The center
Volver al menú principal
Research
Laboratories
Transfer
News
Español
Papers
CITEEC is a leader in civil and building engineering research, focusing on innovative solutions for sustainable infrastructure and advanced materials.
papers
Pioneering research for sustainable development
CITEEC carries out pioneering research in civil engineering, materials, sustainability and infrastructure. Thanks to multidisciplinary projects and international collaborations, scientific papers are being published that address key challenges facing the sector. This section presents the main papers and results produced by our research groups.
You can access a wide range of scientific publications, which can be filtered by subject, author, year and more. Use the filters provided to find relevant literature and learn more about each of our contributions to the advancement of knowledge.
2023
Martínez-García, Carolina; González-Fonteboa, Belén; Carro-López, Diego; Pérez-Ordóñez, Juan Luis; Martínez-Abella, Fernando
Bivalve Shells as a Building Material. A Real Case Application Book Section
In: Bienvenido-Huertas, David; Durán-Álvarez, Joaquín (Ed.): Building Engineering Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century: Holistic Study from the Perspectives of Materials, Construction, Energy and Sustainability, pp. 3–20, Springer Nature, Singapore, 2023, ISBN: 978-981-99-2714-2.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Aggregates, concrete, Mortar, Mussel shells, Sustainability, Thermal insulation
@incollection{martinez-garcia_bivalve_2023,
title = {Bivalve Shells as a Building Material. A Real Case Application},
author = {Carolina Martínez-García and Belén González-Fonteboa and Diego Carro-López and Juan Luis Pérez-Ordóñez and Fernando Martínez-Abella},
editor = {David Bienvenido-Huertas and Joaquín Durán-Álvarez},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2714-2_1},
doi = {10.1007/978-981-99-2714-2_1},
isbn = {978-981-99-2714-2},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-01},
urldate = {2023-01-01},
booktitle = {Building Engineering Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century: Holistic Study from the Perspectives of Materials, Construction, Energy and Sustainability},
pages = {3–20},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
address = {Singapore},
abstract = {In a research project, Biovalvo Project, developed in the University of A Coruña, mussel shells by-products of the local canning industry were converted into a building material. The main milestone of the project was the construction of an experimental building as a real case application. This building used heat-treated and grinded mussel shells in all the building solutions: as aggregates in the foundation concretes and in the coating mortars as partial substitution for conventional aggregates. They were also used as the only thermal and acoustic insulation for the entire envelope. Derived from the project, a PhD thesis was developed where a deep analysis of the mussel shell materials was carried out. Properties of cement-based concrete were assessed including workability, mechanical strength, permeability, absorption, weight loss and microstructure. In the case of plasters and renders, mussel shells mortars were made with two binders: cement and air lime. The study included the analysis of mortars’ properties such as consistency, stiffening time, mechanical behaviour, air content, porosity, pore size distribution, microstructure, carbonation and hygric behaviour. Thermal and acoustic behaviour of mussel shells as loose fill insulation were assessed, and also their compaction and settling capacity were analysed. The potential environmental impact of the mussel shell product was performed using a cradle-to-gate approach. In the case of building solutions, the U-value calculation of the opaque elements, based on laboratory test, allowed to design an experimental building with a low energy consumption. This manuscript highlights the high potential that offers this by-product and summarizes the main results of the Biovalvo Project.},
keywords = {Aggregates, concrete, Mortar, Mussel shells, Sustainability, Thermal insulation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
In a research project, Biovalvo Project, developed in the University of A Coruña, mussel shells by-products of the local canning industry were converted into a building material. The main milestone of the project was the construction of an experimental building as a real case application. This building used heat-treated and grinded mussel shells in all the building solutions: as aggregates in the foundation concretes and in the coating mortars as partial substitution for conventional aggregates. They were also used as the only thermal and acoustic insulation for the entire envelope. Derived from the project, a PhD thesis was developed where a deep analysis of the mussel shell materials was carried out. Properties of cement-based concrete were assessed including workability, mechanical strength, permeability, absorption, weight loss and microstructure. In the case of plasters and renders, mussel shells mortars were made with two binders: cement and air lime. The study included the analysis of mortars’ properties such as consistency, stiffening time, mechanical behaviour, air content, porosity, pore size distribution, microstructure, carbonation and hygric behaviour. Thermal and acoustic behaviour of mussel shells as loose fill insulation were assessed, and also their compaction and settling capacity were analysed. The potential environmental impact of the mussel shell product was performed using a cradle-to-gate approach. In the case of building solutions, the U-value calculation of the opaque elements, based on laboratory test, allowed to design an experimental building with a low energy consumption. This manuscript highlights the high potential that offers this by-product and summarizes the main results of the Biovalvo Project.
