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Sustainable Construction and Building Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2018) | Viewed by 103286

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Constantin Chalioris

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Structural Engineering Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
Interests: FRP; reinforced concrete; shear; tentioned concrete; steel fiber reinforced concrete; repair; tortion; structural health monitoring; strengthening and structural rehabilitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue brings together materials, techniques and concepts from the following distinct disciplines in order to highlight the need for “Sustainable Construction and Building Materials” in civil infrastructure:

Innovative sustainable materials with reduced environmental footprints have recently been proposed as alternatives for the substitution of the conventional construction materials, which deplete natural resources, require increased energy consumption and cause considerable pollution of air, water, and land for their production. Sustainable forms of building materials and especially concrete that uses recycled materials instead of ordinary Portland cement and coarse aggregates attract great interest in the engineering community. Fly ash, blast furnace slag, agro-industrial, recycled concrete aggregates, crushed glass and other solid waste disposals show promising potential as total or partial replacements in conventional concrete mixtures.

On the other hand, ageing and deterioration of existing buildings due to degradation of materials, harsh environmental conditions, seismic excitations, overloading, inadequate maintenance and lack of frequent inspections are worldwide problems that pose serious risks to structural and life safety. Structural damage in buildings adversely impact their operational life spans and increase hazards of catastrophic failures if not controlled. The real-time surveillance and the in situ measurements of efficient Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques for prompt damage diagnoses help towards the quantification of the resiliency of existing buildings and ensure their continuous life-safety, sustainability and functional–economical operation. Innovative real-time SHM methods also support decision-making tools for prescribing proper maintenance and repair/strengthening schemes.

Papers selected for this Special Issue are subject to a rigorous peer-review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments and applications.

Dr. Constantin Chalioris
Guest Editor

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

  • Sustainable materials
  • Durability of construction and building materials
  • Sustainable concrete in harsh environment
  • Recycled materials
  • Sustainability and resiliency of existing buildings
  • Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of structures
  • Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques
  • Real-time damage detection
  • Maintenance and repair/strengthening techniques

Published Papers (20 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2020 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study of a New Strengthening Technique of RC Beams Using Prestressed NSM CFRP Bars
by Vicente Alcaraz Carrillo de Albornoz, Eva M. García del Toro, M. Isabel Más-López and Alfredo Luizaga Patiño
Sustainability 2019, 11(5), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051374 - 05 Mar 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2556
Abstract
The reinforcement of structural elements subjected to bending with carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) located on the underside of the element to be reinforced (known as near surface mounted or NSM) is an effective technique that provides environmentally sustainable solutions in the field [...] Read more.
The reinforcement of structural elements subjected to bending with carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) located on the underside of the element to be reinforced (known as near surface mounted or NSM) is an effective technique that provides environmentally sustainable solutions in the field of civil engineering. Introducing preloads on the reinforcing elements allows us to maximize the high performance of CFRPs, besides recovering deformations. A new technique to perform the pre-stressing of CFRP bars in NSM configuration is described in this paper. The technique introduces the preload on the rods after they have been placed in the grooves, and with a system that acts and reacts against the beam itself. We also present the results of a testing campaign conducted to determine the effectiveness of said technique. Breakage of the control beams (without reinforcement) was ductile, while breakage of reinforced beams was explosive. Pre-stressing the reinforcing elements allowed us to increase the bearing capacity of the beams 170% compared to the control beams, also resulting in an increase in the rigidity of the reinforced elements and a decreased cracking of the beam. The results however are only slightly better than those of a conventional CFRP NSM reinforcement, due to the appearance of cavities in the groove where the adhesive didn’t manage to penetrate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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22 pages, 8015 KiB  
Article
Investigation on the Debonding Failure Model of Anchored Polyurea Coating under a High-Velocity Water Flow and Its Application
by Bingqi Li, Zhenyu Zhang, Xiaogang Wang and Xiaonan Liu
Sustainability 2019, 11(5), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051261 - 27 Feb 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2915
Abstract
The debonding failure of a polymer-based coating seriously affects the safe operation of buildings under the action of a high-velocity flood discharge flow. In order to achieve a healthy and sustainable operation of hydropower stations, the debonding failure between polyurea coating and concrete [...] Read more.
