Special Issue Section on Fractals in Construction MaterialsOpen Access

EDITORIAL: AN INTRODUCTION TO FRACTALS IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

LEI WANG

College of urban construction, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China

College of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology Xi’an, P. R. China

E-mail Address: 535250684@qq.com

Corresponding authors.

Search for more papers by this author

and

SHENGWEN TANG

State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower, Engineering Science, Wuhan University Wuhan, P. R. China

State Key Laboratory of Green Building Materials, China Building Materials Academy, Beijing P. R. China

Suzhou Institute of Wuhan University, Suzhou, P. R. China

E-mail Address: tangsw@whu.edu.cn

Corresponding authors.

Search for more papers by this author

https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X21020011Cited by:2 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

In recent years, the application of fractal theory in construction materials has drawn tremendous attention worldwide. This special issue section containing seven papers publishes the recent advances in the investigation and application of fractal-based approaches implemented in construction materials. The topics covered in this introduction mainly include: (1) the fractal characterization of construction materials from nano- to micro-scales; (2) combining fractals methods with other theoretical, numerical and/or experimental methods to evaluate or predict the macroscopic behavior of construction materials; (3) the relationship of fractal dimension with the macro-properties (i.e. mechanical property, shrinkage behavior, permeability, frost resistance, abrasion resistance, etc.) of construction materials.

Keywords:

