NEWS

The following six papers have been published:

Zheng Fang, Phyo Thant Htein, Xiaohong Zhu, Xuyan Shen, Yuefeng Ma, Yuanliang Ren, Lei Liu, Yuya Sakai: Ethanol-mediated alkali activation of low-grade sand for sustainable construction materials, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 234, 109057, 2026
This study developed a cement-free construction material (GLAS) by reacting low-grade sand in an ethanol–alkali environment. The results demonstrated that ethanol controls the formation of aluminosilicate gel, which binds sand particles together and enables the material to achieve practical strength.

Shiyuan Li, Zequan Xu, Sothyrak Rath, Zheng Fang, Yuya Sakai: Hyperspectral imaging-based insights into water penetration resistance of blast furnace slag-blended cementitious materials and its relation to microstructure, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 207, 108296, 2026
This study visualized moisture penetration into cementitious materials using hyperspectral imaging and investigated its relationship with pore structure. The results showed that hyperspectral cameras can be used to evaluate moisture distribution in blast furnace slag-blended cementitious materials non-destructively and with high spatial resolution.

Sothyrak Rath, Shunsei Tanaka, and Yuya Sakai: Estimation of Concrete Compressive Strength Using the Drilling Powder Method, ASCE’s Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 28, No. 7, 04026184, 2026
This study proposed a method for estimating the compressive strength of concrete by analyzing drilling powder generated during coring or drilling operations. The method demonstrated the potential to evaluate concrete strength while minimizing damage to existing structures.

Zongxuan Shao, Yuya Sakai: Mechanistic characterization of compacted polyethylene-concrete composites, Cement and Concrete Composites, 106626, 2026
This study produced composite materials by hot-pressing waste concrete powder and polyethylene and investigated their strength development mechanisms. The results showed that molten polyethylene acts as a binder between particles and that changes in the crystalline structure of polyethylene contribute to the material’s performance.

Sothyrak Rath, Zheng Fang, Yuya Sakai: Ambient drying of partially water-penetrated concrete: chemical phase and pore structure changes and drying behaviour under hyperspectral imaging observation, Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol. 170, 106568, 2026
This study continuously monitored the drying process of partially water-saturated concrete using hyperspectral imaging and investigated the relationship between moisture movement and changes in pore structure. Moisture transport during drying was discussed from the perspectives of material composition and pore structure.

Zongxuan Shao, Yuya Sakai: Low-carbon construction material from waste concrete powder through compaction and carbonation: Effect of powder size, Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 514, 145555, 2026
This study investigated a method for producing low-carbon construction materials by carbonating compacted waste concrete powder. The results showed that powder particle size significantly affects both strength development and CO₂ sequestration performance, with finer powders yielding higher-performance materials.