The debonding failure of a polymer-based coating seriously affects the safe operation of buildings under the action of a high-velocity flood discharge flow. In order to achieve a healthy and sustainable operation of hydropower stations, the debonding failure between polyurea coating and concrete was described by the cohesive zone model, and a debonding failure model was proposed and verified. The results obtained from the model were basically consistent with the test results. Accordingly, the influence of the performance of different anchoring types, the material mechanics of polyurea-based coating and the bonding on debonding behavior were analyzed, and engineering application research was also carried out. The impact resistances of polyurea-based coating under different anchoring conditions are obtained, which provide a reference for the anti-shock and wear-resistant design of flood discharge infrastructure. The elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the polyurea-based material have a significant influence on the impact resistance of polyurea-based coatings. When the elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of a polyurea-based material are 25 MPa and 0.45, respectively, the impact resistance is optimal. The greater the fracture energy of the bonding material, the better the impact resistance. The engineering application results show that the seepage prevention and anti-wear characteristics of flood discharge infrastructure all meet the engineering requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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17 pages, 2777 KiB  
Article
Image Processing for Sustainable Remodeling: Introduction to Real-time Quality Inspection System of External Wall Insulation Works
by Sang-Ho Cho, Kyung-Tae Lee, Se-Heon Kim and Ju-Hyung Kim
Sustainability 2019, 11(4), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11041081 - 19 Feb 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3072
Abstract
The external wall insulation method was introduced to enhance the energy efficiency of existing buildings. It does not cause a decrease of inner space and costs less in comparison to methods that insert insulation panels inside walls. However, it has been reported that [...] Read more.
The external wall insulation method was introduced to enhance the energy efficiency of existing buildings. It does not cause a decrease of inner space and costs less in comparison to methods that insert insulation panels inside walls. However, it has been reported that external wall insulation boards are disconnecting from walls due to malfunctions of the adhesive. This causes not only repair costs, but also serious injury to pedestrians. Separation problems occur when the bonded positions are incorrect and/or the total area and thickness of the adhesive is smaller than the required amount. A challenge is that these faults can hardly be inspected after installing boards. For this reason, a real-time inspection system is necessary to detect potential failure during adhesive works. Position, area and thickness are major aspects to inspect, and thus a method to process image data of these seems efficient. This paper presents a real-time quality inspection system introducing image processing technology to detect potential errors during adhesive works of external wall insulation, and it is predicted to contribute to achieving sustainable remodeling construction by reducing squandered material and labor costs. The system consists of a graphic data creation module to capture the results of adhesive works and a quality inspection module to judge the pass or fail of works according to an algorithm. A prototype is developed and validated against 100 panels with 800 adhesive points. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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12 pages, 5599 KiB  
Article
Laboratory Evaluation of Finely Milled Brick Debris as a Soil Stabilizer
by Cesar Hidalgo, Gloria Carvajal and Fredy Muñoz
Sustainability 2019, 11(4), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11040967 - 14 Feb 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3044
Abstract
Brick is one of the most common building materials, and it is also one of the largest components of waste generated from both construction and demolition. Reuse of this waste would reduce the environmental and social impacts of construction. One potential bulk use [...] Read more.
Brick is one of the most common building materials, and it is also one of the largest components of waste generated from both construction and demolition. Reuse of this waste would reduce the environmental and social impacts of construction. One potential bulk use of such waste is as a cementing agent for soil stabilization. However, this is currently limited by the need to mill the residue to a particle size below 0.035 mm. In this study, the behavior of two soil types stabilized using alkali-activated brick dust was investigated. The unconfined compression strength at different curing temperatures and moistures and the use of different types and concentrations of alkaline activators were investigated. It was found that the addition of brick dust resulted in an increase in the soil strength between 1.7–2.3 times with respect to the non-stabilized material, suggesting that the resulting materials will find practical applications in construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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19 pages, 4665 KiB  
Article
Can Common Reed Fiber Become an Effective Construction Material? Physical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Mortar Mixture Containing Common Reed Fiber
by Chang-Seon Shon, Temirlan Mukashev, Deuckhang Lee, Dichuan Zhang and Jong R. Kim
Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030903 - 11 Feb 2019
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6027
Abstract
Due to the increased demands of adapting the sustainability concept in the construction industry, many researchers have developed and evaluated the composite materials made with agricultural by-products, such as straws, fruit-shells, and cobs, as construction materials. Because no research work has been reported [...] Read more.
