Development, Challenges and Prospects of Modern Concrete in Civil Engineering

Abstract

This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the development trajectory, technical characteristics, application status, challenges encountered and future development trends of modern concrete in the field of civil engineering. Modern concrete, mainly composed of ready-mixed concrete, exhibits prominent characteristics such as strong homogeneity with the help of high-efficiency water reducers and mineral admixtures. With the continuous rise in engineering demands, various new types of concrete, such as high-performance concrete, self-healing concrete, and ultra-high-performance concrete, have emerged and been widely applied in different engineering scenarios. Self-healing concrete was proposed to address the problem of easy cracking in traditional concrete, achieving autonomous crack repair through mechanisms such as microbial repair and capsule repair. However, concrete technology faces challenges in terms of environment, durability, cost, and construction difficulty during its development. To achieve sustainable development goals, the industry is making efforts through various approaches such as developing green concrete and high-performance concrete. Looking ahead, concrete technology will continue to innovate in the directions of high performance and multi-functionality, green and low carbon, self-healing and intelligence, 3D printing and digitalization, nano-technology modification, resource recycling, and intelligent construction and maintenance. Modern concrete technology has greatly promoted the progress of civil engineering. Despite numerous challenges, with the continuous emergence of new technologies, it will continue to play a core role in the field of civil engineering, helping the industry move steadily towards a more efficient, intelligent and sustainable direction.