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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 17111

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Prof. Dr. Marian Drusa

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia
Interests: foundation engineering, numerical modelling in geotechnics; foamed concrete applications; reinforced soil structures by geosynthetics; in-situ geotechnical testing
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Dr. Jaroslaw Rybak

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wyb, 50-370 Wyspianskiego 27, Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: geotechnical engineering; civil engineering; piles foundation; deep excavations; soil improvement technologies; reuse of waste material; sustainable geotechnics
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Prof. Dr. Andrea Segalini

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Department of Engineering and Architecture, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 43121 Parma, Italy
Interests: early warning systems; geotechnical monitoring; tunnel deformation and stresses; rock mechanics; artificial Intelligence; data mining and analysis; data calibration and validation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, we have been confronted with challenges in building construction technologies which are quite different from standard practice. These are mainly related to the possible reconstruction or revitalization of old buildings in industrial zones with the use of a high percentage of recycled materials, as well as an evaluation of old structures and their foundations due to certain limitations. This means that testing and surveying are more complicated in areas of existing buildings and that engineers must improve upon standard construction practises on the green yards. Therefore, advanced technologies and new construction materials have been introduced to solve this issue. The first section of research outputs collected in this Special Issue will focus on works related to piling, injection, and special foundation technologies where the design, realization, and testing of geotechnical structures should be combined into one procedure. The second one will focus on new materials and structures for pavement design, the design of resilient and parking zones, antivibration layers, and subbase layers using innovative materials such as reinforced foamed concrete.

The proposed Special Issue will gather contributions of authors with similar research interests, which are fully compatible with the European Green Deal strategy, where renovation and reconstruction can make buildings more energy-efficient and adaptable to climate changes.

Prof. Dr. Marian Drusa
Dr. Jaroslaw Rybak
Prof. Dr. Andrea Segalini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

piles and injection technology
the design and issues of energy piles
the testing and design of piles
foundation reconstruction
sustainable pavement materials
reinforced foamed concrete
foamed concrete applications
water retention layers
foamed concrete sub-base structures

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Related Special Issue

Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials—2nd Edition in Buildings (1 article)

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 12116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Design Criteria for Long, Large-Diameter Bored Piles in Near-Shore Interbedded Geomaterials: Insights from Static and Dynamic Test Analysis

by Nagwa Elsakhawy, Eslam Ibrahim, Khalid M. Elzahaby and Marwa Nabil

Buildings 2024, 14(8), 2268; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082268 - 23 Jul 2024

Viewed by 742

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of long, large-diameter bored piles’ behavior under static and dynamic load tests for a megaproject located in El Alamein, on the northern shoreline of Egypt. Site investigations depict an abundance of limestone fragments and weak argillaceous limestone interlaid with gravelly, silty sands and silty, gravelly clay layers. These layers are classified as intermediate geomaterials, IGMs, and soil layers. The project consists of high-rise buildings founded on long bored piles of 1200 mm and 800 mm in diameter. Forty-four (44) static and dynamic compression load tests were performed in this study. During the pile testing, it was recognized that the pile load–settlement behavior is very conservative. Settlement did not exceed 1.6% of the pile diameter at twice the design load. This indicates that the available design manual does not provide reasonable parameters for IGM layers. The study was performed to investigate the efficiency of different approaches for determining the design load of bored piles in IGMs. These approaches are statistical, predictions from static pile load tests, numerical, and dynamic wave analysis via a case pile wave analysis program, CAPWAP, a method that calculates friction stresses along the pile shaft. The predicted ultimate capacities range from 5.5 to 10.0 times the pile design capacity. Settlement analysis indicates that the large-diameter pile behaves as a friction pile. The dynamic pile load test results were calibrated relative to the static pile load test. The dynamic load test could be used to validate the pile capacity. Settlement from the dynamic load test has been shown to be about 25% higher than that from the static load test. This can be attributed to the possible development of high pore water pressure in cohesive IGMs. The case study analysis and the parametric study indicate that AASHTO LRFD is conservative in estimating skin friction, tip, and load test resistance factors in IGMs. A new load–settlement response equation for 600 mm to 2000 mm diameter piles and new recommendations for resistance factors