2022
Rojo-López, Gemma; González-Fonteboa, Belén; Martínez-Abella, Fernando; González-Taboada, Iris
Rheology, durability, and mechanical performance of sustainable self-compacting concrete with metakaolin and limestone filler Journal Article
In: Case Studies in Construction Materials, vol. 17, 2022, (Cited by: 40; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Aggregates, Binders, Biocompatibility, Cements, Durability, Durability performance, Efficiency, Elasticity, Environmental impact, Fillers, Life cycle, Light velocity, Lime, Limestone, Limestone filler, Material efficiency, Mechanical performance, Metakaolins, Plastic viscosity, Resistivity, Self compacting concrete, Supplementary cementitious material, Ultrasonic pulse velocity, Viscosity, Yield stress
@article{Rojo-López2022,
title = {Rheology, durability, and mechanical performance of sustainable self-compacting concrete with metakaolin and limestone filler},
author = {Gemma Rojo-López and Belén González-Fonteboa and Fernando Martínez-Abella and Iris González-Taboada},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85134035376&doi=10.1016%2fj.cscm.2022.e01143&partnerID=40&md5=0f8f839bbe6aa5f1c5456f95d4cae965},
doi = {10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01143},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Case Studies in Construction Materials},
volume = {17},
publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},
abstract = {This study analyzed the performance of self-compacting concrete with a paste composition that includes limestone filler and metakaolin replacing cement to design binary (75% cement and 25% limestone filler) and ternary binders (60% cement, 25% limestone filler and 15% metakaolin). Furthermore, to analyze the effect of the solid volume fraction (volume of sand and coarse aggregate) on concrete rheology, the concretes were designed using four volumes of paste (350 l, 400 l, 450 l and 500 l). Rheological tests were performed at three resting times to measure the viscosity and yield stress over time. The results indicated that the viscosity decreased by 43.3% when the cement was replaced by limestone filler and increased by 73.1% when the cement was replaced by 15% metakaolin while maintaining the limestone filler. These values were obtained as 27.6% and 62.2%, respectively, when the yield stress was analyzed. In addition, the hardened properties (mechanical behavior and durability) were studied by measuring the strengths at 28 days, as well as the electrical resistivity and ultrasonic pulse velocity over time. In this case, at 28 days the use of binary binder reduces the strength and resistivity (about 20%) and the employment of ternary binder reduces strength (15%) while increases the resistivity up to the double (when compared to the 100 C concrete). Moreover, to measure the efficiency of the concrete, a material index was designed that considers the fresh behavior, mechanical performance, durability, cost, and environmental impact. Self-compacting concretes with ternary binders provided the highest indices. The use of alternative materials, particularly metakaolin has been proven to be a good option to enhance concrete sustainable performance. © 2022 The Authors},
note = {Cited by: 40; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access},
keywords = {Aggregates, Binders, Biocompatibility, Cements, Durability, Durability performance, Efficiency, Elasticity, Environmental impact, Fillers, Life cycle, Light velocity, Lime, Limestone, Limestone filler, Material efficiency, Mechanical performance, Metakaolins, Plastic viscosity, Resistivity, Self compacting concrete, Supplementary cementitious material, Ultrasonic pulse velocity, Viscosity, Yield stress},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study analyzed the performance of self-compacting concrete with a paste composition that includes limestone filler and metakaolin replacing cement to design binary (75% cement and 25% limestone filler) and ternary binders (60% cement, 25% limestone filler and 15% metakaolin). Furthermore, to analyze the effect of the solid volume fraction (volume of sand and coarse aggregate) on concrete rheology, the concretes were designed using four volumes of paste (350 l, 400 l, 450 l and 500 l). Rheological tests were performed at three resting times to measure the viscosity and yield stress over time. The results indicated that the viscosity decreased by 43.3% when the cement was replaced by limestone filler and increased by 73.1% when the cement was replaced by 15% metakaolin while maintaining the limestone filler. These values were obtained as 27.6% and 62.2%, respectively, when the yield stress was analyzed. In addition, the hardened properties (mechanical behavior and durability) were studied by measuring the strengths at 28 days, as well as the electrical resistivity and ultrasonic pulse velocity over time. In this case, at 28 days the use of binary binder reduces the strength and resistivity (about 20%) and the employment of ternary binder reduces strength (15%) while increases the resistivity up to the double (when compared to the 100 C concrete). Moreover, to measure the efficiency of the concrete, a material index was designed that considers the fresh behavior, mechanical performance, durability, cost, and environmental impact. Self-compacting concretes with ternary binders provided the highest indices. The use of alternative materials, particularly metakaolin has been proven to be a good option to enhance concrete sustainable performance. © 2022 The Authors
