Advanced smart concrete - A review of current progress, benefits and challenges

Concrete is the second most globally consumed material in the world after water and the most used construction material. Yet, its benefits are masked with many ecological setbacks through the way it is produced, transported, or used. Concrete occurs in a brittle state characterized by low tensile strength, weak resistance to crack formation, and strain properties. Recent studies have focused on improving concrete properties by integrating it with innovative solutions such as fibers, admixtures, and supplementary cementitious components. The infrastructure of modern structures demands components with greater durability, and higher mechanical strength. This solution can only be achieved through the addition of nanomaterials to cement-based products, thus, enhancing their mechanical features. Examples of nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nano-ferric oxide (nano - Fe₂O₃), and graphene oxide. Nanomaterials can be added to cement with the addition of other reinforcements such as glass, steel fibers, fly ash and rice hull powder. With optimum dosages, the compressive, tensile, and flexural strength of cement-based materials, workability and water absorption are improved. The use of nanomaterials enhances the performance and life cycle of concrete structures. This study looks at some of the recent concrete improvisations, analyzing them on the spectrum of technical performance, durability, ecological sustainability, and economic benefits.