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Waste to Value – Use of Innovative Green Materials in the Construction of Transportation Infrastructure

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 9970

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ehsan Yaghoubi

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Guest Editor

College of Sport, Health and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia
Interests: recycled materials in construction; pavement materials; geomechanics; pavement performance; transport infrastructure; green construction approaches
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Malindu Sandanayake

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Sport, Health and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia
Interests: life cycle assesmsent; sustainable construction; life cycle cost analysis; green and sustainable materials; green and lean construction methods; green buildings and infrastructure; building information modelling; smart technologies use and digitization in construction; modern construction methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction sector is the most material-consuming industry and is significantly responsible for the depletion of natural resources, such as aggregate and oil mines. Identifying alternative materials to be used in the construction of civil infrastructure is, thus, an important step towards sustainability. Significant research has been undertaken to investigate the applicability of recycled materials in the construction of transport infrastructures, such as roads, embankments and associated structures. However, the provision of further robust evidence to convince authorities and industries for maximising the proportion of wastes/recycled materials in civil construction projects is still required. In this regard, in addition to performance testing, life cycle assessment and social procurement considerations on the use of green materials are key areas of research focus.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers to share their original research outcomes and to contribute to the outstanding collection of reviews and experimental, numerical and technical studies on green materials in transport infrastructure construction.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Pavement materials (asphalt, base, subbase) incorporating recycled materials;
Mechanical, stress–strain response, and durability of green pavement structures;
Improvement of natural subgrades using innovative techniques/materials;
Innovative and green construction technologies in infrastructure construction sector;
Green and innovative concrete technologies in infrastructure construction;
Life cycle assessment of green materials to facilitate sustainable decision making in transport infrastructure construction projects;
Factors affecting the market implementation and promotion of green materials in construction;
Drivers and barriers of circular economy and promotion of green and sustainable materials;
Benchmarking life cycle economic benefits to promote the commercial implementation of green materials;
Social procurement considerations and life cycle benefits of using green materials in construction projects.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Materials.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Infrastructures.

Dr. Ehsan Yaghoubi
Dr. Malindu Sandanayake
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

wastes
recycled materials
green pavements
ground improvement
road construction materials
life cycle assessment
circular economy
green concrete

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 7341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning Models for the Prediction of the Compressive Strength of Self-Compacting Concrete Incorporating Incinerated Bio-Medical Waste Ash

by Nahushananda Chakravarthy H G, Karthik M Seenappa, Sujay Raghavendra Naganna and Dayananda Pruthviraja

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13621; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813621 - 12 Sep 2023

Viewed by 976

Abstract

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a special form of high-performance concrete that is highly efficient in its filling, flowing, and passing abilities. In this study, an attempt has been made to model the compressive strength (CS) of SCC mixes using machine-learning approaches. The SCC mixes were designed considering lightweight expandable clay aggregate (LECA) as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate; ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) as a partial replacement for binding material (cement); and incinerated bio-medical waste ash (IBMWA) as a partial replacement for fine aggregate. LECA, GGBS, and IBMWA were replaced with coarse aggregate, cement, and fine aggregate, respectively at different substitution levels of 10%, 20%, and 30%. M30-grade SCC mixes were designed for two different water/binder ratios—0.40 and 0.45—and the CS of the SCC mixes was experimentally determined along with the fresh state properties assessed by slump-flow, L-box, J-ring, and V-funnel tests. The CS of the SCC mixes obtained from the experimental analysis was considered for machine learning (ML)-based modeling using paradigms such as artificial neural networks (ANN), gradient tree boosting (GTB), and CatBoost Regressor (CBR). The ML models were developed considering the compressive strength of SCC as the target parameter. The quantities of materials (in terms of %), water-to-binder ratio, and density of the SCC specimens were used as input variables to simulate the ML models. The results from the experimental analysis show that the optimum replacement percentages for cement, coarse, and fine aggregates were 30%, 10%, and 20%, respectively. The ML models were successful in modeling the compressive strength of SCC mixes with higher accuracy and the least errors. The CBR model performed relatively better than the other two ML models, with relatively higher efficiency (KGE = 0.9671) and the least error (mean absolute error = 0.52 MPa) during the testing phase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste to Value – Use of Innovative Green Materials in the Construction of Transportation Infrastructure)