2017
González-Taboada, Iris; González-Fonteboa, Belén; Eiras-López, Javier; Rojo-López, Gemma
Tools for the study of self-compacting recycled concrete fresh behaviour: Workability and rheology Journal Article
In: Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 156, pp. 1 – 18, 2017, (Cited by: 88).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Aggregates, Concrete mixing, Concretes, Elasticity, Fresh behaviour, Mechanical properties, Mixing, Moisture, Recycled aggregates, Recycled coarse aggregate, Recycled concrete coarse aggregate, Recycled concretes, Recycling, Replacement ratio, Rheological behaviour, Rheology, Self compacting concrete, Water absorption, Workability
@article{González-Taboada20171,
title = {Tools for the study of self-compacting recycled concrete fresh behaviour: Workability and rheology},
author = {Iris González-Taboada and Belén González-Fonteboa and Javier Eiras-López and Gemma Rojo-López},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019157098&doi=10.1016%2fj.jclepro.2017.04.045&partnerID=40&md5=dc483461bc80b8981beee59d6b2ab36b},
doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.045},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
urldate = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},
volume = {156},
pages = {1 – 18},
abstract = {This work studies the fresh behaviour of self-compacting recycled concrete (SCRC) with different replacement percentages of recycled concrete coarse aggregate (20, 50 and 100%). To control the high absorption of recycled aggregate, three different mixing methods are also used in each studied concrete: M1 (dry aggregate and extra water), M2 (pre-soaked aggregate) and M3 (aggregate with a 3% of natural moisture and extra water). The fresh-state properties are measured with empirical and rheological tests, both carried out at 15, 45 and 90 min from the water-cement contact. Results obtained lead to conclude that rheology is the best tool to control fresh state behaviour of SCRC mixes and that Bingham 5-lowest is the suitable model to describe their rheological behaviour. Additionally, it has been concluded that the best method to produce SCRC is to compensate the recycled aggregate absorption during mixing using an extra quantity of water. With this method, self-compacting behaviour can be maintained with all replacement percentages until 45 min, and even until 90 min when the replacement ratio does not exceed 50%. Moreover, the use of the recycled coarse aggregate with a previous moisture content involves a greater difficulty to control workability and rheology than its use in dry-state condition. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd},
note = {Cited by: 88},
keywords = {Aggregates, Concrete mixing, Concretes, Elasticity, Fresh behaviour, Mechanical properties, Mixing, Moisture, Recycled aggregates, Recycled coarse aggregate, Recycled concrete coarse aggregate, Recycled concretes, Recycling, Replacement ratio, Rheological behaviour, Rheology, Self compacting concrete, Water absorption, Workability},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This work studies the fresh behaviour of self-compacting recycled concrete (SCRC) with different replacement percentages of recycled concrete coarse aggregate (20, 50 and 100%). To control the high absorption of recycled aggregate, three different mixing methods are also used in each studied concrete: M1 (dry aggregate and extra water), M2 (pre-soaked aggregate) and M3 (aggregate with a 3% of natural moisture and extra water). The fresh-state properties are measured with empirical and rheological tests, both carried out at 15, 45 and 90 min from the water-cement contact. Results obtained lead to conclude that rheology is the best tool to control fresh state behaviour of SCRC mixes and that Bingham 5-lowest is the suitable model to describe their rheological behaviour. Additionally, it has been concluded that the best method to produce SCRC is to compensate the recycled aggregate absorption during mixing using an extra quantity of water. With this method, self-compacting behaviour can be maintained with all replacement percentages until 45 min, and even until 90 min when the replacement ratio does not exceed 50%. Moreover, the use of the recycled coarse aggregate with a previous moisture content involves a greater difficulty to control workability and rheology than its use in dry-state condition. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
2016
Seara-Paz, Sindy; Corinaldesi, Valeria; González-Fonteboa, Belén; Martínez-Abella, Fernando
