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Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2023) | Viewed by 11349

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ahmad Beng Hong Kueh

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
Interests: composite structure; reinforced concrete; computational simulation; mechanics; constitutive modeling; sandwich structure; pollutant removal

Dr. Nur Hafizah Binti Abd Khalid

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Guest Editor

Department of Structure and Materials, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru 81310, Johor, Malaysia
Interests: green concrete; chemical dynamics in cementitious materials; characterization of materials; composites and biocomposites; CO₂ sequestration via mineralization

Dr. Jamilu Usman

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Guest Editor

Department of Building, Ahmadu Bello University, Community Market, Zaria 810211, Nigeria
Interests: sustainable construction materials

Special Issue Information

As the human race continues to achieve various feats in numerous fields, technological evolutions, specifically those in manufacturing industries, signal that our environmental wellness is constantly at risk due to many improper practices of discarding waste and by-products. Propelled by a growing awareness of the depletion of irreplaceable natural resources, emergent innovative methods for alternately recycling production wastes and formulating better-performing materials for environmental health sustainability are becoming the main global endeavors of material and structures researchers across the globe. Even though sustainable construction starts from the design stage, builders can invoke a big difference by selecting better materials and structures. Employing sustainable building activities substantially benefits both the environment and end users. This Special Issue aims to gather all recent findings on implementing sustainability in building and construction through the studies of materials and structures. A deeper understanding of these results from the various aspects of strengths, limitations, opportunities, and challenges helps advance our knowledge, thereby articulating improved solutions that improve the performance of materials and structures for safeguarding the sustainability of building and construction. All of these aspects are attainable through extensive research on the recycling and repurposing of waste materials, as well as the innovative, high-performing, and eco-friendly materials and structures associated with improved green technologies. Converting waste to wealth and exploiting sustainable resources by means of the conventional physical experimentation, intelligent modeling and computational analysis, design, and optimization methods. These are currently the emergent fields that will ensure a sustainable future for construction and materials disciplines. Progressively, as our awareness of the threats of many industrial waste and biowaste grows, waste-to-wealth operations in paving a greener construction revolution will develop, not only with better efficiency but also posing a low risk to ecosystems. Only with a complete understanding and thereby further optimization of currently available materials can a successful approach be put into practice to fulfill both performance and cost efficiencies in terms of economic, social, climate, and environmental implications in our lifestyle and construction practices. By implementing sustainable building and construction, we prepare all construction players by future-proofing them with future penalty risk removal.

Dear Colleagues,

Due to accelerated global modernization and its deteriorated environmental values, sustainability has long been demanded and promoted in numerous aspects of construction industries, e.g., structures, materials, transportation, pavements, geotechnics, water and eco-friendly engineering, etc. This Special Issue is devoted to the advances in sustainable building and construction through materials and structures. All innovations in encouraging and safeguarding sustainable construction practices, from engineering materials and structures of various scales, including multi-faceted discussions about their strengths, limitations, opportunities, and challenges are welcomed. A better understanding of these matters paves an improved roadmap towards achieving a greener construction revolution, not only with better efficacy but also with a lower risk to our ecosystem. Only with a comprehensive understanding and continual optimization of the present materials and structures can a successful approach be put in practice to fulfill both performance and cost efficiencies. These are both current and future research interests in the sustainability of buildings and construction.

Contributions covering physical, experimental, theoretical, computational, or field studies that inspire new advances in the sustainability of construction areas, including those filling the gap between theories and applications are encouraged. In this Special Issue, both original research articles and reviews are invited. Research fields may include, but are not limited to, the following themes:

Recycling and repurposing waste material;
Sustainable materials and structures;
Eco-friendly materials and structures;
Innovative materials and structures;
High-performing materials and structures;
Energy-efficient materials and structures;
Waste-to-wealth;
Green construction;
Sustainable resource;
Renewable resource;
Prefab, modular, and industrialized constructions;
Circular construction;
Design for manufacture and assembly;
Intelligent model and computation;
Analysis, design, and optimization methods;
Building information modeling (BIM).