References

1. Y. Gao, Y. H. Gu, S. Mu, Ji. Y. Jiang and J. P. Liu, The multifractal property of heterogeneous microstructure in cement paste, Fractals 29(2) (2021) 2140006, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X21400065. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
2. H. M. Jennings, J. W. Bullard, J. J. Thomas, J. E. Andrade, J. J. Chen and G. W. Scherer, Characterization and modeling of pores and surfaces in cement paste: Correlations to processing and properties, J. Adv. Concr. Technol. 6(1) (2008) 5–29. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
3. L. Wang, M. M. Jin, Y. H. Wu, Y. X. Zhou and S. W. Tang, Hydration, shrinkage, pore structure and fractal dimension of silica fume modified low heat Portland cement-based materials, Constr. Build. Mater. 272 (2021) 121952. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
4. S. W. Tang, R. J. Cai and Z. He, Continuous microstructural correlation of slag/superplasticier cement pastes by heat and impedance methods via fractal analysis, Fractals 25(4) (2017) 1740003. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
5. Q. Zeng, M. Y. Luo, X. Y. Pang, L. Li and K. F. Li, Surface fractal dimension: An indicator to characterize the microstructure of cement-based porous materials, Appl. Surf. Sci. 282 (2013) 302–307. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
6. E. Mohseni, M. M. Khotbehsara, F. Naseri, M. Monazami and P. Sarker, Polypropylene fiber reinforced cement mortars containing rice husk ash and nano-alumina, Constr. Build. Mater. 111 (2016) 429–439. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
7. S. S. Jin, J. X. Zhang and B. S. Huang, Fractal analysis of effect of air void on freeze–thaw resistance of concrete, Constr. Build. Mater. 47 (2013) 126–130. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
8. Q. Zeng, K. F. Li, F. C. Teddy and D. L. Patrick, Surface fractal analysis of pore structure of high-volume fly-ash cement pastes, Appl. Surf. Sci. 257(3) (2010) 762–768. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
9. V. N. Zarnaghi, A. F. A., V. Nourani and H. Y. Ma, On the pore structures of lightweight self-compacting concrete containing silica fume, Constr. Build. Mater. 193 (2018) 557–564. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
10. P. Zhang, Z. Gao, Y. Shi, Y. Q. Lin and J. Z. Li, Effect of large broken stone content on properties of roller compacted concrete based on fractal theory, Constr. Build. Mater. 262 (2020) 120821. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
11. S. W. Tang, J. S. Huang, L. Duan, P. Yu and E. Chen, A review on fractal footprint of cement-based materials, Powder Technol. 370 (2020) 237–250. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
12. Y. R. Zhang, X. M. Kong, L. Gao and Y. Bai, Characterization of the mesostructural organization of cement particles in fresh cement paste, Constr. Build. Mater. 124 (2016) 1038–1050. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
13. Q. Lu, Q. L. Qiu, J. Zheng, J. Y. Wang and Q. Zeng, Fractal dimension of concrete incorporating silica fume and its correlations to pore structure, strength and permeability, Constr. Build. Mater. 228 (2019) 116986. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
14. T. Ficker, Fractal strength of cement gels and universal dimension of fracture surfaces, Theor. Appl. Fract. Mec. 50(2) (2008) 167–171. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
15. L. C. Zhang and J. K. Zhou, Fractal characteristics of pore structure of hardened cement paste prepared by pressurized compact molding, Constr. Build. Mater. 259 (2020) 119856. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
16. S. S. Jin, J. X. Zhang and S. Han, Fractal analysis of relation between strength and pore structure of hardened mortar, Constr. Build. Mater. 135 (2017) 1–7. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
17. P. Liu, S. G. Cui, Z. H. Li, X. F. Xu and C. Guo, Influence of surrounding rock temperature on mechanical property and pore structure of concrete for shotcrete use in a hot-dry environment of high-temperature geothermal tunnel, Constr. Build. Mater. 207 (2019) 329–337. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
18. S. W. Tang, Z. He, X. H. Cai, R. J. Cai, W. Zhou, Z. J. Li, H. Y. Shao, T. Wu and E. Chen, Volume and surface fractal dimensions of pore structure by NAD and LT-DSC in calcium sulfoaluminate cement pastes, Constr. Build. Mater. 143 (2017) 395–418. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
19. P. Yu, Y. Duan, E. Chen, S. W. Tang and X. Wang, Microstructure-based fractal models for heat and mass transport properties of cement paste, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 126 (2018) 432–447. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
20. L. Li, Z. L. Li, M. L. Cao, Y. Tang and Z. Zhang, Nanoindentation and porosity fractal dimension of calcium carbonate whisker reinforced cement paste after elevated temperatures (up to 900 $^{\circ}$ C), Fractals 29(2) (2021) 2140001, https://doi.org/ 10.1142/S0218348X21400016. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
21. X. Yang, L. Li, H. Z. Dai and M. M. Jia, Effect of fractal dimension in concrete meso-structure on its axial mechanical behavior: A numerical case study, Fractals 29(2) (2021) 2140011, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X21400119. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
22. J. Xiao, W. J. Qu, H. B. Jiang, L. Li, J. Huang and L. Chen, Fractal characterization and mechanical behavior of pile-soil interface subjected to sulfuric acid, Fractals 29(2) (2021) 2140010, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X21400107. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
23. L. Wang, F. X. Guo, H. M. Yang, Y. Wang and S. Tang, Comparison of fly ash, PVA fiber, MgO and shrinkage-reducing admixture on the frost resistance of face slab concrete via pore structural and fractal analysis, Fractals 29(2) (2021) 2140002, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X21400028. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
24. L. Wang, M. M. Jin, F. X. Guo, Y. Wang and S. Tang, Pore structural and fractal analysis of the influence of fly ash and silica fume on the mechanical property and abrasion resistance of concrete, Fractals 29(2) (2021) 2140003, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X2140003X. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar
25. L. Wang, F. X. Guo, Y. Q. Lin, H. M. Yang and S. W. Tang, Comparison between the effects of phosphorous slag and fly ash on the C-S-H structure, long-term hydration heat and volume deformation of cement-based materials, Constr. Build. Mater. 250 (2020) 118807. Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
26. L. Wang, R. Y. Luo, W. Zhang, M. M. Jin and S. W. Tang, Effects of fineness and content of phosphorus slag on cement hydration, permeability, pore structure and fractal dimension of concrete, Fractals 29(2) (2021) 2140004, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X21400041. Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar

Vol. 29, No. 02

Metrics

Downloaded 422 times

History

Published: February 16, 2021

Information

This is an Open Access article in the “Special Issue Section on Fractals in Construction Materials” (Guest Editor: Shengwen Tang, Wuhan University, China) published by World Scientific Publishing Company. It is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY) License which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords

PDF download

System Upgrade on Tue, May 28th, 2024 at 2am (EDT)

EDITORIAL: AN INTRODUCTION TO FRACTALS IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Abstract

Recommended