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15 pages, 25645 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation of Open-Graded Bituminous Concrete Modified with Natural Fibers

by Muttana S. Balreddy, Pamisetty Nethra and Sujay Raghavendra Naganna

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11952; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511952 - 3 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1241

Abstract

Open-graded bituminous concrete (OGBC), also known as open-graded friction course or permeable asphalt layer, is a skid-resistant surface applied to pavements with high bitumen content. This mixture contains more coarse aggregates than fine aggregates, which improves subsurface drainage and indirectly reduces hydroplaning potential during wet weather conditions. The objective of the present study was to enhance the properties of the OGBC mix with fibers. Hence, four distinct natural biofibers, namely, sisal fiber, jute fiber, coir fiber, and bamboo fiber, were considered during experimental investigation at different dosages like 0.15%, 0.3% & 0.45% by weight of mix. Binder content levels ranged from 5 to 6% with an increment of 0.25% between the values in the range. Fiber-reinforced OGBC mixes were tested for air voids (%), draindown, resistance to moisture susceptibility, Cantabro loss, and indirect tensile strength of the compacted mixtures. The experimental findings demonstrate that fibers enhance the performance of OGBC mixes. Fiber incorporation reduced binder draindown and the percentage of air voids in OGBC mixes while maintaining the desired characteristics. The optimal fiber content was determined to be 0.30% for sisal, bamboo, and coir fibers and 0.45% for jute fibers. With the addition of sisal fibers at a dosage rate of 0.30%, the tensile strength of the OGBC mixture increased along with resistance to susceptibility to moisture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste to Value – Use of Innovative Green Materials in the Construction of Transportation Infrastructure)

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16 pages, 2834 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Fine Aggregates and Mineral Fillers on the Permanent Deformation of Hot Mix Asphalt

by Noman Khan, Fazli Karim, Qadir Bux Alias Imran Latif Qureshi, Sameer Ahmad Mufti, Muhammad Babar Ali Rabbani, Muhammad Siyab Khan and Diyar Khan

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10646; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310646 - 6 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1813

Abstract

Conventional asphalt pavement is the dominant mode of passenger and freight traffic in Pakistan. As a result, asphalt pavements suffer from various failures, where rutting, corrugation, and fatigue cracking are significant. Fine aggregates and mineral fillers play a pivotal role in providing structural integrity in asphalt pavements when subjected to traffic and the environment. The current study aims to examine the effects of various locally accessible fine aggregate and mineral filler materials on the interlocking properties of asphalt mixtures in relation to internal friction angle, rutting resistance, and controlling environmental pollution as an indirect benefit, thereby reducing wastes. Four distinct asphalt samples were prepared using cinders, stone dust, natural sand, and surkhi as fine aggregates and mineral fillers, as a full replacement, as per ASTM D1559, confirming the Asphalt Institute’s gradation for asphalt wearing course. Optimum binder contents (OBC) of 4.40%, 4.1%, 6.57%, and 6.63% by weight of Marshall specimen were concluded for asphalt samples containing stone dust, natural sand, cinder, and surkhi, respectively. The results revealed that surkhi, natural sand, stone dust, and cinder all showed a diminishing tendency in developing interlocking properties in asphalt mixtures at internal friction angles of 35°, 33.7°, 32°, and 28.4°, respectively. The wheel tracking test results revealed that the asphalt samples made with surkhi as fine aggregates and fillers have the highest rut resistance, whereas samples made with cinders as fine aggregates and fillers have the lowest rut resistance. The direct shear test showed that fine aggregates with a larger angle of internal friction are significantly more stable in terms of rut resistance than fine aggregates with a smaller angle of internal friction. The current research will help to prevent pavement rutting and corrugation by adding surkhi into asphalt pavements, with the reduction in brick kiln waste providing an indirect benefit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste to Value – Use of Innovative Green Materials in the Construction of Transportation Infrastructure)

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17 pages, 7055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hemp Fiber-Modified Asphalt Concretes with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement for Low-Traffic Roads

by Apinun Buritatum, Apichat Suddeepong, Kongsak Akkharawongwhatthana, Suksun Horpibulsuk, Teerasak Yaowarat, Menglim Hoy, Arul Arulrajah and Ahmad Safuan A. Rashid

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086860 - 19 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1892

