Filling and nucleation are the mechanisms of modifying cement paste with nanomaterials, as investigated by previous studies, and are difficult to reflect the different effects of nanomaterials, especially on the changes of cement clinker and hydration products in the cement hydration process. In this study, the mechanisms of modifying cement paste with nano-calcium carbonate (NC), nano-graphene oxide (NG), nano-silica (NS), and nano-titanium dioxide (NT) were investigated by determining the mechanical properties of cement paste treated with nanomaterials and analysing the changes in the cement clinker (tricalcium silicate and dicalcium silicate), hydration products (portlandite and ettringite), and microstructure through many micro-test methods. The results indicate that the incorporation of nanomaterials could improve the early strength of cement paste specimens due to more consumption of cement clinker. Meanwhile, different nanomaterials promote the formation of different hydration products at early ages. C–A–S–H gel, flower-like ettringite, and C–S–H seeds are widely distributed in the cement paste with the incorporation of NC, NG, and NS, respectively. NT exhibits insignificant nucleation effect and has inhibitory effect on portlandite precipitation. This study provides key insights into the mechanism of nanomaterials from the perspective of cement hydration, which may promote the further research and application of nanomaterials in the cement and concrete industries.

Mixed recycled aggregate (MRA) is a kind of recycled aggregate containing discarded bricks and other impurities that is inferior to ordinary recycled concrete aggregate. To study the effect of MRA in concrete, specimens with 100% MRA under different water–cement ratios (W/C) of 0.50, 0.42, 0.36 and 0.30 were prepared, and the mechanical properties and microstructure were tested. Results show that compared with ordinary concrete, the compressive strength of mixed recycled aggregate concrete (MRAC) with the same W/C was reduced by more than 50% at 28 days, but the axial compression ratio was relatively high, reaching over 0.87. Affected by the high water absorption of MRA, the hydration rate of cement slowed, which was beneficial to the long-term development of the properties of MRAC. An appropriate increase in cement content could strengthen MRA and densify the pore structure of MRAC. The research results of this article prove that MRA has high utilization value and could be used to prepare MRAC with application potential using optimal gradation, which is of positive significance for promoting the consumption of construction waste.

The use of recycled mixed aggregates (RMA) in cement-stabilized materials (CSM) is an effective way to dispose of and reuse demolition waste. However, this approach faces various challenges; for example, the drying shrinkage of CSM with 100% RMA is very high, which is unfavorable for use in road engineering. In order to use a simple method to reduce the drying shrinkage of the CSM with 100% RMA and give it reliable strength, the effect of fly ash on the mechanical properties, drying shrinkage, and abrasion resistance of CSM with 100% RMA was investigated in this study, and the mechanism was examined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the addition of fly ash would decrease the drying shrinkage of CSM with 100% RMA. Moreover, when the amount of fly ash was less than 20%, the later strength increased remarkably despite the slight decrease in the early unconfined compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, compressive and splitting elastic modulus, and abrasion resistance of CSM with 100% RMA. The microstructure analysis results indicated that fly ash increased the decline range of diffraction intensity of C2S and C3S at a later age and also helped to optimize the pore structure. Research results of this article can be used to optimize the mechanical properties of CSM with 100% RMA and guide its application in road base.

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The concept of geopolymers has been widely studied since it was proposed. However, the wide range of applications of geopolymers is affected by brittleness and poor crack resistance. In this study, the mechanical properties of geopolymers with single-doped PVA fibres, single-doped carbon nanotubes, and mixed PVA fibers and carbon nanotubes were studied respectively first. It was found that PVA fibres and carbon nanotubes had a positive effect on improving the mechanical properties of geopolymers, especially bending strength and flexural strength. Moreover, the incorporation of PVA fibre could improve the damage morphology of geopolymers. Additionally, the phase analysis, structural group analysis, and strengthening mechanism were studied via scanning electron microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis, X-ray diffraction pattern characterisation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, and magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. It was found that the strengthening effect of PVA fiber to the geopolymer was primarily a physical strengthening effect, whereas the strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes to the geopolymers was both chemical and physical. Finally, based on the previous study, a multi-scale dual-fibre strengthening mechanism was proposed. Micro-nano fibre composites were used to improve microstructure via physical and chemical effects. This is helpful to improve the performance and application of geopolymers. Furthermore, it lays a preliminary theoretical foundation for engineering applications and technical improvement of geopolymers in the future.