Papers

@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{bastias_sustainable_2024,

title = {Sustainable Cement Paste Development Using Wheat Straw Ash and Silica Fume Replacement Model},

author = {Bryan Bastías and Marcelo González and Juan Rey-Rey and Guillermo Valerio and Pablo Guindos-Bretones},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/24/11226},

doi = {10.3390/su162411226},

issn = {2071-1050},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

urldate = {2026-08-03},

journal = {Sustainability},

volume = {16},

number = {24},

pages = {11226},

publisher = {Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute},

abstract = {Conventional cement production is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, which creates a significant environmental challenge. This research addresses the problem of how to reduce the carbon footprint of cement paste production using agricultural and industrial waste by-products, namely wheat straw ash (WSA) and silica fume (SF). Currently, accurate models that can predict the mechanical properties of cement pastes incorporating these waste materials are lacking. To fill this gap, our study proposes a model based on response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design, designed to predict the strength of cement pastes with partial substitutions of WSA and SF. Through mechanical and characterization tests, the model demonstrated high accuracy in predicting the strength of the pastes, validated with three mixes, which showed maximum errors of less than 6% at different ages (7, 28, and 56 days). Response surface analysis revealed that replacing cement with 0–20% WSA and more than 5% SF can effectively reduce the carbon footprint by maximizing waste incorporation. This model allows for the calculation of optimal cement substitution levels based on the required strength, thus promoting sustainability in the construction industry through the use of local waste/resources.},

keywords = {Box-Behnken Design, Cement paste, design of experiment, low carbon, silica fume, Supplementary cementitious material, sustainable concrete, wheat straw ash},

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}

}

@article{rodriguez-alvaro_waste-based_2021,

title = {Waste-Based porous materials as water reservoirs for the internal curing of Concrete. A review},

author = {Roberto Rodríguez-Álvaro and Sindy Seara-Paz and Belén González-Fonteboa and Verónica Ferrándiz-Mas and Kevin Paine},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061821020043},

doi = {10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124244},

issn = {0950-0618},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-09-01},

urldate = {2026-08-06},

journal = {Construction and Building Materials},

volume = {299},

pages = {124244},

abstract = {This review collates findings from more than 100 scientific publications regarding the performance of several waste-based porous materials (WASPORs) as water reservoirs for the internal curing of concrete. Results obtained by using recycled concrete aggregates, crushed ceramics, coal bottom ash, artificial waste-based aggregates, different powder materials and porous fibres were included. The influence of these WASPORs on the consistence, hydration, setting, microstructure, density, strength, modulus of elasticity, autogenous deformation, drying shrinkage and durability properties of concrete were analysed. General recommendations for suitable characterization of WASPOR and mix design are also given. The differences in water absorption capacity between the different porous materials studied have been used for explaining several of the observed phenomena. A moderate water absorption capacity together with a quick water desorption capacity were found to be among the key factors that define the internal curing efficiency of the proposed WASPORs.},

keywords = {High performance concrete, HPC, Internal curing, Porous aggregates, SCM, Supplementary cementitious material, Waste materials},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rojo-López2020,

title = {Quaternary blends of portland cement, metakaolin, biomass ash and granite powder for production of self-compacting concrete},

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

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85084552139&doi=10.1016%2fj.jclepro.2020.121666&partnerID=40&md5=432f2c1cfd49358288f98b4f03788f9d},

doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121666},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-01-01},

urldate = {2020-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production},

volume = {266},

publisher = {Elsevier Ltd},

abstract = {Given the rising societal pressure towards sustainable waste management and resource efficiency, in a more circular economy, an increased use and diversification of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) will be necessary to achieve the CO2 mitigation goals. The current study addresses the development of self-compacting concrete, replacing part of the cement (the primary source of CO2 emissions) by metakaolin and wastes derived from two industrial sectors operating in the “Galicia–North of Portugal Euroregion”: wood manufacturing and natural stone quarrying. A study was carried out at the mortar level to investigate the effect of the mix design variables on several engineering properties of the self-compacting concrete. Statistically designed experiments reveal that an increase in water/powder volume ratio has a dominant effect on the fresh state properties, whereas the water/cement weight ratio has a dominant effect on the hardened state properties. A like-for-like comparison of the proposed quaternary blends and previously studied binary/ternary blends indicates that these mixtures exhibit improved self-compacting ability, greater compressive strength, and can offer interesting opportunities to reduce the unit cost and environmental impact of self-compacting concrete per m3. Four different mortar mixtures were optimised to achieve excellent self-compacting ability yet with distinct compressive strength levels at 28 days (65, 70, 75, and 80 MPa). A single measure of the material efficiency is proposed herein to reflect the engineering properties improvement (workability, compressive strength, and durability) over its economic (unit cost) and environmental impact. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd},

note = {Cited by: 47; All Open Access, Green Open Access},

keywords = {Binary mixtures, Carbon dioxide, Cement industry, Circular economy, Compressive strength, Concrete industry, Concrete mixtures, Concrete products, Cost engineering, Designed experiments, Efficiency, Engineering properties, Industrial emissions, Industrial sector, Material efficiency, Mortar, Portland cement, Resource efficiencies, Self compacting concrete, Supplementary cementitious material, Sustainable waste management, Waste management},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}