. Compared with ordinary cement-based materials, its toughness greatly improved. To investigate the tensile and bending mechanical properties PFRCC, four kinds PFRCC panels different thicknesses were developed, axial test panel designed. The results show that increase in thickness panel, bearing capac...

This paper investigates the physicomechanical properties of mortar containing high volume of fly ash (FA) as partial replacement of cement in presence of copolymer latexes. Portland cement (PC) was partially replaced with 0, 10, 20, 30 50, and 60% FA. Copolymer latexes were used based on 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA) and 2-hydroxymethylacrylate (2-HEMA). Testing included workability, setting ...