Journal Articles

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    A comprehensive review on the use of hemp in concrete
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Barbhuiya, S.; Das, B.B.
    A simple mixture of hemp hurd, water, and lime is used to make hemp concrete. It is indeed one of the few materials that can continue to absorb carbon after being employed in construction, storing more carbon in the atmosphere over the building's lifetime than was emitted during construction. Furthermore, hemp can be harvested in as little as 60 days. Hemp concrete is a “carbon-negative” or “better-than-zero-carbon” substance because the hemp plant absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits during its production and application on site. It is a bio-composite material that can be utilised as an alternative to concrete and standard insulation in building. Hemp concrete is also recyclable at the end of the building's lifespan. This study summarises the fast-developing body of knowledge about hemp concrete, which was recently developed. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
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    Molecular dynamics simulation in concrete research: A systematic review of techniques, models and future directions
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Barbhuiya, S.; Das, B.B.
    This paper presents a comprehensive review of the application of molecular dynamics simulation in concrete research. The study addresses the background and significance of the topic, providing an overview of the principles, applications, and types of molecular dynamics simulation, with a particular focus on its role in enhancing the understanding of concrete properties. Moreover, it critically examines existing research studies that employ molecular dynamics simulation in concrete research, highlighting the associated benefits and limitations. The paper further investigates various simulation techniques and models employed in concrete research, offering a comparative analysis of their effectiveness. Additionally, the study explores future directions and identifies research needs in the field of molecular dynamics simulation in concrete, while also discussing the potential impact of this approach on the sustainability of the construction industry. By providing a comprehensive overview and critical analysis, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners interested in leveraging molecular dynamics simulation for advancing concrete science and engineering. © 2023 The Author(s)
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    Valorization of Incinerated Biomedical Waste Ash in Cementitious System: A Comprehensive Review
    (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Joshi, S.; Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.; Barbhuiya, S.
    Disposing of incinerated biomedical waste ash (IBWA) contaminated with heavy metals (e.g., Cr, Zn, Pb) poses significant environmental and public health concerns, necessitating innovative and sustainable management strategies. Cement-based solidification emerges as a promising approach to repurpose IBWA by effectively immobilizing heavy metals and mitigating their ecological footprint. However, broader industrial and societal acceptance of IBWA as a substitute for cement and sand remains constrained owing to limited quantification of IBWA availability and safety concerns. In this perspective, the current paper presents a global database on IBWA availability and maps the geographic distribution of biomedical waste incinerators in India. It also comprehensively reviews IBWA’s potential in mortar/concrete, focusing on its physico-chemical, leachability, hydration, mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties. The study further highlights the importance of a cradle-to-gate and gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to holistically assess the environmental performance of IBWA-incorporated mortar systems, promoting circular economy principles and resource efficiency in the construction sector. IBWA, with its high SiO₂ and CaO content (> 50%), exhibits latent hydraulic properties suitable for construction applications. The porous cellular structure of IBWA can lead to increased porosity and water absorption in concrete. Leachate analysis demonstrated the effective stabilization of heavy elements within the cement hydration matrix (C-S-H, C-A-S-H, etc.), meeting US EPA regulatory standards. LCA interprets that IBWA utilization of up to 10% cement replacement material and 30% sand replacement material could curtail the carbon footprint and energy demand by ~ 25–35% and 15–25%, respectively, compared to conventional cement-based mortar systems. These findings highlight IBWA’s potential to transform the construction sector, aligning it with global sustainability goals and reducing its dependence on non-renewable resources. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shiraz University 2025.
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    Structural performance and implementation challenges of next-generation concrete materials
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Barbhuiya, S.; Das, B.B.; Rajput, A.; Katare, V.; Das, A.K.