Due to the increased demands of adapting the sustainability concept in the construction industry, many researchers have developed and evaluated the composite materials made with agricultural by-products, such as straws, fruit-shells, and cobs, as construction materials. Because no research work has been reported regarding the incorporation of common reed fiber (CRF) into a concrete composite to produce the green and sustainable concrete, this research has focused on the evaluation of physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of mortar mixture containing CRF regarding density, porosity, compressive and flexural strengths, and thermal conductivity. In total, six mixtures with 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% CRF; 0.5% steel fiber (SF); and the combination of 6% CRF and 0.5% SF were prepared. Based on the experimental outputs, a simple analysis of heat loss was also been performed. The test results presented that the incorporation of CRF into mortar mixture proportionally reduced its unit weight and significantly increased its absorption capacity and porosity. Although the use of only CRF in the mortar mixture did not improve both compressive and flexural strengths compared to the plain mixture, the combined use of CRF and SF to increase both compressive and flexural strengths generated a synergetic effect to increase both strengths. The addition of CRF to the mixture has the benefit of producing a significant decrease in heat loss for a typical building in Astana due to the lower thermal conductivity and higher porosity to density ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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20 pages, 9285 KiB  
Article
Contribution of the Vernacular Architecture to the Sustainability: A Comparative Study between the Contemporary Areas and the Old Quarter of a Mediterranean City
by Fajer Al Tawayha, Luis Braganca and Ricardo Mateus
Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030896 - 09 Feb 2019
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 13972
Abstract
The strongest point of vernacular architecture is the harmony between environment and buildings. Mediterranean vernacular architecture is harmonized with its local context, including culture and traditions. In addition, it respects environmental and climatic factors, construction materials, and morphology. In the past, people in [...] Read more.
The strongest point of vernacular architecture is the harmony between environment and buildings. Mediterranean vernacular architecture is harmonized with its local context, including culture and traditions. In addition, it respects environmental and climatic factors, construction materials, and morphology. In the past, people in Palestine built their houses according to their possibilities, needs, available materials, topography, and culture. Without any control from the government or any legal limitations or architects, it was people’s architecture, simple architecture. This paper discusses the differences between vernacular and contemporary residential buildings of the city of Nablus at the building scale. The research methodology adopts explanatory qualitative analysis and comparative synthesis methods for both the old and the new buildings of the city of Nablus and considers many parameters of residential buildings such as building materials, interior spaces, openings and vegetation, and the effect of sociocultural values on each. The outcomes of this research allow understanding how the new city residential buildings are far away from the sustainability principles and how the old city is close to it and how the architects and stakeholders could learn from the strategies of vernacular architecture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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10 pages, 3502 KiB  
Article
Properties of Cement Mortar Using Limestone Sludge Powder Modified with Recycled Acetic Acid
by Hwa-Sung Ryu, Deuck-Mo Kim, Sang-Heon Shin, Wan-Ki Kim, Seung-Min Lim and Won-Jun Park
Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030879 - 08 Feb 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3864
Abstract
One of the various methods of manufacturing low-carbon cement is substituting limestone powder as a raw material or admixture. Limestone sludge powder (LSSP) has the same composition as that of limestone powder. The surface characteristics of LSSP powder modified with recycled acetic acid [...] Read more.