Abstract

Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) contributes substantially to the volume of recycled waste in the world. This research aims to evaluate the mechanistic performance of asphalt concrete with 100% RAP (RAP-AC) modified with natural hemp fiber (HF) reinforcement. The effects of HF lengths and HF contents on the mechanistic performance were investigated. The static tests included Marshall stability, strength index (SI), and indirect tensile strength (ITS), whilst the cyclic tests included indirect tensile resilient modulus (IT M_r), indirect tensile fatigue life (ITFL), and rutting resistance tests. The microstructural analysis revealed that HF could absorb more asphalt cement and function as a reinforcement. The 0.05% HF with a 24 mm HF length was suggested as the best ingredient. For various stress levels, the higher resilience properties—due to the addition of HF—contribute to higher levels of ITFL and rutting resistance. Based on a critical analysis of the cyclic test data, the distress model for HF-RAP-AC was developed for mechanistic pavement design. The outcome of this research promotes the usage of HF-RAP-AC as a greener material for low-traffic roads, which account for over 70% of the total roads worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste to Value – Use of Innovative Green Materials in the Construction of Transportation Infrastructure)

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20 pages, 6358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of a Stabilized Sand Using Geopolymer Made of Wastes and a Natural Pozzolan

by Mahsa Nabizadeh Mashizi, Mohammad Hossein Bagheripour, Mohammad Mostafa Jafari and Ehsan Yaghoubi

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 2966; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15042966 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1792

Abstract

In this study, a combination of geopolymers including Rafsanjan Natural Pozzolan (RNP), Cement Kiln Dust (CKD), and an activator such as Calcium Carbide Residue (CCR) or NaOH was used to stabilize and improve the poorly graded sandy soil. Factors such as the activator type, activator concentration, CKD and RNP content were studied. Chemical compounds of the soil and abovementioned materials were investigated using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) detection tests. Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical behavior of the specimens. The findings revealed that CKD, which is a hazardous byproduct, could be turned into an eco-friendly construction material through geopolymerization. The presence of CKD along with NaOH significantly increased the UCS of the samples compared to unstabilized specimens (control 1). Microstructural analyses using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the desirable distribution of the geopolymer gel in the stabilized soil. According to the SEM images, it was observed that the samples stabilized with CKD had a higher strength than those stabilized with CKD combined with RNP due to the formation of a greater amount of gel and a stable microstructure. The findings of this research promote sustainable ground improvement techniques using waste by-products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste to Value – Use of Innovative Green Materials in the Construction of Transportation Infrastructure)

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14 pages, 2254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geothermal Pavements: Experimental Testing, Prototype Testing, and Numerical Analysis of Recycled Demolition Wastes

by Behnam Ghorbani, Arul Arulrajah, Guillermo A. Narsilio, Suksun Horpibulsuk and Apinun Buritatum

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2680; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032680 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1483

Abstract

Geothermal pavements have the potential to reduce the pavement surface temperature by circulating fluid in pipes within the pavement structure. This research investigated an innovative geothermal pavement system with multiple benefits, such as reducing the surface temperature and harvesting heat energy for power generation. This research aimed to provide an understanding of the mechanical properties of geothermal pavements constructed with construction and demolition (C&D) waste materials through large-scale physical testing, experimental testing, small-scale prototype testing, and numerical simulation. The mechanical properties of the geothermal pavement system were assessed under long-term traffic loading conditions using a prototype test system. The repeated load triaxial and repeated-load California bearing ratio tests were also undertaken to evaluate the effect of pipe inclusion on the permanent deformation, stiffness, and strength of the pavement base. A numerical model was subsequently developed and calibrated using the data from small-scale prototype testing. In addition, the effects of the flow rate and pipe materials on the thermal performances of the geothermal pavements were also investigated in this research. The inclusion of pipes in the pavement base layer was found to have negligible detrimental effects on the deformation behavior of RCA. The resilient moduli of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) samples slightly decreased with the inclusion of pipes. An HDPE pipe reduced the stiffness of the RCA + HDPE mix. On the other hand, a copper pipe’s high stiffness improved the mix’s strength. The numerical simulations indicated that for the HDPE pipe, increasing the flow rate from 500 mL/min to 2000 mL/min reduced the surface temperature by approximately 1.3%, while using the copper pipe resulted in an approximately 4% further decrease in the surface temperature compared to the HDPE pipe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste to Value – Use of Innovative Green Materials in the Construction of Transportation Infrastructure)

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