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ABSTRACTMany critical concreting activities require the determination of the in-place concrete strength. It can be costly to wait too long to execute these activities, but acting too early can have a negative impact on structural performance. Conventional moulded concrete cylinders and alternative strength assessment methods such as the maturity method are commonly used to assess concrete’s in-place strength. This study is focused on a special case when the maturity method is applied for evaluating concrete strength in cold weather at an early age. Specifically, the study proposes an alternative method for calibrating the activation energy, an input for the maturity method. Concretes cured at two different temperatures are used to calibrate the activation energy. The maturity method based on this activation energy predicted the cold weather concrete’s compressive strength satisfactorily. It was also found that for a successful application of the proposed activation energy calibration, the two temperatures should represent the expected minimum and maximum temperature at the site. Furthermore, the results showed that the maturity method based on the proposed activation energy calibration method performed better than the conventional cylinder method.

ABSTRACT Bond plays a key role in the performance of reinforced concrete structures. Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bar and alkali activated cement (AAC) concrete are promising alternative construction [...]

Masonry units have been fundamental to building construction for over 6000 years, making them one of the oldest and most widely used materials in the industry. However, their production using ordinary Portland cement has significant environmental impacts, including high carbon dioxide emissions and depletion of natural resources. This highlights the need for more sustainable alternatives. One promising option is the use of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste in masonry unit manufacturing. This paper investigates the use of chipped waste timber as aggregates, bound together with geopolymer cement made from industrial by-products such as fly ash and slag. The result is a new type of masonry units, referred to as wood geopolymer masonry units (WGMUs), which were evaluated against established standards and compared with conventional masonry units (CMUs). The innovative WGMUs demonstrated improved ductility and reduced density compared to CMUs, making them easier to handle and lighter in construction. They also have a distinctive, rustic texture and consistent dimensions that meet Australian standards. Although WGMUs exhibited higher water absorption and drying contraction due to their wood content, these characteristics generally remain within acceptable limits, supporting their potential as eco-friendly construction materials.