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Construction Materials for Sustainable Structures

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 5161

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yao Sun

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Guest Editor

College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Interests: high-performance metallic materials; high-strength steel; stainless steel; aluminium alloy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Luigi Di Sarno

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering and Industrial Design, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5TR, UK
Interests: sustainable materials; resilient infrastructure; self-healing; ductility; low-carbon; self-sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Oliver Kinnane

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Guest Editor

School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, College of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Interests: concrete; sustainable architecture; low impact materials; environmental impact of buildings; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources and energy and is responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions. As the world becomes increasingly aware of the impact of human activities on the environment, the need for sustainable construction practices has become more urgent. One key aspect of sustainable construction is the use of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient construction materials.

Construction materials are essential components of any structure, and their impact on sustainability can be significant. Sustainable construction materials are those that are responsibly sourced, are manufactured with minimal environmental impact, and have a long lifespan with low maintenance requirements. These materials can help to reduce the environmental impact of buildings by minimizing the depletion of natural resources, reducing energy consumption during construction and use, and minimizing waste and pollution. Using sustainable construction materials can also have economic benefits, such as reduced operating costs and increased property value. Additionally, the use of sustainable materials can contribute to the health and well-being of building occupants by reducing exposure to toxins and promoting a healthy indoor environment. As the demand for sustainable building practices grows, the use of sustainable construction materials will become increasingly important for the construction industry to ensure a sustainable future for all.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore the developments and advancements in construction materials for sustainable structure. Original ideas and understandings of sustainable construction materials and structures, as well as renewable energy, are expected. Research regarding higher education in sustainable construction is also welcome. Papers that will create benefits for the green construction sector are encouraged. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Sustainable construction materials;
Structural optimization;
Sustainable structure;
Novel structural system;
Environmental impact assessment;
Material recyclability;
Renewable energy;
Higher education in sustainable construction.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yao Sun
Prof. Dr. Luigi Di Sarno
Dr. Oliver Kinnane
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

construction material
sustainable structure
green building
low-carbon infrastructure
technology adoption
environmental impact
energy consumption
higher education in sustainable construction

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 11134 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting the Degree of Reaction of Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Hydrated Portland Cement

by Aron Berhanu Degefa, Seunghee Park, Beomjoo Yang and Solmoi Park

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15471; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115471 - 31 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1398

Abstract

Determination and prediction of degree of reaction (DOR) of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in hydrated Portland cement are important for designing concrete with lower levels of embodied carbon dioxide. Herein, a model for predicting the DOR of SCMs in hydrated cement was developed using a set of collected data and a machine learning algorithm based on genetic programming toolbox for the identification of physical systems. The results suggest that the model reliably predicts the DOR of slag, fly ash, metakaolin, and silica fume with a coefficient of determination (R²) value of 0.89. The predicted DOR of SCMs is found to be directly proportional to water-to-cement ratio and curing time, while it is highly reliant on the oxide composition and differs amongst SCMs. For instance, the DOR of slag substantially increased with a higher alumina content, while the DOR of metakaolin remained more stable, primarily influenced by the silica-to-alumina ratio. The proposed model is particularly useful for predicting phase assemblages of SCMs-blended Portland cement when experimental data and information on SCMs are limited and properties of SCMs are highly variable. The insights gained from this study offer a pathway towards more sustainable and efficient concrete design, aligning with contemporary environmental objectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials for Sustainable Structures)

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20 pages, 6523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Two-Way Slab Punching Shear Resistance: Experimental Insights into Basalt-FRP Bar as Flexural Reinforcement

by Brwa Salihi and Feirusha Hamad

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15417; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115417 - 30 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 795

Abstract

This study seeks to experimentally evaluate the punching shear performance of two-way concrete slabs reinforced with conventional steel and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (basalt-FRP) bars subjected to punching loading condition. Basalt-FRP bars offer high tensile strength and corrosion resistance but are understudied in two-way concrete slabs concerning punching shear. This study aims to fill this gap, with key implications for future structural design considerations. To achieve the objectives of the study, six large-scale square slabs were fabricated and subjected to a concentric load until failure. The parameters of the experiment included are the type of reinforcement used (either basalt-FRP or steel), the percentage of basalt-FRP used (ranging from 0.88% to 1.77%), the size of the basalt-FRP bars used (either 16 or 12 mm), and the concrete’s compressive strength (25, 30, and 35 MPa). The findings from the tests showed that incorporating basalt-FRP bars with one-quarter equivalent axial stiffness (

ρ (E_{f} / E_{s})

