Nanosilica and artificial intelligence in sustainable concretes: a critical review of performance, sustainability, and predictive design

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials has driven research into the use of nanosilica (nS) as an additive in concrete, due to its ability to enhance mechanical properties and reduce environmental impact. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) has established itself as a strategic tool for optimizing mix designs. This study offers a comparative analysis of recent advances in the incorporation of nanosilica and the application of AI models in sustainable concretes. A critical literature review was conducted on publications from 2019 to 2025, using databases such as Google Scholar and ScienceDirect, evaluating improvements in strength, durability, optimal dosing, and environmental impact. Results indicate that adding nanosilica in proportions ranging from 1.5% to 3% can increase compressive strength by up to 20% and significantly reduce chloride penetration. The study concludes that integrating nanotechnological additives, environmental assessment, and predictive algorithms provides an effective pathway for developing next-generation concrete. Additionally, it highlights the need to standardize dosing and dispersion methodologies, and to strengthen multi-objective computational models capable of simultaneously optimizing technical performance, sustainability, and economic feasibility within the industry.