Eco-Innovative Cementitious Materials with Enhanced Anti-Seepage Properties for Sustainable Construction

Abstract

This study examines how two different properties of cement can be enhanced. The first is examining how the incorporation of sustainable materials into cementitious composites influences their anti-seepage and self-healing performance. The second is the study of nano-additives and polymer-based curing agents and how they would affect the permeability and microstructure of cement-based materials. The research question one was addressed through a case-study analyzing low-carbon ecological concrete devised with the inclusion of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), glass powder, and hydrophilic polyurethane curing agents. Research question two was tackled through a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework by consolidating evidence on nano-engineered additives and graphene oxide. This is further fortified by ML (Machine Learning) techniques such as GEP (Gene Expression Programming) and ANFIS (Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems). These systems are used for the prediction of tensile strength and durability outcomes. The findings state that with the addition of Graphene oxide and nano-additives, physical micro-barriers were formed which can alter hydration kinetics and restrict fluid pathways, leading to the enhancement of the anti-seepage properties of cement. To make the manufacture of cement more sustainable and to enhance self-healing capacities, it is found that the addition of materials such as RCA, polymer curing agents, and supplementary cementitious materials can together improve these conditions. Machine learning models demonstrated strong predictive accuracy for tensile strength and durability behavior across various mixtures. The findings of this research imply a shift in the manufacture of cement towards an economy aligned process which includes the construction and demolition waste (CDW) method, implementation of government policy incentives, and cradle-to-cradle life cycle assessment. A novel policy framework is proposed to implement large-scale sustainable construction.