The paper describes experimental and numerical results of concrete fracture under quasi-static uniaxial compression. Experimental uniaxial compression tests were performed on concrete cubic specimens. Fracture in concrete was detected at the aggregate level by means of three non-destructive methods: three-dimensional X-ray microcomputed tomography, two-dimensional scanning electron microscope and manual two-dimensional digital microscope. The discrete element method was used to directly simulate experiments. Concrete was modelled as a random heterogeneous four-phase material composed of aggregate particles, cement matrix, interfacial transitional zones and macrovoids based on experimental images. Two- and three-dimensional analyses were carried out. In two-dimensional analyses, the real aggregate shape was created by means of clusters of spheres. In three-dimensional calculations, spheres were solely used. A satisfactory agreement between numerical and experimental results was achieved in two-dimensional analyses. The model was capable of accurately predicting complex crack paths and the corresponding stress–strain responses observed in experiments.

The paper describes experimental and numerical results of quasi-static splitting tensile tests on concrete specimens at meso-scale level. The loading strip was made of plywood or steel. Fracture in concrete was detected at the aggregate level by means of three nondestructive methods: 3D x-ray micro-computed tomography, 2D scanning electron microscope and manual 2D digital microscope. The discrete element method was used to directly simulate experiments at the meso-scale. Concrete was modelled as a random heterogeneous 4-phase material composed of aggregate particles, cement matrix, interfacial transitional zones and macro-voids based on micro-tomographic images. Two-dimensional calculations with real concrete microstructure were carried out. A satisfactory agreement between numerical and experimental results was achieved. The evolution of contact normal forces, coordination number, broken contacts, grain rotations and crack displacements was also investigated. In addition, each energy component was calculated and analyzed at a different stress-displacement stage.

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The paper describes the preparation and characterization of rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate (PUR-PIR) foams obtained with biopolyol synthesized in the process of liquefaction of biomass from the Baltic Sea. The obtained foams differed in the content of biopolyol in polyol mixture (0–30 wt%) and the isocyanate index (IISO = 200, 250, and 300). The prepared foams were characterized in terms of processing parameters (processing times, synthesis temperature), physical (sol fraction content, apparent density) and chemical structure (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), microstructure (computer microtomography), as well as mechanical (compressive strength, dynamic mechanical analysis), and thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis, thermal conductivity coefficient). The influence of biopolyol and IISO content on the above properties was determined. The addition of up to 30 wt% of biopolyol increased the reactivity of the polyol mixture, and the obtained foams showed enhanced mechanical, thermal, and insulating properties compared to foams prepared solely with petrochemical polyol. The addition of up to 30 wt% of biopolyol did not significantly affect the chemical structure and average cell size. With the increase in IISO, a slight decrease in processing times and mechanical properties was observed. As expected, foams with higher IISO exhibited a higher relative concentration of polyisocyanurate groups in their chemical structure, which was confirmed using principal component analysis (PCA).

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The paper describes numerical meso-scale results of a size effect on strength, brittleness and fracture in brittle materials like concrete. The discrete element method (DEM) was used to simulate the size effect during quasi-static splitting tension with the experimental-based meso-structure. The two-dimensional (2D) calculations were carried out on concrete cylindrical specimens with two diameters wherein two different failure modes occurred (quasi-brittle and very brittle with the snap-back instability). Concrete was modelled as a random heterogeneous 4-phase material composed of aggregate particles, cement matrix, interfacial transitional zones and macro-voids, based on x-ray micro-CT-images of the real concrete meso-structure. Attention was paid to the effect of the different specimen diameter on both the strength, brittleness and fracture pattern. Each internal energy component was analyzed in the fracture process zone and beyond it, and compared for the different post-peak behaviour of concrete. The evolutions of the number of broken contacts, coordination number, crack displacements and normal contact forces were also shown. Of specific interest was the fracture initiation and formation of two different failure modes. Next, the 2D DEM results of a size effect for 4 different specimen diameters were directly compared with corresponding experiments from the research literature. The experimental size effect was realistically reproduced in numerical calculations, i.e. the concrete strength and ductility decreased with increasing concrete specimen diameter. The calculated decreasing strength approached an asymptote with increasing cylindrical specimen diameter within the considered specimen size range.

In this paper, novel rigid polyurethane foams modified with Baltic Sea biomass were compared with traditional petro-based polyurethane foam as reference sample. A special attention was focused on complex studies of microstructure, which was visualized and measured in 3D with high-resolution microcomputed tomography (microCT) and, as commonly applied for this purpose, scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The impact of pore volume, area, shape and orientation on appearance density and thermal insulation properties of polyurethane foams was determined. The results presented in the paper confirm that microcomputed tomography is a useful tool for relatively quick estimation of polyurethane foams’ microstructure, what is crucial especially in the case of thermal insulation materials.

Buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption annually in Europe, along with the respective greenhouse gas emissions. To mitigate these impacts, intensive research is ongoing in the sector of the Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEBs). However, as it is expected that the operational energy of future buildings becomes greener and more efficient, impacts related to the embodied energy of building materials becomes of more significance. Thus, choices on building materials are of crucial importance as they affect the energy performance of the building envelope and its environmental impacts. The objective of this study was to implement preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on new advanced building materials, with the final scope to achieve lower embodied carbon in NZEBs. The materials examined are concretes and aerogels for wall façades. Design of sustainable advanced materials and building envelope components is expected to improve the overall energy performance of buildings, including NZEBs. The study findings provide clear evidence on the necessity for further research on the topic, as lack of embodied impacts’ data of novel materials is presented in literature and adds to the discussion around NZEBs.