Open research questions in Innovative concrete reinforcement materials

What the literature leaves open

• Conducting systematic quantitative tests regarding the statistical distribution of fiber orientation, three-dimensional spatial distribution characteristics of agglomerates, and micromechanical properties of the ITZ, - Using advanced techniques such as X-ray computed microtomography (X-CT) and nanoindentation for quantitative characterization of microscopic features

  Study on the Performance Enhancement Mechanism of Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Hydraulic Concrete in Ship Lock Galleries · 2026 · DOI

• The study focuses on numerical modeling and does not include experimental validation, - The analysis is limited to a specific type of structure (three-story RC building), - The fiber types and configurations considered may not be exhaustive

  Seismic response characteristics of fiber reinforced concrete · 2026 · DOI

• Experimental validation of the numerical models, - Investigation of other fiber types and configurations, - Analysis of the effect of fiber orientation on seismic behavior, - Development of more advanced numerical models to account for complex fiber-concrete interactions

  Seismic response characteristics of fiber reinforced concrete · 2026 · DOI

• further research on the multi-objective collaborative optimization of concrete performance, - investigation of the performance comparison of multiple algorithms, - exploration of the application of the proposed method in other fields

  Multi-objective design method of concrete mix ratio based on machine learning: forward prediction and reverse design · 2026 · DOI

• The existing research mainly focuses on single performance prediction, - The lack of multi-objective collaborative optimization mechanism, - The nonlinear coupling effect between cement and mineral admixtures is not well addressed

  Multi-objective design method of concrete mix ratio based on machine learning: forward prediction and reverse design · 2026 · DOI

• Investigate the effect of different types of fibers and ultrafines on the compressive strength of concrete, - Investigate the effect of different ranges of silica fume replacement on the compressive strength of concrete, - Investigate the effect of other variables on the compressive strength of concrete

  Artificial Intelligence based model of pozzolanic and non-pozzolanic micro fillers in the binary and ternary blend to produce high-performance hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete · 2026 · DOI

• The scarcity of commonly utilized mineral additives, such as furnace slag and metakaolin, in some regions. The limited understanding of the optimal dosage of fibers and ultrafines to achieve high-performance concrete. The need for alternative mineral additives with chemical inertness or low-reactivity in cementitious composites.

  Artificial Intelligence based model of pozzolanic and non-pozzolanic micro fillers in the binary and ternary blend to produce high-performance hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete · 2026 · DOI

• Subsequent studies will incorporate these surface-damaged bars into macroscopic elements, such as beam and column specimens, - Investigating the impact of the degree of surface damage on overall structural performance, - Further research is required to identify AE signals originating from noise sources

  Bond-slip response of damaged steel-basalt composite reinforcement bars in concrete · 2026 · DOI

• The current experimental scope is confined to the microscopic interfacial bond performance observed in pull-out tests with a limited sample size. The available data are insufficient to establish a definitive and convincing surface damage threshold at this stage. The practical application of AE monitoring in actual construction sites poses significant challenges due to severe environmental noise.

  Bond-slip response of damaged steel-basalt composite reinforcement bars in concrete · 2026 · DOI

• Further research could investigate the effect of different UHPC layer heights and reinforcement ratios on the crack resistance of composite beams. The development of a rational model for calculating the crack width of UHPC-NC composite beams could be explored.

  Experimental and theoretical investigation on crack resistance of UHPC- normal concrete composite beams · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of understanding of the flexural behavior of UHPC-normal concrete composite beams. The need for a rational model for calculating the crack width of UHPC-NC composite beams.

  Experimental and theoretical investigation on crack resistance of UHPC- normal concrete composite beams · 2026 · DOI

• The study identifies technical challenges, including the irregular shape and non-uniform sizes of rubber particles, which can lead to higher interparticle friction and reduced flowability. The incorporation of basalt minibars can increase the cohesion and internal resistance within the mix, affecting the concrete's workability. The paper also identifies challenges related to the mechanical performance of the concrete, including the need to improve its compressive strength, tensile strength, and ductility.

  Mechanical performance enhancement of crumb rubber concrete with basalt minibars · 2026 · DOI

• Investigating the long-term durability of BMFCRC, - Exploring the application of BMFCRC in various structural elements, - Studying the effect of different basalt fiber sizes and shapes on the mechanical performance of BMFCRC

  Mechanical performance enhancement of crumb rubber concrete with basalt minibars · 2026 · DOI

• The inherent brittleness of concrete when subjected to transient extreme dynamic loads. The lack of high-toughness concrete with superior impact resistance. The need to investigate the dynamic behavior of basalt fiber-reinforced concrete.

  Dynamic behavior of basalt fiber-reinforced concrete: from macro- to meso- to micro-scale experiments and numerical simulation · 2026 · DOI

• The difficulty in achieving a synergistic effect between BFRP rebars and short BFRP fibers. The challenge of ensuring the proper bonding between the BFRP rebars and the concrete. The need for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical behavior of BRRS samples with and without SBFs.

  Short BFRP fibers and BFRP rebars reinforcements to tailor mechanical performances of shield tunnel segments and failure analyses · 2026 · DOI

• Investigate the long-term durability of the BFRP rebars, - Study the effect of different environmental conditions on the BFRP rebars, - Explore the use of BFRP rebars in other structural applications

  Short BFRP fibers and BFRP rebars reinforcements to tailor mechanical performances of shield tunnel segments and failure analyses · 2026 · DOI

• Investigating the effect of other types of fibers on cracking resistance, - Studying the long-term performance of FRC with different fibers

  Investigation and evaluation on early-age cracking resistance of high performance concrete reinforced with non-metallic fiber · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of understanding of the early-age cracking resistance of high performance concrete reinforced with non-metallic fibers. The need to evaluate the effect of different fiber types on the cracking resistance of high performance concrete.

