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Sustainability
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Sustainable Materials for Constructions: The Case of Natural Materials
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Sustainable Materials for Constructions: The Case of Natural Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 15936

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Luisa Molari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
DICAM Department, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Interests: natural materials for constructions; bamboo; straw; reed

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are facing a broad range of challenges that claim sustainable choices, and there is growing recognition and awareness that nature can provide viable solutions.

For this reason, we are looking with increasing interest at the use of natural materials for constructions. There are several emerging natural materials that appear to be useful and deserve research to fully understand their potentials and exploit their possible applications.

Examples can be the uses of bamboo, straw, reed, hemp, but also raw earth, already consolidated wood and other materials.

Some of these materials should be, in some cases, only rediscovered because they were in the past already used as construction materials in traditional building techniques.

These materials can also be used to obtain engineered materials, which are obviously more standardizable and industrializable in the practice.

Research increases our knowledge, but the diffusion in the field practice also requires the development of standards.

There is an increasing interest, and more and more papers are appearing which are hosted, sometimes with difficulties, in journals traditionally dedicated to convectional materials.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect and give visibility to the research on natural materials for constructions.

In particular, we welcome papers focusing on:

  • mechanical and physical characterization of emerging sustainable natural materials with innovative experimental setups;
  • modeling of the mechanical and physical performance of emerging sustainable natural materials;
  • the extension of the experimental characterization and modeling at the level of construction elements made by these materials;
  • innovative uses of these materials in constructions toghether with the rediscovery of the traditional ones;
  • grading of the materials;
  • standardization procedures.

Dr. Luisa Molari
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

  • sustainability
  • natural materials
  • bamboo
  • straw
  • reed
  • hemp
  • innovative sustainable material
  • non-conventional materials
  • constructions
  • standards
  • buildings
  • vernacular architecture