One of the various methods of manufacturing low-carbon cement is substituting limestone powder as a raw material or admixture. Limestone sludge powder (LSSP) has the same composition as that of limestone powder. The surface characteristics of LSSP powder modified with recycled acetic acid (RAA) and the characteristics of cement using this modified LSSP as a substitute were investigated in this study. The surface of LSSP modified with RAA was converted into calcium acetate and had a large grain size. When conventional LSSP was used as a substitute for cement, the initial strength increased owing to improved pore filling; however, the strength after 28 days of aging was lower than that of non-substituted cement. In the case of modified LSSP being replaced with cement at up to 10% of the cement weight, however, the calcium acetate on its surface increased the amount of hydration products in the cement, thereby increasing both the initial and the long-term strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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14 pages, 1469 KiB  
Article
Application of Association Rule Mining and Social Network Analysis for Understanding Causality of Construction Defects
by Sangdeok Lee, Yongwoon Cha, Sangwon Han and Changtaek Hyun
Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030618 - 24 Jan 2019
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4763
Abstract
A construction defect can cause schedule delay, cost overrun and quality deterioration. In order to minimize these negative impacts of construction defects, this paper aims to analyze the causality of construction defects. Specifically, association rule mining (ARM) is used to quantify the interrelationships [...] Read more.
A construction defect can cause schedule delay, cost overrun and quality deterioration. In order to minimize these negative impacts of construction defects, this paper aims to analyze the causality of construction defects. Specifically, association rule mining (ARM) is used to quantify the interrelationships between defect causes, and social network analysis (SNA) is utilized to find out the most influential causes triggering generation of construction defects. The suggested approach was applied to 2949 defect instances in finishing work. Through this application, it was confirmed that the proposed approach can systematically identify and quantify causality among defect causes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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18 pages, 4808 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Degradation and Thermal Decomposition of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Polymer-Modified Cement Mortar (PCM) Exposed to High-Temperature
by Hyung-Jun Kim, Jae-Yeon Park, Heong-Won Suh, Beom-Yeon Cho, Won-Jun Park and Sung-Chul Bae
Sustainability 2019, 11(2), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11020500 - 18 Jan 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5070
Abstract
A polymer-modified cement mortar (PCM) is widely used as a repair material for reinforced concrete (RC) structures owing to its excellent strength and durability. However, considering the maintenance of the RC structures and the use period of the structures, the change in the [...] Read more.
A polymer-modified cement mortar (PCM) is widely used as a repair material for reinforced concrete (RC) structures owing to its excellent strength and durability. However, considering the maintenance of the RC structures and the use period of the structures, the change in the physical properties of the PCM should be evaluated when exposed to various high-temperature environments, such as fires. In this study, the degradation of the mechanical properties (compressive strength and modulus of elasticity), thermal decomposition of the PCM in various high-temperature environments, and the change in the pore structure of the PCM after exposure to high temperatures were quantitatively investigated. A mechanical property evaluation of PCM was performed under three heating conditions: (i) heating in a compression tester, (ii) heating the specimen in an oven to a predetermined temperature and then moving it to a compression tester preheated to the same temperature, and (iii) cooling to room temperature after heating. In the experiment, a PCM specimen was prepared by changing the polymer–cement ratio (polymer content) of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), the most commonly used polymer, to perform a high-temperature sectional test from 200 to 800 °C. In addition, to investigate the change in the PCM mechanical properties in the high-temperature region, in terms of the pyrolysis of EVA, the porosity change and mass change were examined using thermal analysis and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Before heating, the compressive strength of the PCM increased with the EVA content up to 10 % of the polymer–cement ratio. Under the cooling conditions after heating up to 200 °C, the mechanical performance of the PCM was restored, whereas the degradation of the mechanical properties of the PCM without cooling was more pronounced. Furthermore, the mass loss, heat flow, and the total porosity of the PCM increased as the EVA content increased, which is correlated with the degradation of the mechanical properties of the PCM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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13 pages, 2895 KiB  
Article
Strength Time–Varying and Freeze–Thaw Durability of Sustainable Pervious Concrete Pavement Material Containing Waste Fly Ash
by Hanbing Liu, Guobao Luo, Longhui Wang and Yafeng Gong
Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010176 - 31 Dec 2018
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3716
Abstract
Pervious concretes, as sustainable pavement materials, have great advantages in addressing a number of environmental issues. Fly ash, as the industrial by-product waste, is the most commonly used as cement substitute in concrete. The objective of this paper is to study the effects [...] Read more.