    Conventional concrete faces limitations in durability, sustainability, and adaptability to modern structural demands, constraining its use in high-rise, bridge, and extreme-environment applications. This study examines emerging concrete mixes—HPC, UHPC, SCC, FRC, GPC, and 3D-Printed Concrete—by evaluating their mechanical properties, implementation challenges, and future opportunities. A review of experimental data, case studies, and comparative analyses was conducted to assess strength, durability, workability, and structural applications. Results show that HPC and UHPC reach compressive strengths of 60–200 MPa, GPC achieves 40–80 MPa with reduced CO₂ emissions, SCC demonstrates slump flows of 600–800 mm, and fibre reinforcement enhances tensile strength to 8–15 MPa. These findings highlight superior performance, sustainability, and constructability, though high costs, lack of standards, and scalability issues remain obstacles to widespread adoption. This review uniquely integrates comparative insights on High-Performance, Ultra-High-Performance, Self-Compacting, Fibre-Reinforced, Geopolymer, and 3D-Printed concretes, bridging laboratory findings with real-world applications. Unlike existing reviews, it emphasizes structural implementation challenges and opportunities. Key obstacles—including high cost, lack of standards, and scalability—are outlined to contextualize pathways for sustainable adoption. Overall, next-generation concretes deliver enhanced strength, durability, and sustainability, making them viable for critical infrastructure. Future studies should focus on advancing standardization, integrating nanotechnology and AI for mix optimization, and developing cost-effective, large-scale deployment strategies. © 2025 The Authors
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    Acid, alkali and chloride resistance of high volume fly ash concrete
    (Indian Society for Education and Environment indjst@gmail.com, 2015) Sahoo, S.; Das, B.B.; Rath, A.K.; Kar, B.B.
    Objectives: To find variation in compressive strength and mass of high volume fly ash concrete samples subjected to different chemical solutions of sodium chloride, sodium sulphate and sulphuric acid. Methods: A total of 900 numbers of cubes were cast and cured with four levels of curing period of 28, 56, 90 and 120 days. After certain duration of curing period, specific numbers (60) of cubes were submerged each in 5 percent sodium sulphate solution (Na2SO4), 5 percent sodium chloride solution (NaCl) and 1percent of sulphuric acid solution (H2SO4) separately in chemical exposure containers for an exposure period of 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. Findings: Investigations with respect to acid, alkali and chloride resistance were carried out on high volume fly ash concrete, HFC (40 percent replacement with cement), low volume fly ash concrete, LFC (25 percent replacement with cement) and their performances against control concrete (NC) is presented in this paper. Their performance was measured with respect to the loss in compressive strength and weight of the concrete cubes over the period of exposure time. It is found that the resistance of control concrete to all the three chemical attack is better only up to 28 days of water curing. At 56 days of water curing LFC shows better resistance against the control and HFC. However, with prolonged water curing of cubes of 90 days and more, HFC has consistently shown highest resistance; whereas the control concrete faced a great loss in strength.
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    Acid, alkali, and chloride resistance of concrete composed of low-carbonated fly ash
    (American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) onlinejls@asce.org, 2017) Sahoo, S.; Das, B.B.; Mohammed Mustakim, S.
    This research investigates the effect of carbonated fly ash inclusion in concrete as partial replacement of cement on the durability performance when exposed to salt, sulfate, and acid solution. The effect of chemical exposure periods (30, 60, 90, and 120 days) on compressive strength and weight of concrete with low volume (25%) replacement of cement was investigated for various water curing ages (28, 56, 90, and 180 days). A comparative assessment with low volume (25% cement replacement) fly ash concrete and control concrete was also conducted. It was observed from the results that low volume carbonated fly ash concrete demonstrated a significant increase in resistance to loss in compressive strength and weight against salt, sulfate, and acid attack. Gray relation-based analysis was performed to determine suitable parameters for simultaneous minimization of strength loss and weight loss under chemical exposure. It can be recommended that, due to its cost-effectiveness, easy processing, and environmental friendly nature, carbonated fly ash can be adopted in construction as a partial replacement of cement in concrete. © 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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    Influence of Integration of Phase Change Materials on Hydration and Microstructure Properties of Nanosilica Admixed Cementitious Mortar
    (American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) onlinejls@asce.org 1801 Alexander Bell DriveGEO Reston VA 20191 Alabama, 2020) Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.; Kumar, S.
    The present study demonstrates the influence of integrating phase change materials (PCMs) on hydration and microstructure properties of nanosilica admixed cementitious mortar. First, the optimized dosage of nanosilica in correspondence to compressive strength was determined. Subsequently, the desired proportion of PCMs was identified pertaining to a designated compressive strength of 35 MPa at the curing age of 28 days. The hydration and microstructure studies were carried out through thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Further, thermal properties were determined by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Incorporation of nanosilica into the cementitious mortar was found to have a positive influence on early strength development and durability, however, there was found to be an increase in chemical shrinkage as compared to the control mixture. PCMs integrated cementitious mortar improved the thermal efficiency as well as reduced the chemical shrinkage, but adversely affected the mechanical, hydration, and durability properties. With respect to development of compressive strength of the cementitious mortar, it is found that n-octadecane PCMs performed better amidst other PCMs, such as paraffin and sodium carbonate hydrates. Further, studies were carried out on cementitious mortar having both nanosilica (optimized proportion) and PCMs (the best performing). From the results, it is found that cementitious mortar comprising of both nanosilica and PCMs have compensated the drawbacks of one another. Blended mortar (having both nanosilica and PCMs) showed superior strength gain at early age, better durability resistance, low chemical shrinkage, and superior thermal performance. © 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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    Effect of phase-change materials on the hydration and mineralogy of cement mortar
    (ICE Publishing, 2020) Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.