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ahmad Beng Hong Kueh
Dr. Nur Hafizah Binti Abd Khalid
Dr. Jamilu Usman
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

recycle
eco-friendly
sustainable
renewable
sustainable material and structure
smart material and structure
renewable
high-performance
waste-to-wealth
green construction
sustainable construction
building information modelling

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 10441 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flexural Performance of Steel-Continuous-Fiber Composite Bar and Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bar Hybrid-Reinforced Sustainable Sea-Sand Concrete Beams: Numerical and Theoretical Study

by Anlian Wang, Zhiwen Zhang and Yan Liu

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051866 - 24 Feb 2024

Viewed by 679

Abstract

To investigate the flexural performance of steel-continuous-fiber composite bar (SFCB) and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bar hybrid-reinforced sea-sand concrete (SSC) beams, a total of 21 SSC beams were numerically studied. The concrete damaged plasticity model (CDPM) and FRP brittle damage model were adopted, and the bond-slip behavior between the reinforcement and concrete was considered. Parametric studies were conducted to study the effects of the SSC strength, sectional steel ratio of the SFCB, core steel bar yield strength of the SFCB, out-wrapped FRP elastic modulus of the SFCB, and the ultimate tensile strength of the SFCB on the flexural performance of the beams. The results indicate that increasing the SSC strength and out-wrapped FRP modulus enhanced the bearing capacity and stiffness but reduced the ductility, shifting failure from concrete crushing to FRP bar fracture. A higher SFCB sectional steel ratio markedly improved the flexural stiffness, transforming the load–deflection curve. Elevated core steel bar yield strength maintained the cracking load and deflection while increasing the yield and ultimate loads. For SFCB fracture, higher ultimate tensile strength in the out-wrapped FRP enhanced the ultimate load and deflection, but not in concrete crushing failure. In addition, three failure modes were defined based on the proper assumption, with the proposed bearing capacity formulas aligning well with the FE results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures)

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16 pages, 5885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Sustainable Approach Using Beef and Pig Bone Waste as a Cement Replacement to Produce Concrete

by Elkin Ronaldo Palomino-Guzmán, Alejandra González-López, Jorge Olmedo-Montoya, Luz Adriana Sanchez-Echeverri and Nelson Javier Tovar-Perilla

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020701 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 2233

Abstract

Owing to the ongoing accumulation of industrial by-products, the management and disposal of waste have emerged as a significant issue. Employing these industrial wastes as an alternative to replace cement holds potential as a promising solution for conserving energy and reducing CO₂ emissions. In this study, pig and beef bone powder were used as cement replacements in concrete, and the mechanical properties were studied. Bone powders were prepared from random bones collected from local slaughterhouses, butchers, and restaurants. The pig bone powder (PBP) and beef bone powder (BBP) were prepared by direct fire contact, oven-calcined for 4 h at 300 °C, crushed, and sieved to size 0.4 to 2 mm. A concrete mix design was formulated for a target compressive strength of 21 MPa at 28 days of curing. This design included three different levels of cement replacement with each type of bone powder (10%, 15%, and 20% by mass). These mixes were then evaluated and compared to a control mix without any bone powder replacement (PB-0). This study evaluated the mechanical properties via compressive strength and flexural testing. The results showed that the workability of the mixtures decreased with the increase in bone powder content. Bone powder functions as a pozzolanic substance, engaging in a chemical reaction with the calcium hydroxide in concrete to produce compounds that exhibit cement-like properties; however, an increase in bone powder content worsened the mechanical properties. The most promising results were obtained for a 10% replacement percentage of BBP and PBP, obtaining strengths of 21.15 MPa and 22.78 MPa, respectively. These are both above the design strength, with PBP concrete even exceeding the strength of PB-0 (21.75 MPa). These results showed a good agreement with the standard values and allow to use these wastes as a replacement for cement, becoming a sustainable solution to the exploitation of quarry materials and, in turn, to the problem of contamination by biological waste from the meat industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures)

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17 pages, 4953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Flexural Fatigue Resistance of Recycled Fine Aggregate Concrete Incorporating Calcium Sulfate Whiskers

by Chuheng Zhong, Xiaoyu Chen, Weiqi Mao, Sijia Xing, Jinhui Chen and Jinzhi Zhou

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16357; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316357 - 28 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 854