Pervious concretes, as sustainable pavement materials, have great advantages in addressing a number of environmental issues. Fly ash, as the industrial by-product waste, is the most commonly used as cement substitute in concrete. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of waste fly ash on properties of pervious concrete. Fly ash was used to replace cement with equivalent volume method at different levels (3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%). The control pervious concrete and fly ash modified pervious concrete were prepared in the laboratory. The porosity, permeability, compressive strength, flexural strength, and freeze–thaw resistance of all mixtures were tested. The results indicated that the addition of fly ash decreased the early-age (28 d) compressive strength and flexural strength, but the long-term (150 d) compressive strength and flexural strength of fly ash modified pervious concrete were higher than that of the early-age. The adverse effect of fly ash on freeze–thaw resistance of pervious concrete was observed when the fly ash was added. The porosity and permeability of all pervious concrete mixtures changed little with the content of fly ash due to the use of equal volume replacement method. Although fly ash is not positive to the properties of pervious concrete, it is still feasible to apply fly ash as a substitute for cement in pervious concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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17 pages, 3989 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Improvement in the Design of Lightweight Roofs: A New Prototype of Hybrid Steel and Wood Purlins
by Harkaitz García, Mikel Zubizarreta, Jesús Cuadrado and Juan Luis Osa
Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010039 - 21 Dec 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4454
Abstract
A new structural typology of a hybrid purlin, made of type C cold steel and rectangular laminated wood (SWP), is presented in this paper. As a result, improvements on the most commonly used steel purlins are achieved, by substituting some of the steel [...] Read more.
A new structural typology of a hybrid purlin, made of type C cold steel and rectangular laminated wood (SWP), is presented in this paper. As a result, improvements on the most commonly used steel purlins are achieved, by substituting some of the steel sections for wooden sections. Although the wooden section is weaker and has a lower elastic modulus than the steel, the overall dimensions of the SWP are no larger than the type C steel purlin. In comparison with the steel ones, SWP purlins achieve a far better performance in terms of sustainability and are of lower weight, so less material will be needed for the main structure of the building. The behavior of each material in its position and the improvements in terms of sustainability and lower weight are analyzed as a function of span length, slope, and design load. To do so, the influence of both tensile stress and deformation design criteria in each section and the influence of those criteria on the choice of material and the lengths of each section are all examined. Finally, a design guide for the SWPs is presented that applies the proposed technical specifications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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18 pages, 5475 KiB  
Article
Delay Factors in Reconstruction Projects: A Case Study of Mataf Expansion Project
by Basem Al Khatib, Yap Soon Poh and Ahmed El-Shafie
Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4772; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124772 - 14 Dec 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7078
Abstract
Delays in construction projects are a common phenomenon throughout the industry. This problem has many negative impacts on the time, cost, and sustainability of the projects. Many studies were conducted to identify the main causes of this delay in new construction projects in [...] Read more.
Delays in construction projects are a common phenomenon throughout the industry. This problem has many negative impacts on the time, cost, and sustainability of the projects. Many studies were conducted to identify the main causes of this delay in new construction projects in different regions but very few studies have focused on finding an explanation for the causes of delay in major reconstruction projects that have great religious and cultural sustainability. This paper examines the factors that contributed to work delays in one of the most major reconstruction projects that took place recently in the Middle East, which is namely the Mataf Expansion Project in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Fourteen interviews were conducted with project managers, construction managers, and senior site engineers to identify the factors that they encountered and led to the delay in the reconstruction activities of this project. Some of the findings were consistent and similar to most other causes of delay that are associated with new construction projects. However, interestingly, this research has discovered the existence of other unavoidable factors that caused a delay and should be considered for any similar reconstruction projects. The results showed that these factors could be divided into two groups: the first one is related to the demolition phase (five factors) and the second group is related to construction works (nine factors). In addition, it has been observed that the building material during the reconstruction is considered one of the major delaying factors. Finally, these 14 delay factors should be carefully considered to assure the sustainability of the main object’s function during the reconstruction activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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16 pages, 6627 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Selected Building Constructions Used in Industrial Construction in Terms of Sustainability Benefits
by Jozef Švajlenka, Mária Kozlovská and Terézia Pošiváková
Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4394; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124394 - 24 Nov 2018
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6396
Abstract
Enormous development of technology over the past two centuries has been associated with a considerable drawdown of non-renewable raw materials and an increase in the amount of harmful emissions. Thus, building direction in the field of construction implies a significant implementation of sustainability. [...] Read more.
