Toward Low-Carbon and Sustainable Concrete: A Critical Review of Traditional and Emerging Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s13369-026-11680-6
- Dergi Adı: Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, zbMATH, Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Artificial ıntelligence in construction, Environmental ımpact reduction, Life cycle assessment, Supplementary cementitious materials, Sustainable concrete
- Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The building sector significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, prompting immediate investigation into sustainable materials and methodologies. This analysis examines the substantial influence of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) on the production of environmentally friendly, high-performance concrete. This article discusses different forms of SCMs, activation techniques, key performance metrics, and the use of digital technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time sensing. The study highlights current obstacles, including the limited availability of standardized long-term field data and the nascent development of AI-enhanced optimization tools. Regional supply limitations underscore the need for alternative supply-chain sources beyond traditional materials, necessitating tailored treatment and mix designs to address compositional heterogeneity. Laboratory findings demonstrate improved mechanical and durability characteristics of SCM-containing concretes; however, the absence of extensive real-world validation limits industrial use. The review summarizes recent life cycle assessment (LCA) studies demonstrating that integrating SCMs can substantially reduce environmental impacts, particularly global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, and cumulative energy demand. The advantages are substantially affected by the distances involved in supply-chain management, sourcing, processing, and transportation. Future research must focus on developing strong regional standards, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing AI-driven predictive platforms, and incorporating LCA with durability and field performance data to accelerate the shift to low-carbon, high-performance concrete. Investigations at micro- and nanoscales will enhance understanding of SCM hydration and longevity. These methods will promote sustainable concrete production in alignment with circular economy concepts and climate goals. This study presents a critical review rather than a systematic meta-analysis; therefore, the quantitative ranges synthesized from the literature should be interpreted with consideration of local material characteristics, mixture proportions, and testing conditions.