Next-Generation Cementitious Materials for Extreme and Aggressive Environments

Concrete structures in extreme and aggressive environments, such as marine, industrial, arid, cold, and high-temperature regions, face accelerated deterioration due to chemical attack, freeze-thaw cycles, chloride ingress, thermal stresses, and carbonation, etc. Traditional portland cement-based materials often exhibit limited durability under such conditions, leading to high maintenance costs and reduced service life. Recent advances in cement chemistry and concrete technology have focused on developing next-generation cementitious materials, including low-clinker binders, blended cements with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and alkali-activated systems, to improve performance and sustainability. These materials not only enhance durability but also reduce carbon emissions associated with cement production. Understanding the hydration mechanisms, microstructure evolution, and long-term performance of these materials under extreme environments is critical for designing resilient and sustainable concrete infrastructure.

The goal of this Research Topic is to advance the development and understanding of next-generation cementitious materials and concrete technologies that can perform reliably in extreme and aggressive environments while promoting sustainability. These include chemical stress environments (marine and coastal exposure, sulfates, acids, alkalis, or other aggressive chemicals), physical and mechanical stress environments (high mechanical or abrasive loads, flooding, and wetting-drying cycles), thermal stress environments (cold climates with freeze-thaw cycles, and hot or arid regions), and other challenging conditions such as radiation exposure. Achieving this objective requires innovative material systems with improved durability, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced resistance to complex physical and chemical stresses. Recent advances in material design, hydration chemistry, microstructure, and curing technologies have opened new opportunities to optimize the performance of cementitious materials under challenging conditions. By integrating fundamental research, advanced characterization, modeling approaches, and practical engineering applications, this Research Topic aims to identify effective material design strategies and technological solutions that support the development of resilient, durable, and low-carbon concrete infrastructure for future construction.

This Research Topic focuses on the development, characterization, and application of next-generation cementitious materials and concrete technologies specifically designed for extreme and aggressive environments, including marine and coastal exposure, sulfates, acids, alkalis, freeze-thaw cycles, high temperatures, high mechanical loads, flooding, radiation, and other challenging conditions. Contributions may address, but are not limited to:

(i) low-clinker and sustainable cementitious systems for enhanced durability,

(ii) high-performance and durable concrete for extreme environments

(iii) hydration mechanisms, microstructure evolution, and phase assemblages under harsh conditions,

(iv) durability and performance under chemical, thermal, and mechanical stress,

(v) self-healing and smart cementitious materials,

(vi) innovative curing and processing techniques, and

(vii) modeling and prediction of long-term behavior.

Manuscripts may include original research, review articles, or case studies that advance fundamental understanding, develop experimental and analytical methodologies, and propose strategies for designing durable, resilient, and low-carbon concrete infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme and aggressive environmental conditions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Advanced cementitious materials, Concrete technologies, Durability in aggressive environments, Chemical attacks, Mechanical impacts, Thermal and temperature effects, Corrosion and chloride ingress, Alkali-activated materials, Hydration mechanisms, Microstructure

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.