Enormous development of technology over the past two centuries has been associated with a considerable drawdown of non-renewable raw materials and an increase in the amount of harmful emissions. Thus, building direction in the field of construction implies a significant implementation of sustainability. The preference for environmentally friendly technology solutions is the right way to meet the sustainability trend. The main aim of this study was to analyze and verify selected construction systems of buildings designed for agricultural primary production in terms of their environmental impacts. The supporting construction systems of the comparative design variants was designed from a variety of material bases (concrete, steel, and wood). To evaluate environmental construction systems, the LCA methodology in mode “Cradle to Gate” was used. Parameters of sustainability related to the environmental impact were analyzed. These results could be a useful tool for the evaluation and comparison to an appropriate choice of the design option for an industrial building designed for agricultural primary production in terms of environmental impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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23 pages, 5788 KiB  
Article
An Integrated Environment–Cost–Time Optimisation Method for Construction Contractors Considering Global Warming
by Kailun Feng, Weizhuo Lu, Shiwei Chen and Yaowu Wang
Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4207; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114207 - 14 Nov 2018
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4410
Abstract
Construction contractors play a vital role in reducing the environmental impacts during the construction phase. To mitigate these impacts, contractors need to develop environmentally friendly plans that have optimal equipment, materials and labour configurations. However, construction plans with optimal environment may negatively affect [...] Read more.
Construction contractors play a vital role in reducing the environmental impacts during the construction phase. To mitigate these impacts, contractors need to develop environmentally friendly plans that have optimal equipment, materials and labour configurations. However, construction plans with optimal environment may negatively affect the project cost and duration, resulting in dilemma for contractors on adopting low impacts plans. Moreover, the enumeration method that is usually used needs to assess and compare the performances of a great deal of scenarios, which seems to be time consuming for complicated projects with numerous scenarios. This study therefore developed an integrated method to efficiently provide contractors with plans having optimal environment–cost–time performances. Discrete-event simulation (DES) and particle swarm optimisation algorithms (PSO) are integrated through an iterative loop, which remarkably reduces the efforts on optimal scenarios searching. In the integrated method, the simulation module can model the construction equipment and materials consumption; the assessment module can evaluate multi-objective performances; and the optimisation module fast converges on optimal solutions. A prototype is developed and implemented in a hotel building construction. Results show that the proposed method greatly reduced the times of simulation compared with enumeration method. It provides the contractor with a trade-off solution that can average reduce 26.9% of environmental impact, 19.7% of construction cost, and 10.2% of project duration. The method provides contractors with an efficient and practical decision support tool for environmentally friendly planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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28 pages, 4155 KiB  
Article
A Predictive Environmental Assessment Method for Construction Operations: Application to a Northeast China Case Study
by Kailun Feng, Weizhuo Lu, Thomas Olofsson, Shiwei Chen, Hui Yan and Yaowu Wang
Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 3868; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10113868 - 24 Oct 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4329
Abstract
Construction accounts for a considerable number of environmental impacts, especially in countries with rapid urbanization. A predictive environmental assessment method enables a comparison of alternatives in construction operations to mitigate these environmental impacts. Process-based life cycle assessment (pLCA), which is the most widely [...] Read more.
