Abstract Submission for Participants

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Theme: Advancing Knowledge, Standards, and Solutions for Sulfide-Bearing Aggregates

Abstract Submission Deadline: August 9th, 2025

Notification of Acceptance: September 15th, 2025
Extended Abstract Due: December 15th, 2025
Conference Dates: May 13th and 14th, 2026
Location: Mystic Hilton, Connecticut, USA

We invite researchers, engineers, homeowners, and policy stakeholders to submit abstracts for the 2026 International Conference on Iron Sulfide Reactions in Concrete. Building on the success of last year’s event, next year’s conference continues to advance our collective understanding of sulfide-induced deterioration, with expanded focus on standardization, mitigation, sustainability, and risk communication across both infrastructure and residential sectors. We welcome contributions that present new research, field investigations, case studies, or industry perspectives across the concrete life cycle from source identification and testing to repair, regulation, and financial impact.

Conference Topics of Interest Include (but are not limited to):

• Standardization of Testing Protocols for Sulfide-Bearing Aggregates and Concrete
  • Progress toward unified testing standards (ASTM, CSA, etc.), inter-laboratory comparisons, and validation strategies.
• Mitigation and Repair Strategies for Concrete Affected by Iron Sulfide Reactions
  • Techniques and case studies involving structural repair, sealing, crack arrest, and innovative retrofit approaches.
• Reaction Kinetics of Iron Sulfide Oxidation and Secondary Product Formation
  • Experimental and modeling studies on oxidation rates, damage progression, and environmental triggers.
• Sustainable Concrete Solutions for Sulfide-Risk Zones
  • Use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), alternative aggregates, and low-carbon technologies in affected regions.
• Gaps in Residential Construction Standards: Building Failures and the Path to Higher Codes
  • Investigations into failures, lack of enforcement, and proposals for policy change or code enhancement.
• The Role of Insurance and Real Estate Industries in Managing Sulfide-Aggregate Risks
  • Perspectives from underwriters, brokers, adjusters, and real estate professionals on disclosure, valuation, and liability.
• Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) of Sulfide-Affected Structures
  • Quantifying the long-term environmental and economic costs of degradation, remediation, and replacement.
• Advanced Analytical Tools for Detecting and Characterizing Iron Sulfide Minerals in Aggregates
  • SEM/EDS workflows, hyperspectral imaging, portable field kits, and machine learning–enabled mineral identification.
• Exposure Conditions, Environmental Influences, and Accelerated Aging of Sulfide-Bearing Concrete
  • Role of climate, groundwater, carbonation, freeze-thaw cycles in triggering and accelerating reactions.
• Field Case Studies: Structural Damage, Legal Disputes, and Long-Term Monitoring of Sulfide-Affected Homes
  • Real-world investigations, forensic engineering findings, monitoring data, and outcomes of mitigation efforts.
• Risk Mapping and Aggregate Source Tracking for Sulfide-Bearing Materials
  • Geological and GIS-based mapping, quarry screening tools, and cross-border coordination efforts.
• Ongoing Research: Concrete-Scale Reactivity Tests and Performance Validation Studies
  • Laboratory and field-based experiments examining concrete behavior under realistic exposure and loading scenarios.

Submission Guidelines:

• Abstracts should be 300–1000 words, clearly outlining objectives, methodology, results (if applicable), and relevance to the conference themes.
• Please include title, author(s) with affiliations, and the contact information of the corresponding author.
• Submit abstracts here: ICISR 2026 Abstract Submission.

Please download and use the abstract template below when writing your abstract: