Cement-Based Composites

Abstract

Concrete, a composite material composed of cement, water, aggregates, and often admixtures, is the most produced human-made material in the world. This material is an indispensable element of modern societies and is used in most of today's constructed engineering structures. Concrete structures need to satisfy specific characteristics in terms of mechanical performance and long-term durability so that they can be used without serious consideration of maintenance for many decades. Therefore, methods for the production of advanced high-performance composites are actively required. Due to their composite nature, the choice of proper individual components and their interaction and compatibility play a vital role in shaping the final properties of cement-based composites. In addition, numerical approaches to modeling and evaluating a material’s characteristics and properties can also be used to accelerate the material’s development.