Construction accounts for a considerable number of environmental impacts, especially in countries with rapid urbanization. A predictive environmental assessment method enables a comparison of alternatives in construction operations to mitigate these environmental impacts. Process-based life cycle assessment (pLCA), which is the most widely applied environmental assessment method, requires lots of detailed process information to evaluate. However, a construction project usually operates in uncertain and dynamic project environments, and capturing such process information represents a critical challenge for pLCA. Discrete event simulation (DES) provides an opportunity to include uncertainty and capture the dynamic environments of construction operations. This study proposes a predictive assessment method that integrates DES and pLCA (DES-pLCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of on-site construction operations and supply chains. The DES feeds pLCA with process information that considers the uncertain and dynamic environments of construction, while pLCA guides the comprehensive procedure of environmental assessment. A DES-pLCA prototype was developed and implemented in a case study of an 18-storey building in Northeast China. The results showed that the biggest impact variations on the global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication (EP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), abiotic depletion potential (ADP), and human toxicity potential (HTP) were 5.1%, 4.1%, 4.1%, 4.7%, 0.3%, and 5.9%, respectively, due to uncertain and dynamic factors. Based on the proposed method, an average impact reduction can be achieved for these six indictors of 2.5%, 21.7%, 8.2%, 4.8%, 32.5%, and 0.9%, respectively. The method also revealed that the material wastage rate of formwork installation was the most crucial managing factor that influences global warming performance. The method can support contractors in the development and management of environmentally friendly construction operations that consider the effects of uncertainty and dynamics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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13 pages, 1026 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Worker Category Social Impacts in Different Types of Concrete Plant Operations: A Case Study in South Korea
by Seungjun Roh, Sungho Tae, Rakhyun Kim and Daniela M. Martínez
Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3661; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103661 - 12 Oct 2018
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3121
Abstract
As sustainable development has emerged as a priority on the international agenda, increasing emphasis has been placed on “Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA),” wherein environmental, economic, and social performance are comprehensively integrated. This study, as part of an LCSA approach, uses Social Life [...] Read more.
As sustainable development has emerged as a priority on the international agenda, increasing emphasis has been placed on “Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA),” wherein environmental, economic, and social performance are comprehensively integrated. This study, as part of an LCSA approach, uses Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) to analyze the worker category social impact for concrete plants in South Korea. For the analysis, three types of concrete plant with different operating systems were selected and evaluated: Direct operation, operated by dedicated concrete manufacturers, and operated by cement suppliers. Eleven major social topics, which were mentioned in the international standards and international institutes, were selected as the subjects of evaluation; the social impacts were evaluated by applying the evaluative criteria for social topics presented in the Handbook for Product Social Life Cycle Assessment of PRé Sustainability. We determined that the highest social impact was found in concrete plants operated by cement suppliers (0.77), followed by plants operated by dedicated concrete manufacturers (0.50), and finally by plants with direct operations (0.09). These results can be applied by concrete plants to improve worker category areas in which they are lacking and by future researchers to evaluate the sustainable development of a variety of industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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20 pages, 292 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Guidelines and Identification of Characteristics Influencing the Deconstruction Potential of Buildings
by Roberta Carvalho Machado, Henor Artur de Souza and Gustavo De Souza Veríssimo
Sustainability 2018, 10(8), 2604; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082604 - 25 Jul 2018
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4218
Abstract
Growing concerns regarding environmental preservation and the fact that the construction industry is one of the sectors with the highest rates of resource consumption and waste generation, have encouraged the adoption of deconstruction as an alternative to the demolition of buildings at the [...] Read more.
Growing concerns regarding environmental preservation and the fact that the construction industry is one of the sectors with the highest rates of resource consumption and waste generation, have encouraged the adoption of deconstruction as an alternative to the demolition of buildings at the end of their lifecycle. However, the choice of strategies to enable deconstruction requires an in-depth knowledge of how the building’s characteristics, combined with the procedures adopted in the deconstruction process, will affect the reutilization of materials and components. In this paper, characteristics relating to design for deconstruction (DfD) are identified and the influence of each characteristic on the viability of a deconstruction is analysed. A literature review is conducted to assess the guideline of DfD and to identify relevant characteristics. These characteristics are then divided into the following categories: direct influence enabling deconstruction; influence on the ease of the process; and, influence on prolonging a building’s lifecycle. A number of questions are suggested for analysing each characteristic, and these can be employed in the development of a methodology for evaluating a building’s deconstruction potential. The identification of characteristics involved in the deconstruction guidelines may assist in the optimization of projects and the planning of deconstruction processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
17 pages, 5264 KiB  
Article
Dispersion, Workability and Mechanical Properties of Different Steel-Microfiber-Reinforced Concretes with Low Fiber Content
by Ying Zhou, Yi Xiao, Anqi Gu and Zheng Lu
Sustainability 2018, 10(7), 2335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072335 - 05 Jul 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3668
Abstract
Steel-microfiber-reinforced concrete has been proven to be an effective type of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HyFRC). The microfiber used in these concretes generally include microfilament steel (MS) fibers and synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. This study [...] Read more.