) to that of steel significantly enhanced the punching shear resistance of flat slabs, achieving approximately 65% of the capacity observed in steel-reinforced control sample. Moreover, increasing the amount of basalt-FRP bar reinforcement to half of the equivalent axial stiffness of steel had a substantial effect in improving shear strength, reaching approximately 89% of the capacity observed in the steel-reinforced specimen and concurrently reducing deflection during the failure. Additionally, the reinforcement type and concrete compressive strength played a crucial role in determining the ultimate load, failure modes, and crack propagation patterns. The study reveals discrepancies between experimental results and existing models for punching shear in FRP-reinforced slabs. Certain prevalent models prove to be conservative in their estimates, while others offer more accurate predictions, indicating the need for comprehensive model refinement. The investigation found that one model, encompassing the majority of variables affecting punching shear, exhibited the highest level of precision, with a slight adjustment recommended to enhance its accuracy further. This study suggests a sustainable, more durable way to reinforce concrete in bridges and high-rise buildings, potentially improving construction efficiency, enhanced service life, and potential updates to building codes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials for Sustainable Structures)

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20 pages, 9068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation and Numerical Model for Chloride Diffusivity of Long-Age Fly Ash Cement Slurry

by Jian Chen, Feng-Yan Qi, Meng-Yan Jia, Wen-Bing Song, Jian Zhang and Jian-Jun Zheng

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14936; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014936 - 16 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1035

Abstract

Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired thermal power plants and offers great potential for the use of resources. To effectively improve the durability of reinforced concrete structures in marine environment and achieve waste to treasure, fly ash is widely used as a pozzolanic material due to its long-hydration characteristics and effects of micro-aggregate, micro-filling and secondary hydration. In this study, both the experimental investigation and numerical simulation are carried out to study the chloride transport characteristics of fly ash cement paste. The variation in chloride diffusivity with fly ash content, water-to-binder ratio and curing age up to 360 days is studied via accelerated conductivity measurement, and it is found that the above three experimental variables have a significant impact on the chloride diffusivity. For the influence of the dosage of fly ash, the optimum dosage is 30%. By introducing specific rules for the particle distribution, the fresh fly ash cement paste is first made. Based on the volume change characteristics of fly ash and cement particles after hydration, the vector hydration model of fly ash cement paste is established by considering the water shortage effect caused by hydration layer interference. After the accuracy of this hydration model is verified by the results from third-party experiments, the random walk algorithm is proposed to calculate the diffusion coefficient of the reconstructed mineral admixture cement paste. By comprehensive comparison with the experimental results from the third-party and self-conducted experiments, the numerical model for predicting the chloride diffusivity of fly ash cement paste is verified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials for Sustainable Structures)

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30 pages, 15720 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Study on the Basic Mechanical Properties and Discrete Element Method Simulation of Permeable Concrete

by Qidan Xiao, Xiumin Hu, Xiaole Li, Guanguan Zhang and Jun Zhao

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13310; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813310 - 5 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 991

Abstract

Permeable concrete pavement material has many voids and a good water permeability, which can reduce surface runoff and alleviate the problem of urban water logging. It also has the functions of acting as a supplementary source of groundwater, purifying water, bodies reducing the urban heat island effect, reducing road noise, and so on. It is an effective solution for urban infrastructures. However, at the same time, because it has a large number of pores, this also affects the strength of permeable concrete. The main factors affecting permeable concrete are particle size and the shape of the aggregate, the content of the cement paste and aggregate, the compaction degree of the mixture, and so on. In this study, the single-factor test method was used to study the effects of aggregate size, slurry-to-bone ratio and loose paving coefficient on the basic mechanical properties and permeability of permeable concrete. Here, the numerical model for permeable concrete is established by using the particle flow discrete element (Particle Flow Code (PFC)modeling method, and a numerical simulation test is carried out. It can be seen from the test results that the permeability coefficient of 50% 5–10 mm + 50% 10–15 mm mixed aggregate permeable concrete is slightly lower than that of 5–10 mm and 10–15 mm single-size aggregate, but has a higher compressive and splitting tensile strength. With the increase in paste-to-bone ratio, the permeability coefficient of permeable concrete decreases, and the compressive strength increases. The loose paving coefficient has a significant effect on the mechanics and permeability of permeable concrete with the increase in the loose paving coefficient, the water permeability decreases and the compressive strength increases. The numerical simulation results show that under the condition that the loose paving coefficient is 1.10 and the slurry-to-bone ratio is 0.5, compared with the experimental results, the error of the numerical simulation results of the compression test is less than 3%. The reliability of the simulation is verified. The discrete element modeling method in this study can be used to simulate the shape of the aggregate in permeable concrete, and the numerical model can effectively simulate the crack development and failure form of permeable concrete in compression tests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Construction Materials for Sustainable Structures)

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