Influence of recycled coarse aggregates characteristics on mechanical properties of structural concrete Journal Article
In: European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering, vol. 20, pp. s123-s139, 2016, ISSN: 19648189, (cited By 26).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Aggregates, Compressive strength; Concrete aggregates; Concretes; Elastic moduli; Information analysis; Mechanical properties; Recycling; Tensile strength, Experimental program; Mechanical behaviour; Recycled aggregates; Recycled coarse aggregate; Recycled concretes; Splitting strength; Structural concretes; Time dependent
@article{Seara-Paz2016s123,
title = {Influence of recycled coarse aggregates characteristics on mechanical properties of structural concrete},
author = {Sindy Seara-Paz and Valeria Corinaldesi and Belén González-Fonteboa and Fernando Martínez-Abella},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84995560915&doi=10.1080%2f19648189.2016.1246694&partnerID=40&md5=16c8b97ce381aa9b5e816356993c5df8},
doi = {10.1080/19648189.2016.1246694},
issn = {19648189},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
urldate = {2016-01-01},
journal = {European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering},
volume = {20},
pages = {s123-s139},
publisher = {Taylor and Francis Ltd.},
abstract = {This work studies with the influence of recycled coarse aggregates features on the mechanical properties of structural concrete. Recycled concrete is characterised by replacing different percentages of natural coarse aggregate with recycled coarse aggregate (0, 20, 50 and 100%) and two different water-to-cement ratios.50 and.65. The experimental program was carried out at the two laboratories: one at the University of A Coruña and another at the Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy). For said purpose, two different recycled aggregates were used, with different water absorptions and compositions. Results obtained allowed the authors to establish different mechanical behaviour of recycled concrete (compressive strength, tensile splitting strength and modulus of elasticity) due to different replacement percentages and characteristics of the recycled aggregates. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.},
note = {cited By 26},
keywords = {Aggregates, Compressive strength; Concrete aggregates; Concretes; Elastic moduli; Information analysis; Mechanical properties; Recycling; Tensile strength, Experimental program; Mechanical behaviour; Recycled aggregates; Recycled coarse aggregate; Recycled concretes; Splitting strength; Structural concretes; Time dependent},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This work studies with the influence of recycled coarse aggregates features on the mechanical properties of structural concrete. Recycled concrete is characterised by replacing different percentages of natural coarse aggregate with recycled coarse aggregate (0, 20, 50 and 100%) and two different water-to-cement ratios.50 and.65. The experimental program was carried out at the two laboratories: one at the University of A Coruña and another at the Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy). For said purpose, two different recycled aggregates were used, with different water absorptions and compositions. Results obtained allowed the authors to establish different mechanical behaviour of recycled concrete (compressive strength, tensile splitting strength and modulus of elasticity) due to different replacement percentages and characteristics of the recycled aggregates. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
2012
Martínez-Lage, Isabel; Martínez-Abella, Fernando; Vázquez-Herrero, Cristina; Pérez-Ordóñez, Juan Luis
Properties of plain concrete made with mixed recycled coarse aggregate Journal Article
In: Construction and Building Materials, vol. 37, pp. 171-176, 2012, ISSN: 09500618, (cited By 109).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Aggregates, Ceramic aggregates; Coarse aggregates; Crushed bricks; Longitudinal modulus; Plain concrete; Recycled aggregates; Recycled coarse aggregate; Stress-strain diagram; Sustainable construction; Water penetration, Concrete aggregates; Concrete beams and girders; Concretes; Mechanical properties; Recycling; Stress-strain curves
@article{Martínez-Lage2012171,
title = {Properties of plain concrete made with mixed recycled coarse aggregate},
author = {Isabel Martínez-Lage and Fernando Martínez-Abella and Cristina Vázquez-Herrero and Juan Luis Pérez-Ordóñez},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865472073&doi=10.1016%2fj.conbuildmat.2012.07.045&partnerID=40&md5=ec28b7f1617b24f48eee378751179b78},
doi = {10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.07.045},
issn = {09500618},
year = {2012},
date = {2012-01-01},
urldate = {2012-01-01},
journal = {Construction and Building Materials},
volume = {37},
pages = {171-176},