    The influence of direct incorporation of thermally efficient phase-change materials (PCMs) on the hydration and mineralogical properties of cement mortar was investigated. To assess the viability of bulk addition of PCMs to a cementitious system, tests of the early age, hydration, mechanical, durability and mineralogical properties were carried out. Organic PCMs showed an increase in setting time, while inorganic materials exhibited fast setting characteristics. Surface temperature was also found to be lower for cement paste with incremental dosages of PCM. However, chemical shrinkage was found to be reduced in the presence of PCM except for the inorganic type. It was observed from the results that PCMs negatively influenced the rate of strength development of a cementitious mortar. The slow rate of strength development was found to be attributed to interrupted hydration, which was confirmed through mineralogical studies. Further, from the thermo-gravimetric analysis, it was observed that the presence of PCMs in a cementitious system increased calcium hydroxide content and reduced the content of water related to hydration products. © 2020 ICE Publishing: All rights reserved.
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    Influence of sample preparation techniques on microstructure and nano-mechanical properties of steel-concrete interface
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2020) Goudar, S.K.; Das, B.B.; Arya, S.B.; Shivaprasad, K.N.
    Interface between steel and concrete is characterized as highly porous and weakest region which influences both mechanical properties and durability of a reinforced concrete structure. The properties of the steel-concrete interface (SCI), especially the porous zone thickness are prime factors in predicting the time for corrosion initiation to corrosion cracking in service life prediction models. Measurement of porous zone thickness of reinforced concrete samples is sensitive to the sample preparation technique for microscopic observations. It is observed that there are hardly any research articles are available in the literature regarding the sample preparation technique of reinforced concrete sample for SCI analysis. In the present study, a detailed and stepwise sample preparation technique is proposed where there is minimal damage found to be observed to SCI. The major focus is on the speed of cutting tool that is being used for obtaining a relatively small size of sample from the bulk reinforced concrete member. The properties such as porous zone thickness and nano mechanical properties around the SCI were determined through scanning electron microscopy and nano-indentation, respectively. A significant variation in porous zone thickness around SCI was observed and measured value of average porous zone thickness is found to be approximately 1.8 times higher from high-speed cutting to low-speed. A similar kind of observation was noticed for nano mechanical properties. In addition to speed of cutting, there found to be other factors such as pressing force for specimen, duration of polishing and heating temperature has significant influence on interfacial properties. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
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    Acid, alkali and chloride resistance of binary, ternary and quaternary blended cementitious mortar integrated with nano-silica particles
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.
    This paper investigates the quantification of ettringite (Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12.26H2O, AFt), gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O, Gy) and Friedel's salt (Ca4Al2(OH)12Cl2.4H2O, Fs) formed for binary, ternary and quaternary blended cementitious mortar mixes that were exposed to acid (H2SO4), alkali (Na2SO4) and chloride (NaCl) solutions. Quantification was carried out through a thermogravimetric analyzer by characterizing the mass loss associated to the decomposition of these compounds at specific boundaries of temperature (50–120 °C for AFt, 120–150 °C for Gy and 230–380 °C for Fs). Binary, ternary and quaternary blended cementitious mortar mixes were designed by adopting modified Andreasen and Andersen particle packing model. A long-term exposure period was spanned to the duration of 180 days for all kind of aggressive media and its effect on engineering properties of blended cementitious mortar were measured. Deterioration due to acid (H2SO4) exposure is found to be more intense due to the synergistic action of acid and sulfates. It is to be noted that for acid exposure period of 180 days, control mortar underwent an acute density and strength losses of 18% and 59%, respectively. However, cementitious mortar mix consisting of 3% nano-silica performs the best against aggressive media. The optimistic resistance to the formation of AFt and Gy was also found to be offered by quaternary blended mix. A similar trend was also observed in the formation of Fs for the mortar mixes exposed to NaCl solution. Significant improvement in particle packing density by the inclusion of micron to nano sized finer particles for quaternary blended mortar mix has minimized the permeable porosity, thus reduced the susceptibility to the formation of voluminous compounds. Enhanced pozzolanic activity due to the presence of nano-silica could be one of the primary reasons for quaternary blended mortar to perform better against the aggressive media that can be adopted in the practice considering sustainability and economical point of view. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd