Papers

@article{caneda-martinez_fast_2026,

title = {Fast penetration testing of printable concretes with a portable device: robustness and calibration},

author = {Laura Caneda-Martínez and Marwa Hassan and Léo Demont and Emmanuel Keita and Patrick Belin and Victor De Bono and Romain Mesnil and J. F. Caron and Belén González-Fonteboa and Nicolas Roussel},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008884626000104},

doi = {10.1016/j.cemconres.2026.108141},

issn = {0008-8846},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-04-01},

urldate = {2026-04-01},

journal = {Cement and Concrete Research},

volume = {202},

pages = {108141},

abstract = {Concrete 3D printing demands rheological control tools tailored to this emerging construction technology. Conventional rheometry is often unsuitable for routine monitoring in industrial environments. This study investigates the use of a fast penetration test with a portable device as a simple, effective method to evaluate yield stress and structuration rate of printable concretes. Emphasis is placed on robustness, assessed through measurement variability rather than absolute values. Tests on clay-based reference pastes identify probe geometries minimizing operator influence and data dispersion. Probe and sample size effects are also examined. Calibration on reference pastes establishes geometry-specific conversion factors between penetration force and yield stress. These factors are then used to monitor yield stress evolution in printed concrete, with results compared to those from a pocket vane test. Findings indicate that the fast penetration method yields more robust, consistent measurements, supporting its suitability for rheological quality control in concrete 3D printing.},

keywords = {3D printing, Fast penetration, Rheology, Structuration, Vane, Yield stress},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{rodriguez-alvaro_rheology_2025,

title = {Rheology and setting of self-compacting concrete incorporating high volume of fly ash and internal curing via coal and wood bottom ash},

author = {Roberto Rodríguez-Álvaro and Sindy Seara-Paz and Fernando Martínez-Abella and Belén González-Fonteboa},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710225016638},

doi = {10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113426},

issn = {2352-7102},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-10-01},

urldate = {2025-10-01},

journal = {Journal of Building Engineering},

volume = {111},

pages = {113426},

abstract = {The continuous development of innovative high performance concretes is encouraging the use of new and sophisticated techniques to study their performance. In this article, a rheometer is used to determine the rheological parameters (dynamic yield stress, viscosity, yield stress at rest and thixotropy) of an internally cured self-compacting concrete with fly ash blended cement. This research is motivated by the scarcity of rheological studies regarding internally cured concretes. Coal bottom ash (CBA) and wood bottom ash (WA) were used as internal curing water reservoirs. Air content, setting times and temperature rise under semi-adiabatic conditions were also analysed. The results indicate that ball bearing effect of fly ash decreased the amount of high range water reducer admixture added to the mortars to get similar workability. Furthermore, all the rheological parameters increased when using coal bottom ash and, more remarkably, wood ash, due to their irregular shape, rough texture and some minor water absorption. Internal curing of fly ash blended cement concrete has no detrimental effects on the fresh state properties, but special attention must be paid to the pre-wetting of porous aggregates. If the internal curing water reservoirs are wetted below their water absorption capacities, their use reduces workability and setting times. Therefore, the practicality of the proposed mixtures relay mainly on the care taken during their design and materials conditioning. The future research efforts should focus on the development of new mixes with different supplementary cementitious materials and new conditioning techniques that guarantee a precise pre-wetting.},

keywords = {Internal curing, Shear thickening, Thixotropy, Viscosity, Yield stress},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rojo-López2024,

title = {Genetic programming to understand the influence of new sustainable powder materials in the fresh performance of cement pastes},

author = {Gemma Rojo-López and Belén González-Fonteboa and Juan Luis Pérez-Ordóñez and Fernando Martínez-Abella},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85189693470&doi=10.1016%2fj.jobe.2024.109186&partnerID=40&md5=82b0d972a8049ef5dccd64581bae8dd4},

doi = {10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109186},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Building Engineering},

volume = {88},

abstract = {This study focused on pastes that incorporate metakaolin, biomass ash, and granite powder as supplementary cementitious materials to obtain specific expressions to predict rheological properties in pastes and to define the most appropriate dosage parameters using genetic programming. For this purpose, a dataset was developed following a central composite design, and some fresh properties were measured: Marsh cone and rheological properties, such as yield stress and plastic viscosity. The models generated by genetic programming presented robust statistical indices for the properties studied. The influence of supplementary cementitious materials on rheological properties was also analysed through a parametric analysis. After analysing the factors affecting paste rheology, it was concluded that the most important aspects affecting fresh behaviour were water demand and particle interaction, as well as the relation between both effects. © 2024 The Author(s)},

note = {Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Green Open Access, Hybrid Gold Open Access},

keywords = {Biomass ashes, Cement paste, Cements, Fresh performance, Genetic algorithms, Genetic programming, Granite, Granite powder, Metakaolins, Parametric analysis, Performance of cement, Powder material, Rheological property, Rheology, Supplementary cementitious material, Yield stress},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{rojo-lopez_automated_2023,

title = {Automated Control of the Fresh State of Industrial Concrete Behaviour by Rheometer Test Adjustment},

author = {Gemma Rojo-López and Belén González-Fonteboa and Diego Carro-López and Fernando Martínez-Abella},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/11738},

doi = {10.3390/app132111738},

issn = {2076-3417},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

urldate = {2023-01-01},

journal = {Applied Sciences},

volume = {13},

number = {21},

pages = {11738},

publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute},

abstract = {This study aimed to develop a rheometer prototype and define a procedure for adjusting the automated control of the fresh state of concrete. Sixteen batches were produced, and their fresh behaviour was measured at different testing times by applying the Abrams cone and flow curve test (FCT) as the rheological protocol. During this test, the yield stress and plastic viscosity of the concretes were measured in relative units. The rheometer prototype was used to define a new protocol to select the most suitable rheometer impeller arrangement and optimal FCT configuration. This protocol considers the torque at the end of the breakdown period, torque reduction during the breakdown period, segregation, and negative values of the yield stress in relative units. This protocol also enabled an iterative adjustment procedure, facilitating the use of a rheometer for the automated control of the homogeneity and behaviour of fresh concrete, as well as real-time decision making.},

keywords = {concrete characterisation, flow chart, Fresh behaviour, Plastic viscosity, Yield stress},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@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}

}