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3514 KiB  
Article
The Dilemma of Balancing Design for Impact Sound with Environmental Performance in Wood Ceiling Systems—A Building Physics Perspective
by Theresa Müller, David Borschewski, Stefan Albrecht, Philip Leistner and Moritz Späh
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 8715; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168715 - 4 Aug 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2226
Abstract
Due to the high consumption of resources and energy in the construction sector, the development of resource-efficient and sustainable construction solutions is gaining increasing attention. The awareness of sustainability and resource conservation results in the interest of using natural and renewable materials in [...] Read more.
Due to the high consumption of resources and energy in the construction sector, the development of resource-efficient and sustainable construction solutions is gaining increasing attention. The awareness of sustainability and resource conservation results in the interest of using natural and renewable materials in contemporary architecture. Timber construction methods offer both constructive and ecological potential for sustainable solutions. From a building physics perspective, the acoustic performance of lightweight buildings, such as those made of timber, presents a challenge. Even if standard requirements are met, the increased low-frequency sound transmission typical for light-weight construction can cause discomfort and is already the subject of questions in building physics, which are currently increasingly extending to timber construction. Within the framework of a holistic approach, this paper compares the problem of acoustic properties, design optimizations and the ecological properties of timber-frame and solid timber construction components. The comparison with heavy materials, such as concrete, shows the relation of acoustic optimization with the change of the environmental profile. In order to establish the interaction between acoustic quality of wooden ceiling constructions and their ecological characteristics, this article aims to demonstrate the potential of materials used in the building sector under ecological aspects considering a life cycle analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials for Constructions: The Case of Natural Materials)
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13 pages, 1611 KiB  
Article
Environmental Impacts of Renewable Insulation Materials
by Andreas Geß, Manuel Lorenz, Anna Tolsdorf and Stefan Albrecht
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8505; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158505 - 29 Jul 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3341
Abstract
According to the IEA Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2019, one of the main industry sectors causing environmental impacts is the construction sector. Hence, construction materials from renewable resources are expected to have a large potential to decrease these impacts. In [...] Read more.
According to the IEA Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2019, one of the main industry sectors causing environmental impacts is the construction sector. Hence, construction materials from renewable resources are expected to have a large potential to decrease these impacts. In this study, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted for four different insulation materials from renewable feedstock: insulation made from pasture grass, seaweed, reed, and recycled jute fibres. Additionally, the effects on land use change were evaluated for pasture grass insulation using the LANCA® methodology. To put the LCA results in relation to those of non-renewable resources, a comparison of standardized LCA values for conventional insulation materials is presented. In general, the renewable insulation materials show fewer environmental impacts than their conventional counterparts. In particular, these materials have advantages regarding greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change. Of the analyzed materials, seaweed showed the overall lowest emissions. It can be concluded that insulation materials from non-mineral, non-fossil, and non-wooden resources are still fairly niche in terms of market share, but they have extraordinary potential in decreasing the environmental impacts of construction ventures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials for Constructions: The Case of Natural Materials)
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23 pages, 9589 KiB  
Article
Use of Flat Interwoven Wooden Strips in Architecture and Construction. Simulation and Optimization Using 3D Digital Models
by Amaia Casado, Antonio Sánchez, Cristina Marieta and Iñigo Leon
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6383; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116383 - 4 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3599
Abstract
This research aims to promote the use of natural materials in construction. Its purpose is to rediscover the interlacing of flat wooden strips. Attending to environmental criteria, it focuses on the study of wood from a locally produced tree, the chestnut, in the [...] Read more.
This research aims to promote the use of natural materials in construction. Its purpose is to rediscover the interlacing of flat wooden strips. Attending to environmental criteria, it focuses on the study of wood from a locally produced tree, the chestnut, in the north of Spain. However, the proposed methodology can be universally replicated with local wood productions anywhere. The interweaving of flat wooden strips is linked to traditional basketry, which is at serious risk of disappearing in many places. A combined method based on the design of interlaced artifacts is proposed. For this purpose, the mechanical characteristics of the specific material tested were analyzed in advance. The elastic limit of the material was obtained, and this allowed simulating and optimizing the maximum curvatures of the flat strips in a 3D digital model. New geometric shapes were designed with new interlacing wefts and were built with the tested material. The digital models used serve as a record of the artifacts built, and can be posted on web platforms so that they can be universally replicated. This will allow for the preservation of this heritage of built artifacts using basketry techniques, enabling the proposed objective to be achieved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials for Constructions: The Case of Natural Materials)
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13 pages, 2548 KiB  
Article
Building Retrofitting System Based on Bamboo-Steel Hybrid Exoskeleton Structures: A Case Study
by Vittoria F. Parrella and Luisa Molari
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 5984; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115984 - 26 May 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2817
Abstract
The building heritage of many seismic regions worldwide is largely substandard and seismically deficient and would require seismic retrofitting interventions. The use of natural materials with low embedded emissions could lead to a low carbon footprint of the retrofitting intervention. In this perspective, [...] Read more.
The building heritage of many seismic regions worldwide is largely substandard and seismically deficient and would require seismic retrofitting interventions. The use of natural materials with low embedded emissions could lead to a low carbon footprint of the retrofitting intervention. In this perspective, an innovative structural sustainable retrofitting system is proposed consisting of a hybrid steel–bamboo reticular bracing system. Through a preliminary two-dimensional analysis, the capabilities of the system are assessed by varying the size and the number of the culms and inserting engineered bamboo and steel rods. Considering the constraints posed by the openings, a structure that uses steel in the first inter-storey and bamboo in the others is proposed to obtain a significative improvement of mechanical performances. The spatial behaviour of this structure is studied through a three-dimensional numerical model. The seismic analyses show that the exoskeleton structure when conveniently anchored allows to achieve an effective displacement and deformation control on the primary structure, as well as a reduction of its internal forces. The results of the presented work may provide useful preliminary insights. Further research effort is needed to generalize the results to different seismic zones. The proposed seismic retrofitting system could be easily integrated with a thermal coat to also enhance energy saving. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials for Constructions: The Case of Natural Materials)
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15 pages, 2056 KiB  
Article
Development of Rice Bran Mixed Porous Clay Bricks for Permeable Pavements: A Sustainable LID Technique for Arid Regions
by Fawaz Alharbi, Meshal Almoshaogeh, Md. Shafiquzzaman, Husnain Haider, Md. Rafiquzzaman, Ahmed Alragi, Sherif ElKholy, ELSaid Abdallah Bayoumi and Yassine EL-Ghoul
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031443 - 29 Jan 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3100
Abstract
Permeable pavement provides sustainable solutions for urban stormwater management. In this research, the potential of rice bran mixed porous clay bricks were evaluated for permeable pavements. Physical, mechanical and hydrological properties along with stormwater treatment capabilities of the brick samples were assessed. The [...] Read more.
Permeable pavement provides sustainable solutions for urban stormwater management. In this research, the potential of rice bran mixed porous clay bricks were evaluated for permeable pavements. Physical, mechanical and hydrological properties along with stormwater treatment capabilities of the brick samples were assessed. The study found that ratio of rice bran and clay soil has significant impacts on the properties of the produced bricks. Water adsorption and porosity increased with increasing rice bran ratio. Compressive strength of brick samples decreased from 29.6 MPa to 6.9 MPa when the ratio of rice bran was increased from 0% to 20%. The permeability coefficient increased from 4 × 10−4 to 1.39 × 10−2 mm/s with the increase in rice bran from 0% to 30%. The preamble clay bricks were efficient to remove turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), five days’ biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and heavy metals (Mn, Cu, and Zn) from stormwater to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for wastewater reuse application. The bricks with ≤10% of rice bran achieved the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard of the desire compressive strength and permeability coefficient for pedestrian and light traffic pavements. The porous bricks prepared in this study can be used to construct permeable pavements and would be a sustainable low impact developments technique for stormwater management in urban areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials for Constructions: The Case of Natural Materials)
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