Steel-microfiber-reinforced concrete has been proven to be an effective type of hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete (HyFRC). The microfiber used in these concretes generally include microfilament steel (MS) fibers and synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. This study aims to obtain the optimal type of steel-microfiber HyFRC, with low fiber content, which can be easily used in engineering projects without special fabrication procedures, thus achieving the concept of sustainability. Four types of HyFRC that blend steel (S) fiber with MS, PP, PVA and PAN were studied. These HyFRC were compared through a systematic experimental campaign in which the fiber dispersion, mixture workability, and concrete mechanical properties were investigated. The experimental results of the fiber dispersion and mixture workability indicate the following qualitative relationship: MS > PVA ≈ PP > PAN. For the mechanical properties of the concretes, the S-MS, and S-PVA HyFRCs generate an overall higher enhancing effect than those of the S-PP and S-PAN HyFRCs and show a positive hybridization effect for most properties. The S-MS HyFRC is superior in strength, and the S-PVA HyFRC has a significantly improved toughness. Because PVA has relatively good dispersion and workability properties, and toughness is the most important and effective mechanical property in the fiber-reinforced concrete, this study recommends that the S-PVA HyFRC is the optimal type of steel-microfiber HyFRC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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16 pages, 3075 KiB  
Article
Design for Manufacture and Assembly Oriented Design Approach to a Curtain Wall System: A Case Study of a Commercial Building in Wuhan, China
by Ke Chen and Weisheng Lu
Sustainability 2018, 10(7), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072211 - 28 Jun 2018
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 8691
Abstract
A curtain wall system (CWS) is one of the most popular elements for the external walls of large, multistory buildings. Applying the design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) principles to the design of a CWS aims to increase the quality, sustainability, and cost [...] Read more.
A curtain wall system (CWS) is one of the most popular elements for the external walls of large, multistory buildings. Applying the design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) principles to the design of a CWS aims to increase the quality, sustainability, and cost efficiency associated with the assembly of the CWS. Studies reporting a DfMA-oriented design approach to CWSs are extremely rare. This paper reports a case study of a successful application of a DfMA-oriented design approach to a CWS in a commercial building in Wuhan, China. The case study provides valuable information about how DfMA could be applied to the construction industry. Through interviews with key project participants and on-site observations, the benefits of a DfMA-oriented CWS design were revealed, including decreased material cost and waste, reduced on-site assembly time, and improved quality and aesthetic performance of the CWS. It was also found that an operative multidisciplinary team underpinned the success of DfMA application in the case project, which, however, might be held back by the absence of any use of digital, parametric design technologies during the design process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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16 pages, 4130 KiB  
Article
Layout Optimization Model for the Production Planning of Precast Concrete Building Components
by Dong Wang, Guiwen Liu, Kaijian Li, Tongjing Wang, Asheem Shrestha, Igor Martek and Xiaobo Tao
Sustainability 2018, 10(6), 1807; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061807 - 30 May 2018
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5059
Abstract
Precast concrete comprises the basic components of modular buildings. The efficiency of precast concrete building component production directly impacts the construction time and cost. In the processes of precast component production, mold setting has a significant influence on the production efficiency and cost, [...] Read more.
Precast concrete comprises the basic components of modular buildings. The efficiency of precast concrete building component production directly impacts the construction time and cost. In the processes of precast component production, mold setting has a significant influence on the production efficiency and cost, as well as reducing the resource consumption. However, the development of mold setting plans is left to the experience of production staff, with outcomes dependent on the quality of human skill and experience available. This can result in sub-optimal production efficiencies and resource wastage. Accordingly, in order to improve the efficiency of precast component production, this paper proposes an optimization model able to maximize the average utilization rate of pallets used during the molding process. The constraints considered were the order demand, the size of the pallet, layout methods, and the positional relationship of components. A heuristic algorithm was used to identify optimization solutions provided by the model. Through empirical analysis, and as exemplified in the case study, this research is significant in offering a prefabrication production planning model which improves pallet utilization rates, shortens component production time, reduces production costs, and improves the resource utilization. The results clearly demonstrate that the proposed method can facilitate the precast production plan providing strong practical implications for production planners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials)
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