Abrasion-resistant concrete is crucial for the durability and safety of hydraulic engineering structures, bridge piers, coastal embankments, and other specialized infrastructure. These structures are exposed to harsh conditions such as high-velocity water flow, sand erosion, and debris impacts. This review examines recent advancements in abrasion-resistant concrete materials, focusing on material composition, characterization methods, and abrasion damage mechanisms. It aims to provide theoretical insights and practical guidance for developing durable concrete in demanding environments.Abrasion resistance is enhanced by optimizing material composition, including supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), fiber reinforcement, wear-resistant aggregates, rubber particles, and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). SCMs such as silica fume, fly ash, and slag powder improve hydration products and densify the microstructure, significantly enhancing abrasion resistance. However, excessive silica fume can cause shrinkage cracking. Fiber reinforcement, particularly steel fibers (0.75%-1.00% by volume), improves tensile strength and abrasion resistance, with reported increases of over 20%. Wear-resistant aggregates, including iron ore and recycled glass, play a critical role, with their mechanical properties and particle size significantly influencing performance. Rubberized concrete (5%-25% rubber content) absorbs impact energy, reducing abrasion damage, though excessive rubber content may compromise strength. UHPC, with its exceptional strength and density, offers superior abrasion resistance, and further optimization of its fiber, aggregate, and cementitious components is key to its performance in complex environments.Concrete abrasion resistance is evaluated using various characterization methods that simulate different mechanisms of wear. The underwater method (ASTM C1138, DL/T 5150—2017) measures bed load impacts in high-velocity water flow. The sandblasting test, or water-borne sand jet method, simulates suspended load erosion under varying impact angles and velocities. The ring method and high-speed ring method (SL/T 352—2020) assess abrasion in low-velocity sand-laden water flow, while the rotating jet method simulates high-speed suspended load abrasion. The water-borne sand jet method combines suspended load and cavitation effects to provide a comprehensive evaluation of abrasion resistance. Recently, 3D scanning technology has been increasingly adopted to characterize surface morphology, offering precise measurements of wear depth and volume loss for detailed analysis of abrasion damage.Abrasion damage mechanisms in concrete involve bed load impact, suspended load abrasion, and cavitation erosion. Bed load impact, caused by large particles such as rocks, results in brittle failure, surface spalling, and internal microcracking, as simulated by the underwater steel ball method. Suspended load abrasion, driven by the continuous scouring of sand particles, gradually erodes the cement paste and exposes aggregates, as modeled by the sandblasting and rotating jet methods. Cavitation erosion, caused by the collapse of bubbles in high-velocity water, forms erosion pits that expand over time, as simulated by the water-borne sand jet method. In real-world environments, concrete is often subjected to combined abrasion mechanisms alongside environmental stressors such as freeze-thaw cycles, debris flow, and seawater exposure. For example, freeze-thaw cycles weaken the concrete matrix, exacerbating erosion by suspended sediments. These combined effects significantly accelerate abrasion damage, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the synergistic interactions between abrasion mechanisms and environmental factors.Summary and prospectsThis review highlights recent progress in abrasion-resistant concrete materials, emphasizing material composition, characterization methods, and damage mechanisms. It offers valuable insights for enhancing durability in harsh environments. Future research should focus on optimizing UHPC composition for specific applications, exploring the combined effects of environmental stressors on abrasion resistance, and leveraging advanced techniques such as 3D scanning for precise damage assessment. By clarifying abrasion mechanisms and improving material performance, this research will drive innovation in hydraulic engineering and coastal protection, ensuring infrastructure resilience in demanding service conditions.