abstract = {This paper reports on a study of the behavior of plain concrete made with mixed recycled coarse aggregate, i.e., recycled aggregate with a high percentage of fired clay (brick and similar) waste. The parameters studied were: workability, density, compressive strength, longitudinal modulus of deformation, Poisson ratio, depth of water penetration under pressure and the stress-strain diagram. Control concretes (containing natural coarse aggregate only), concretes with half natural and half recycled aggregate and concretes with recycled coarse aggregate only were prepared to conduct the respective tests. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
note = {cited By 109},
keywords = {Aggregates, Ceramic aggregates; Coarse aggregates; Crushed bricks; Longitudinal modulus; Plain concrete; Recycled aggregates; Recycled coarse aggregate; Stress-strain diagram; Sustainable construction; Water penetration, Concrete aggregates; Concrete beams and girders; Concretes; Mechanical properties; Recycling; Stress-strain curves},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper reports on a study of the behavior of plain concrete made with mixed recycled coarse aggregate, i.e., recycled aggregate with a high percentage of fired clay (brick and similar) waste. The parameters studied were: workability, density, compressive strength, longitudinal modulus of deformation, Poisson ratio, depth of water penetration under pressure and the stress-strain diagram. Control concretes (containing natural coarse aggregate only), concretes with half natural and half recycled aggregate and concretes with recycled coarse aggregate only were prepared to conduct the respective tests. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
2011
González-Fonteboa, Belén; Martínez-Abella, Fernando; Eiras-López, Javier; Seara-Paz, Sindy
Effect of recycled coarse aggregate on damage of recycled concrete Journal Article
In: Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions, vol. 44, no. 10, pp. 1759-1771, 2011, ISSN: 13595997, (cited By 87).
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Aggregates, Concretes; Recycling; Strain; Stresses, Damage; Damage mechanics; Recycled aggregates; Recycled concretes; Volumetric strain
@article{González-Fonteboa20111759,
title = {Effect of recycled coarse aggregate on damage of recycled concrete},
author = {Belén González-Fonteboa and Fernando Martínez-Abella and Javier Eiras-López and Sindy Seara-Paz},
url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84855265461&doi=10.1617%2fs11527-011-9736-7&partnerID=40&md5=25d583f2c68abd8479a320c46fffb80b},
doi = {10.1617/s11527-011-9736-7},
issn = {13595997},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-01-01},
urldate = {2011-01-01},
journal = {Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions},
volume = {44},
number = {10},
pages = {1759-1771},
abstract = {This study evaluates the possibility of measuring the damage of the recycled concrete. In this way, two conventional concretes with a w/c ratio of 0.55 and 0.65 were designed. Based on them, six recycled concretes with different percentages of replacement of natural coarse aggregates with recycled coarse aggregate (20, 50 and 100%) were obtained. To take into account the high absorption capacity of the recycled aggregates, before using them they were pre-wetted for 10 min. The results concluded that scalar damage mechanics (based on the variations of the elastic modulus) and volumetric strains curves can be use to quantify the damage of the recycled concrete. The results from both approaches indicated that the damage to concrete depended on the percentage of replacement, increasing with higher replacement percentages. Additionally, values of the damage, that are quantified using the critical stress and according to the scalar damage mechanics, are given. © RILEM 2011.},
note = {cited By 87},
keywords = {Aggregates, Concretes; Recycling; Strain; Stresses, Damage; Damage mechanics; Recycled aggregates; Recycled concretes; Volumetric strain},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This study evaluates the possibility of measuring the damage of the recycled concrete. In this way, two conventional concretes with a w/c ratio of 0.55 and 0.65 were designed. Based on them, six recycled concretes with different percentages of replacement of natural coarse aggregates with recycled coarse aggregate (20, 50 and 100%) were obtained. To take into account the high absorption capacity of the recycled aggregates, before using them they were pre-wetted for 10 min. The results concluded that scalar damage mechanics (based on the variations of the elastic modulus) and volumetric strains curves can be use to quantify the damage of the recycled concrete. The results from both approaches indicated that the damage to concrete depended on the percentage of replacement, increasing with higher replacement percentages. Additionally, values of the damage, that are quantified using the critical stress and according to the scalar damage mechanics, are given. © RILEM 2011.
CITEEC
Centro de Innovación Tecnolóxica en Edificación e Enxeñería Civil
Campus de Elviña S/N - 15008 - A Coruña
Contáctanos 