φ

_qp,

φ

_qs, and

φ

_load were proposed to be 0.65, 0.70, and 0.80, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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17 pages, 8662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Characteristics of Jacks Used to Rectify Tilted Buildings

by Krzysztof Gromysz, Mateusz Smolana and Marian Drusa

Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1581; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061581 - 30 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 523

Abstract

One method of rectifying tilted buildings is by lifting them unevenly using hydraulic jacks. These jacks are loaded both monotonically and cyclically during the rectification process. It has been shown that the change in jack length is the sum of the change in the piston slide out and the change in the jack’s cylinder length, which is supported by a parallelepiped element. Laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the piston slide out and the change in the jack’s cylinder length under both monotonically and cyclically loaded conditions. The results indicated that the piston slide out forms a hysteresis loop. In contrast, the change in the jack’s cylinder length does not exhibit a hysteresis loop and is a non-linear function of the load. A structural model of the jack was proposed, consisting of three components: a linearly elastic component connected in parallel to the component where the frictional force occurs, and a component with non-linear elastic characteristics connected in series with them. Displacements of the linear elastic component, characterized by a constant stiffness, occur as long as the external load exceeds the internal frictional force. The value of the frictional force in this model increases with the load. The stiffness of the non-linear elastic component increases proportionally to the load. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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20 pages, 7788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Pile-Supported Embankments for Loose Sandy Soils

by Rashad Alsirawan, Ammar Alnmr and Edina Koch

Buildings 2023, 13(9), 2179; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13092179 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1563

Abstract

This research focuses on advancing the geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankment technology over loose sandy soil. A small-scale laboratory model supported by floating piles and a geotextile layer was constructed, and a numerical model was validated against laboratory measurements. This study aims to achieve a more uniform distribution of the load over all piles of the system via a parametric study that analyzes the influence of embankment fill material, horizontal reinforcement scenarios, pile cap shape, and pile type. The results demonstrate that using embankment fill with high cohesion and internal friction properties leads to a significant reduction of 46% and 37% in maximum settlements, respectively, and similarly, results in a noteworthy reduction of 48% and 50% in differential settlements. The incorporation of two geotextile layers contributes to a reduction of up to 30% in maximum settlement. The utilization of plus-shaped caps in small areas, with an area equal to three times the cross-sectional area of the pile, has been substantiated as the preeminent approach for the reduction of settlements. Piles with caps also present better behavior regarding differential settlements compared to longer piles and piles with bigger diameters under the same volume condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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21 pages, 6690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Static Modulus of Deformation of Uncemented Layers of the Railway Substructure—Comparison of Values and Determination of Correlation Dependence According to the Test Procedure of the Slovak Railways and Deutsche Bahn A.G.

by Libor Ižvolt, Peter Dobeš, Daniel Papán and Martin Mečár

Buildings 2023, 13(8), 2016; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082016 - 8 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1023

Abstract

The paper focuses on the analysis of the values of the static modulus of deformation obtained by the application of the test procedure specified in the methodology for the diagnostics of the sub-ballast layers used for German railways (DIN 18 134) and the Railways of the Slovak Republic (Regulation TS4). The purpose of the study was to determine the correlation between the measured values of the static modulus of deformation according to the above-mentioned methodologies based on a series of experimental measurements on an experimental field built at a scale of 1:1. It also aimed to develop a numerical model characterising the behaviour of the loaded environment during the experimental measurements using the finite element method, which can subsequently be used for the design of the structural composition of the sub-ballast layers. For the purpose of the experimental measurements, a sub-ballast layer of 0/31.5 mm crushed aggregate of different design thicknesses was applied to the sub-ballast layers. A polynomial dependence with a high value of the reliability coefficient can be found between the results of the static modulus of deformation obtained using the mentioned measurement methodologies during the quality inspection of the implemented construction works. This dependence is valid for the specific boundary conditions of the experimental measurements performed (subsoil of clay with gravel admixture and the sub-ballast crushed aggregate layer of 0/31.5 mm dolomitic gravel). In the future, establishing correlation dependencies for other boundary conditions and structural material compositions can be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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22 pages, 3248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bending Analysis of Stepped Rectangular Plates Resting on an Elastic Half-Space Foundation

by Jian Wu, Jinpeng Zhang and Xue Li

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071671 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2985