Abstract

In order to study the flexural fatigue resistance of calcium sulfate whisker-modified recycled fine aggregate concrete (RFAC), flexural fatigue cyclic loading tests at different stress levels (0.6, 0.7, and 0.9) considering a calcium sulfate whisker (CSW) admixture as the main influencing factor were designed. Furthermore, the fatigue life was analyzed, and fatigue equations were established using the three-parameter Weibull distribution function theory. In addition, the micro-morphology of CSW-modified recycled fine aggregate concrete was observed and analyzed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and the strengthening and toughening mechanisms of CSW on recycled fine aggregate concrete were further explored. The test results demonstrate that the inclusion of recycled fine aggregate reduces the fatigue life of concrete, while the incorporation of CSW can effectively improve the fatigue life of the recycled fine aggregate concrete, where 1% of CSW modification can extend the fatigue life of recycled fine aggregate concrete by 56.5%. Furthermore, the fatigue life of concrete under cyclic loading decreases rapidly as the maximum stress level increases. Fatigue life equations were established with double logarithmic curves, and P-S-N curves considering different survival probabilities (p = 0.5, 0.95) were derived. Microscopic analyses demonstrate that the CSW has a “bridging” effect at micro-seams in the concrete matrix, delaying the generation and enlargement of micro-cracks in the concrete matrix, thus resulting in improved mechanical properties and flexural fatigue resistance of the recycled fine aggregate concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures)

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18 pages, 1358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Buildings: A Case Study in Vietnam

by Thi Song Le, Andreas Zegowitz, Cao Chien Le, Hartwig Künzel, Dirk Schwede, Thi Hong Luu, Trung Thanh Le and Thi Tam Nguyen

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15921; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215921 - 14 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1316

Abstract

This paper reports on collaborative activities to promote energy- and resource-efficient construction practices in Vietnam. First, the governance framework was introduced, including government decrees and technical standards. Then, a laboratory with building physics measurement technology was designed and partly set up at the local partner, the Vietnam Institute for Building Materials (VIBM). This can be used to determine the essential characteristic values required for the implementation of energy standards. The requirements of the national technical regulation on energy-efficient buildings of Vietnam—QCVN09:2017/BXD—form the basis for the prioritization of characteristic values. Furthermore, the description of basic characteristic values from international standards can also be used for calculations to optimize the energy consumption of buildings. To carry out transient hygrothermal computer simulations, special characteristic values are also included. These are particularly useful for the research and development of new building materials and the evaluation of entire buildings in terms of thermal and moisture protection. In this way, the practical means for implementing governance instruments are provided, and the associated technical applications are supported. Based on the example of Vietnam, this paper indicates how a developing country can develop a road map for improving its systems for testing, rating, and labeling building materials for energy performance towards sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures)

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25 pages, 33160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Flexural Behavior of Mortar Beams Strengthened with Recycled Plastic Mesh

by Hassan Ghanem, Safwan Chahal, Jamal Khatib and Adel Elkordi

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5640; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075640 - 23 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1245

Abstract

The generation of plastic waste is increasing all over the world at an alarming rate, therefore raising concerns related to its disposal. As space for landfilling is becoming scarce and as incinerating the plastic waste leads to the release of toxic elements into the environment, recycling becomes a viable and an attractive option in pursuit of sustainable development. This paper investigates the flexural behavior of mortar beams reinforced with recycled plastic mesh. To achieve this objective, 27 mortar beams were prepared, with 24 of them containing waste plastic mesh with different void ratios and effective widths. All beams were cured for 28 days and then tested using a three-point bending test. Mid-span deflection was measured for each increment of load to obtain the load deflection curve. Moreover, a numerical simulation was performed on all mortar specimens using finite element software ABAQUS and a comparison was made with the experimental analysis. Test results showed that the addition of plastic mesh increased the flexural toughness and ductility of mortar beams. Furthermore, it was noticed that as the effective width ratio increased from 0 to 0.58, the ultimate capacity and flexural toughness increased. Beyond this level, a decrease was observed. On the other hand, the ductility index was proportional to the flexural toughness for all mesh effective width ratios. Comparing the ultimate capacity, flexural toughness and ductility index between the experimental and numerical data, there was a difference of up to 7%. This indicates that the numerical output can be a good predictor of the performance of plastic inside the mortar. Hence, using recycled plastic mesh could be recommended for improving the flexural performance of mortar beams, creating a sustainable composite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures)

