The proposed session will focus on cementitious and concrete-based systems as a major engineering domain where failures are often driven by coupled degradation mechanisms (thermal loading, corrosion, cracking, impact/blast, fatigue, environmental exposure) and where circular economy strategies can simultaneously enhance performance and reduce environmental footprint.

The session will bring together contributions on low-carbon binders and high-performance composites (e.g., geopolymers/alkali-activated materials, UHPC/UHPFRC and hybrid cementitious composites), and on resource-efficient concrete technologies using construction & demolition waste (CDW), quarry/industrial by-products and other secondary raw materials. Emphasis will be placed on how these materials can be engineered to prevent failure under demanding actions relevant to resilient infrastructure: high temperature and fire, impact/blast and dynamic loading, durability and multi-physical degradation, and interlayer/interface integrity (including additive manufacturing / 3D printing).

A key feature of the session is the integration of testing–modelling–data: advanced experimental characterization (including full-field methods and fracture/fatigue assessment), multi-scale/multi-physics simulation, and data-driven approaches (AI/ML) for mixture optimisation, performance prediction, uncertainty quantification, and circularity/LCA-informed decision-making.

Indicative subtopics (non-exclusive):

• Geopolymers/alkali-activated binders from wastes and by-products; high-temperature behaviour and fire safety
• UHPC/UHPFRC and hybrid laminates for retrofit and extreme actions (impact/blast/fire)
• Recycled aggregates and CDW valorisation: durability, processing, and quality assurance
• 3D printing/additive manufacturing of cementitious materials: rheology, buildability, interlayer failure
• AI/ML for mix design and strength/durability prediction; LCA/CE-driven design and optimisation