Abstract

In this paper, the bending behavior of rectangular plates with stepped thickness resting on an elastic half-space foundation is investigated through an analytic method. Combined with the bending theory of the rectangular thin and moderately thick plate, the stepped rectangular plate is divided into upper and lower plates, and the Fourier series is used to obtain the analytical solution of the deflection of the plate and the interaction force between the plate and foundation. The influence of the elastic modulus of the plate, plate theory, and the dimension of the plate on the deflection of the stepped rectangular plate is also discussed. The results show that the analytical solution is basically the same as the existing research results, and it is also verified by the analysis results of the models established by ABAQUS software. The deflection at the center of the stepped rectangular plate increases with the increase of the elastic modulus of the upper plate and the decrease of the side length of the upper plate, while the plate theory has little effect on the deflection of the plate. This method not only overcomes some of the disadvantages of numerical methods but also eliminates the assumptions of the Winkler foundation model and the two-parameter foundation model, thus obtaining a more reasonable and accurate bending performance of the stepped rectangular plate resting on the elastic half-space foundation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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20 pages, 2874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interface Shear Strength Behavior of Cement-Treated Soil under Consolidated Drained Conditions

by Thanh Tu Nguyen, Minh Duc Nguyen, Tong Nguyen and Thanh Chien Phan

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1626; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071626 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1856

Abstract

This paper presents a series of laboratory tests to determine the shear strength and interface shear strength of cement-treated silty soil under consolidated and drained conditions. The test variables include the effective normal stress, cement content, and curing period. Experimental results indicated that the effective shear strength and interface shear strength of cement-treated soil specimens increased significantly as the cement content increased. After 28 days, the average shear strength ratio increased from 1.28 to 2.4, and the average interface efficiency factor improved from 1.15 to 1.55 as the cement content increased from 3% to 10%. It resulted from an increase in grain size and the fraction of sand-sized particles in the treated soils, approximately in two-time increments for the specimens treated with 10% cement content after 28 days of curing. In addition, the peak and residual values of the shear strength and interface shear strength of the cement-treated soil specimens were determined to assess their brittle behavior under high shear deformation. Last, two new empirical models are introduced herein. The first power equation is to predict the shear strength ratio of cement-treated soil at 28 days of curing using the soil-water/cement content ratio. The other proposed model is useful for assessing the rate of shear strength and interface shear development of cement-treated soil specimens within 56 days of curing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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16 pages, 13624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of the Prestressing Level of the Fully Threaded Anchor Bar on the Corrosion Rate

by Michal Zahuranec, Peter Koteš and Jakub Kraľovanec

Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1592; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071592 - 23 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1000

Abstract

The article presents experimental research on the corrosion of prestressing steel bars with denotation CKT (fully threaded anchor bars), which are composed of high-quality prestressing steel of the grade Y 1050 (1050 MPa). The experiment was performed using an electrochemical accelerated test. The aspects of the electric current value influence, time dependence on the degree of corrosion, and especially the influence of the prestressing level in the prestressing steel bars on the degree of corrosion were observed and examined. The results of the experiment showed that if the sample was in a stressed state, its degree of corrosion increased. Specifically, for the maximal stress equal to 90% of the tensile strength, the corrosion degree was increased by approximately 7.3%, in comparison to the unstressed specimen. In this case, a 7.3% corrosion degree corresponds to a weight loss of 350 g. The theoretical degree of corrosion was calculated using Faraday’s Law, which allowed the prediction of a rough estimate of the corrosion degree obtained with known input data. The experimental results showed that there was no apparent difference in the corrosion morphology of the sample during the same time-dependent corrosion influence at the same prestressing level in the sample with the same electric current value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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21 pages, 12236 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of a Large-Scale Physical Model of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Piled Embankment and Analytical Design Methods

by Jozef Vlček, Marian Drusa, Filip Gago and Ján Mihálik

Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1464; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061464 - 4 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1569