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15 pages, 3894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leaching Behaviour of Synthetic Leachate through a Sewage Sludge and Red Gypsum Composite as Intermediate Landfill Cover

by Nor Azalina Rosli, Hamidi Abdul Aziz, Ahmad Beng Hong Kueh, Leonard Lik Pueh Lim and Mohd Hafiz Zawawi

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4229; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054229 - 26 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1886

Abstract

This paper examines the environmental impact of the use of compacted sewage sludge:red gypsum (SS:RG) mixture as intermediate landfill cover in terms of yield and quality of leachate as characterised by hydraulic conductivity and leaching behaviour. A series of column tests using the constant head method is carried out by percolating the synthetic leachate through samples that have been compacted at various degrees (60, 70, 75, 80 and 85%). The leachate quality is monitored at pre-determined days for pH, COD, Cu, Fe and Zn. In general, hydraulic conductivity decreases in three stages, in which the first stage is mainly attributed to the particle rearrangement and hydration of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). The hydration of CSH increases the pH, which causes the heavy metal to precipitate and be entrapped within the matrices of CSH gel, thereby further reducing the porosity and hydraulic conductivity. A minimum of 75% compaction has shown favourable final porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and leachate quality, although a minimum of 80% compaction is recommended in order to achieve a satisfactory compressive strength of greater than 345 kPa for a landfill operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures)

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Review

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18 pages, 7980 KiB

Open AccessReview

Efficiency of Waste as Cement Replacement in Foamed Concrete—A Review

by Rokiah Othman, Ramadhansyah Putra Jaya, Youventharan Duraisamy, Mohd Arif Sulaiman, Beng Wei Chong and Ali Ghamari

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5163; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065163 - 14 Mar 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2259

Abstract

Foamed concrete is a lightweight construction material that has gained popularity due to its excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Foamed concrete production involves using cement as a binding agent, which results in a high carbon footprint. In response to sustainable development goals (SDG), there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative materials that can replace cement to improve energy efficiency, climate change, resource efficiency, and overall improvement of foamed concrete properties. Several tons of waste generated annually from industry, agriculture, and quarries are dumped into landfills and cause environmental impacts. Nevertheless, the efficiency of this waste presents an interesting question and there is limited knowledge of its use in foamed concrete. Hence, a review study is needed to evaluate the efficiency of different waste materials that could be used to replace cement in foamed concrete production. The objective of this research is to summarize the efficiency of industrial waste (IW) as a pozzolan alternative (PA) for cement replacement in foamed concrete (FC) production. This study aims to evaluate the chemical, physical, and pozzolanic reactions of selected IW and compare them to cement and selected pozzolans to determine the effect of efficient IW on the compressive strength and durability of FC. This research evaluated the efficiency of IW in PA by characterizing their chemical, physical, and pozzolanic reactions. The selected IW was studied and compared to cement and selected pozzolans using XRF and XRD analyses. This study also performed the Frattini test to determine the strength activity index (SAI) of efficient IW. The efficiency of IW in PA was evaluated by comparing the SAI of efficient IW to the minimum 75% required by BS3892. The compressive strength and durability of FC with efficient IW were determined by evaluating the microstructure of the hardened paste of FC using capillary void analysis. The study found that efficient IW, which was classified as siliceous pozzolan type F (ASTMC618-SAF > 70%), rich in amorphous silica and a high Blaine specific area, can replace cement in FC production. The XRF and XRD results showed that the most crystalline components obtained in the IW are SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaCO₃, and Fe₂O₃. The efficient IW produced more calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) and denser FC, making it stronger, with fewer voids and higher resistance to water absorption. The Frattini test showed that the SAI of efficient IW is greater than the minimum 75% required by BS3892. Incorporating efficient IW as cement replacement in FC produced higher compressive strength and improved the durability of FC. The novelty of this research is in the evaluation of efficient IW as a replacement material for cement in FC production. This study shows that efficient IW can promote the use of waste materials, reduce CO₂ emissions, conserve energy and resources, and improve the properties of FC. This study’s findings can be used by construction industry players to support sustainable development goals by reducing the use of cement and promoting the use of waste materials as a replacement material for cement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Building and Construction Materials and Structures)

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