https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/materials/sections/structural-materials RSS Feed for Structural Materials section in the Frontiers in Materials journal | New and Recent Articles en-us Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1 2026-08-18T01:53:14.883+00:00 60 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1946019 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1946019 2026-08-17T00:00:00Z Correction Juanjuan WenYi JiangYi Peng https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1893414 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1893414 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z Original Research Yazhou WangXiangfan NiePeiwen XuCongkai ShiHaoyu YuanLi YanRubin Cui https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1909047 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1909047 2026-08-11T00:00:00Z Original Research Chao GaoJianteng Huang https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1871791 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1871791 2026-08-07T00:00:00Z Original Research Gaofeng PanYanfei ZhangTao ZhouZhongdong CuiRan TangJianhui Dong https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1887801 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1887801 2026-08-05T00:00:00Z Original Research Ke LiGuanzhe Fa steel fibers > GT; for split tensile and flexural strengths, steel fibers > NS > GT. Among these, steel fibers were the core dominant factor in enhancing the tensile and flexural properties of concrete (F-values of 1285.31 and 410.88, respectively). At the same time, NS was the dominant factor in improving compressive strength (F = 447.43), and the optimal replacement rate for graphite tailings was approximately 20%. Interaction analysis revealed significant synergistic effects between GT and NS for compressive strength, between NS and steel fibers for split tensile strength, and between GT and NS as well as NS and steel fibers for flexural strength (interaction terms P < 0.05). The comprehensive optimal mix ratio obtained through response surface model optimization was GT 21.79%, NS 1.48%, and steel fibers 1.49%. The measured 28-day compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths reached 58.43 MPa, 6.74 MPa, and 10.82 MPa, respectively. Compared to the reference group, these values increased by 38.43%, 39.54%, and 44.65%, respectively, with the relative errors between the measured values and the model predictions all controlled within 5%. SEM characterization revealed that the cement matrix in the GNS4 and GNS18 groups exhibited significantly higher densification than the reference group. The transition zone at the interface between the steel fibers and the matrix exhibited tight bonding, providing reliable mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding that effectively suppressed crack initiation and propagation.]]> https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1880919 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1880919 2026-08-03T00:00:00Z Original Research Xingmin ZhangHui LiMingfeng XuJian ZhouLudan Guo https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1899121 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1899121 2026-07-30T00:00:00Z Original Research Yanli ZhangJing LiJiao Xue https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1867691 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1867691 2026-07-29T00:00:00Z Original Research Shijun WangTeng TongWenming ZhangMeng-En YueXu Wang https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1886423 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1886423 2026-07-24T00:00:00Z Original Research Xinyu YaoGuangcheng ZhangYu LiuHongliu RongFujia Meng https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1879511 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1879511 2026-07-22T00:00:00Z Original Research Jingjing HeRan TangZhihao HeHaiwei WangXinchao ZhengFang LiuFangping Li mPCMs dosage > silica fume content. Furthermore, all factors exhibited a highly significant non-linear quadratic effect, characterized by an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease. A single-response optimization algorithm was utilized to determine the optimal mixture design, targeting the maximization of mechanical properties under a fixed printability constraint: a W/B ratio of 0.265, a silica fume content of 7.22%, and an mPCMs dosage of 2.72%. Experimental validation demonstrated that the measured 28-day compressive strength of the optimal mixture was 46.54 MPa, yielding a relative error of only 6.26% compared to the predicted value. This confirmed the high accuracy and reliability of the established quadratic regression prediction model. This study provides a reliable material foundation and scientific basis for the development of highly efficient 3D printed concrete components with integrated thermal management functionalities.]]> https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1891499 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1891499 2026-07-20T00:00:00Z Original Research Min ZhangJinhua FengDehui GuoYuting FuShuze XiaoHua YuanYunlu Hou https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1919334 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1919334 2026-07-20T00:00:00Z Editorial Jiangyu WuWeiqiang ChenHao ShiDan MaHong S. Wong https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1894197 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1894197 2026-07-16T00:00:00Z Original Research Rong NiuXu WuJingzhuo ZhaoBo HuHongtao QinJunlin Zhang 40%) caused significant degradation in mechanical and durability properties due to layer structure disintegration; compressive strength decreased by 30.9%–46.9%, flexural strength fell by 40%, and freeze-thaw resistance declined by over 10%. Drying shrinkage for all mixtures conformed to the EXPASSOC model (R2 > 0.99), exhibiting a three-stage pattern where 85% of shrinkage occurred within 60 days, followed by stabilization after 100 days. A derived cracking resistance index confirmed that SS dosages of >40% provided optimal anti-cracking performance. Fuzzy comprehensive algorithm analysis identified SS (40%–80% incorporation) as the optimal material choice. Consequently, CG requires strict limitation to ≤40%, whereas CW is permissible at ≤ 40% (excluding fine aggregates). These findings provide theoretical support for the classified resource utilization of multi-source solid wastes in highway base courses.]]> https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1904975 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1904975 2026-07-15T00:00:00Z Original Research Liqun GuoBo LiXu Chang https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1862791 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1862791 2026-07-14T00:00:00Z Original Research Juanjuan WenYi JiangYi Peng https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1698212 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1698212 2026-07-10T00:00:00Z Original Research Jinlong GuoWenjuan ZhaoTao WuShujun WangBin SunManbin YangTengfei YaoBo Li https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1869575 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1869575 2026-07-07T00:00:00Z Original Research Yong MaJiangang ZhangQingbi ZhaoShengdun ZhaoFan Li https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1858512 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1858512 2026-07-07T00:00:00Z Original Research Biao ShuChenglin DuXinxian LiWen NieHaobin CuiJia LiBo Chen 98% purity), originating from the continuous leaching of free calcium in highly alkaline shotcrete. (2) The accelerator exhibits a nonlinear regulatory effect; a 10% dosage serves as the optimal independent threshold to prevent severe calcium leaching caused by micro-defects at higher dosages. (3) For water reducers, a 5% dosage is identified as the optimal independent threshold, whereas increasing the dosage to 10% triggers a severe crystallization outbreak, indicating the highest clogging risk. (4) Fly ash demonstrates a robust linear inhibitory effect on crystallization accumulation, with a 20% dosage acting as its optimal independent threshold. Furthermore, aggressive highly mineralized water (e.g., NaHCO3-type) directly skips atmospheric CO2 diffusion, rapidly reacting with leached calcium and exponentially accelerating the clogging process. These findings shift the engineering paradigm from passive mitigation to active source interception, providing critical quantitative references for suppressing early-stage calcium leaching and laying a theoretical foundation for future multi-factor orthogonal mix design in deep-buried karst tunnels.]]> https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1872779 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1872779 2026-07-02T00:00:00Z Original Research Xin LuJingjing HuangYaogang TianXiaohui YanJing JiangChunlin YangJun Zhang https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1857441 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2026.1857441 2026-07-01T00:00:00Z Original Research Xiaoyu YuXuejuan CaoTianqiang JiangZhe WuGuilian CaoMiao He