Abstract

The piled embankment represents one of the solutions for the realization of a soil body on a compressible subsoil where extended settlement or insufficient stability threatens the serviceability of related structures. Widely adopted analytical design procedures were analyzed: Marston’s formula and Hewlett and Randolph method contained in the British standard BS 8006-1, the German regulation EBGEO and the Dutch regulation CUR 226. Using these recommendations, the theoretical values of the individual parts of the load acting in the embankment and, subsequently, the values of the axial strain or tensile forces in the reinforcement were determined and compared with experimental data obtained from the tests in the large-scale physical model. For the presented case, without subsoil support, CUR 226 with the inverse load, which is recommended in the case of subsoil with low bearing capacity, shows better coincidence with the measured data. Overall, EBGEO and CUR 226 can be considered to be close to the real behavior of the piled embankment. Because of the frequent utilization of geosynthetic reinforcement and possible changes of subsoil parameters during the service life of the piled embankment, a rheological process of its elements should be investigated during the design process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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27 pages, 9356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Properties of Corroded Reinforcement

by František Bahleda, Jozef Prokop, Peter Koteš and Agnieszka Wdowiak-Postulak

Buildings 2023, 13(4), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13040855 - 24 Mar 2023

Viewed by 2182

Abstract

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures are basically composite elements because they consist of two materials—concrete and reinforcement (reinforcing steel bars). From the point of view of the design of new constructions, it is necessary to design them in such a way as to ensure their reliability, safety and durability throughout their design lifetime, T_d. However, all elements, including RC members, are affected by the environment in which they are located. An aggressive environment causes degradation of materials. In the case of reinforcement, corrosion of the reinforcement is considered to be the most well-known and at the same time the most serious way of degradation. From the point of view of existing reinforced concrete elements, it is therefore important to know whether and how the corrosion of the reinforcement affects the mechanical properties of the given reinforcement. The mechanical properties of reinforcement are very important when assessing the actual condition of reinforced concrete (RC) elements, to determine the resistance and load-carrying capacity of the elements. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of corrosion on mechanical properties of reinforcement. The paper reports on the results of an experimental analysis of the effect of corrosion on the change in the mechanical properties of reinforcement. Furthermore, it presents both the redistribution of mechanical properties along the cross-section of reinforcement, produced by various techniques, such as hot-rolling, hot-rolling with controlled cooling from rerolling temperature and cold-rolled as well as the mechanical properties under the action of corrosion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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15 pages, 13435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Application of Fiber Reinforced Concrete in Anchorage Zone

by Martin Vavrus and Jakub Kralovanec

Buildings 2023, 13(2), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020524 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2038

Abstract

In the case of post-tensioned or geotechnical structures, the anchorage zone is considered a critical part of the design and construction process. Generally, the failure of the anchorage zone is one of the most common problems. High-bearing stresses create significant transverse tension. For these reasons, conventional reinforcement, usually in the form of closed stirrups, must be designed. The presented analysis is focused on the possible increase of load-carrying capacity of the anchorage zone with steel fiber-reinforced concrete. Three types of specimens were analyzed. The first type of specimen represented the anchorage zone made from standard reinforced concrete. The second and third series of specimens were designed from fiber-reinforced concrete with two different volumes of steel fibers added into the anchorage zone. The parameters used in the numerical analysis of the anchorage zone were experimentally determined on a set of beam specimens. In the analysis, the anchorage zone was loaded by a node force applied on a steel load distribution plate placed on the top edge of the bloc. The performed numerical study suggests that the load-bearing capacity can be increased by adding fiber-reinforced concrete with a higher volume of fiber (Dramix 3D 55/30, volume of fiber of 110 kg/m³) into the vicinity of the anchorage plate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Foundations Engineering and Construction Materials)

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