  Investigation and evaluation on early-age cracking resistance of high performance concrete reinforced with non-metallic fiber · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of the impact resistance of steam-cured rubber concrete. There is a lack of research on the dynamic mechanical performance of steam-cured concrete. The study aims to address this gap by investigating the impact resistance of steam-cured rubber concrete.

  Investigation on the impact resistance of steam-cured (modified) rubber concrete: experiment and simulations · 2026 · DOI

• Investigating the long-term effects of the composites, - Studying the use of different types of CDW aggregates in epoxy resin-based composites, - Examining the potential applications of the composites in various construction projects

  Valorization of construction and demolition waste in high-performance epoxy composites for sustainable construction · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of sustainable concrete mixtures that provide energy-absorption capacity and material circularity. The need for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of recycled PET particles and plastic fiber reinforcement on the properties of self-compacting concrete.

  Enhancing impact resistance of self-compacting concrete using recycled PET fibers and metallized plastic fibers: an integrated experimental and analytical investigation · 2026 · DOI

• The reduction in stiffness and strength associated with rubber aggregate incorporation. The potential for debonding cracks to affect the strength and failure mode of reinforced concrete beams. The need to understand the structural benefits of high-rubber-content rubberized concrete in different reinforcement regimes.

  Experimental Investigations on the Flexural Responses of Reinforced Rubberized Concrete Beams with High Rubber Contents and Longitudinal Reinforcement Ratios · 2026 · DOI

• Enhancing the damping capacity of cement-based materials significantly has remained a challenge. Prior work has not fully addressed this issue.

  The effects of asphalt emulsion and rubber fibers on the damping capacity of cement mortar: experiment and theory · 2026 · DOI

• Existing studies conflate two accuracy dimensions: target prediction accuracy, validatable against known labels, and feature importance accuracy, which lacks validation benchmarks.

  A leave‐top‐feature‐out framework for validating feature importance reliability in concrete compressive strength modeling · 2026 · DOI

• This study also highlights that many previous works are limited by the closed science practices, stemming from nondisclosure of datasets and inaccessible source code, which restricts research reproducibility.

  Discrepancies Between Reported and Actual Predictive Performance of Machine-Learning Models for Concrete Compressive Strength: A Validation Study Using Experimental Data · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Innovative concrete reinforcement materials

• Ultra-high-strength engineered/strain-hardening cementitious composites (ECC/SHCC): Material design and effect of fiber hybridization · Cement and Concrete Composites · 2022 · 317 citations
• Basalt fiber-reinforced foam concrete containing silica fume: An experimental study · Construction and Building Materials · 2022 · 217 citations
• Innovative modeling techniques including MEP, ANN and FQ to forecast the compressive strength of geopolymer concrete modified with nanoparticles · Neural Computing and Applications · 2023 · 204 citations
• Hybrid machine learning model and Shapley additive explanations for compressive strength of sustainable concrete · Construction and Building Materials · 2022 · 191 citations
• Durability of concrete coupled with life cycle assessment: Review and perspective · Cement and Concrete Composites · 2023 · 180 citations
• Splitting tensile strength of basalt fiber reinforced coral aggregate concrete: Optimized XGBoost models and experimental validation · Construction and Building Materials · 2024 · 157 citations
• Application of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete in Bridge Engineering: Current Status, Limitations, Challenges, and Future Prospects · Buildings · 2023 · 144 citations
• Relationship between Fracture Surface Roughness and Fracture Behavior of Cement Paste and Mortar · Journal of the American Ceramic Society · 1993 · 141 citations
• Microtensile bond strength testing of luting cements to prefabricated CAD/CAM ceramic and composite blocks · Dental Materials · 2003 · 127 citations
• Lightweight ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with expanded glass aggregate: Development, characterization, and life-cycle assessment · Construction and Building Materials · 2023 · 127 citations

Most recent work

• Study on the flexural performance of 4D steel fiber-reinforced concrete under freeze-thaw cycles · Construction and Building Materials · 2026
• Dynamic mechanical properties and a predictive DIF model of seawater-coral sand ECC: Effects of water-to-binder and sand-to-binder ratios · Construction and Building Materials · 2026
• Multi-objective design method of concrete mix ratio based on machine learning: forward prediction and reverse design · Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering · 2026
• Concrete Material Variability and Machine Learning Model Performance: A Comprehensive Review · Buildings · 2026
• Dynamic compressive behavior of ECC with PET fine aggregate: Experimental investigation and constitutive modeling · Construction and Building Materials · 2026
• Experimental investigation and explainable artificial intelligence-based modeling of punching shear behavior in self-compacting concrete flat-slabs with low hybrid fiber content · Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence · 2026
• Hybrid Explainable Machine Learning Models with Metaheuristic Optimization for Performance Prediction of Self-Compacting Concrete · Buildings · 2026
• Predicting the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths of ultra-high-performance concrete using super learner models · Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Structures and Buildings · 2026
• Energy dissipation and stiffness reduction of geopolymer concrete under cyclic loading · Innovative Infrastructure Solutions · 2026
• Integrating micro-and macro-mechanical insight of Engineered/Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (ECC/SHCC) incorporating solid-waste-derived binder · Construction and Building Materials · 2026

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