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Recent Developments on the Use of Sustainable Retrofitting and Construction Materials

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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 (4 February 2024) | Viewed by 6755

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alessia Monaco

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Guest Editor

Department of Architecture and Design, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Mattioli 39, 10125 Turin, Italy
Interests: natural textile reinforced mortar systems for the retrofitting of masonry structures

Prof. Dr. Marianovella Leone

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Guest Editor

Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Centro Ecotekne Pal. O - S.P. 6, Lecce, Italy
Interests: cement-less reinforced concrete material for structural applications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Scientific research in construction industry is widely devoted to the adoption of innovative and sustainable materials for the rehabilitation of existing structures and the development of new constructions.

In this context, this Special Issue aims to collect the most recent research developments in the field of structural interventions and new constructions that use innovative sustainable materials with a low environmental impact and promote recycling and circular economy approaches.

In the field of the rehabilitation of existing structures, some suggested themes include the investigation of natural vegetable fibers and/or recycled fibers in fiber-reinforced composite matrix (FRCM) and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems for masonry and RC structures. Similarly, in the context of investigations on new materials for construction, research on innovative sustainable concrete is of interest for this Special Issue.

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

- The characterization of Natural FRCM systems;

- The characterization of cement-less concrete materials;

- The mechanical performance of structural elements and buildings;

- The durability of innovative materials;

- Experimental testing, numerical and analytical modeling of materials and structures.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Alessia Monaco
Prof. Dr. Marianovella Leone
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

natural
FRCM
green concrete
sustainability
durability
structural
strengthening
experimental testing
numerical modelling
analytical modelling

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Study on Flexural Behavior of Concrete Beams Using Notches and Repair Materials

by Waseem Khan, Saleem Akhtar, Aruna Rawat and Anindya Basu

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072723 - 26 Mar 2024

Viewed by 617

Abstract

In a concrete beam, cracking is generated on the tension side under the effect of flexure, shear, and torsional loadings. Accordingly, these weak concrete members require repair and/or strengthening to increase or restore their internal load capacity. In the current experimental and numerical investigations on concrete beams, the impact of using notches with different width to depth ratios on the ultimate flexural load under a three-point test was considered. Further, the flexural behavior performance of a notched concrete beam repaired using the three repair materials—cement mortar, bacterial mortar, and adhesive—was also examined. Consequently, a comparative study was implemented between the experimental and numerical results. A concrete damage plasticity (CDP) model was used for the finite element numerical analysis of the beams. The differences in numerical and experimental measured results ranged from 0.65 to 22.20% for the ultimate load carrying capacity. As the notch size increased, the ultimate load carrying capacity of the beam reduced. Additionally, a linear regression model was used to predict the ultimate load values at a notch width interval of 5 mm up to a maximum notch width of 100 mm. It was observed that the ultimate load capacity for a repaired beam increased as compared to the notched beam for all three repair materials under consideration. And the maximum ultimate load increased in the case of notched beams repaired using adhesive. Furthermore, in comparison to the cement mortar, the performance of the bacterial mortar in terms of the ultimate load was more. The bacterial mortar was found to be more sustainable and more durable as a repair material for concrete structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments on the Use of Sustainable Retrofitting and Construction Materials)

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29 pages, 6799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rheological, Mechanical, and Micro-Structural Property Assessment of Eco-Friendly Concrete Reinforced with Waste Areca Nut Husk Fiber

by Noor Md. Sadiqul Hasan, Nur Mohammad Nazmus Shaurdho, Md. Habibur Rahman Sobuz, Md. Montaseer Meraz, Md. Abdul Basit, Suvash Chandra Paul and Md Jihad Miah

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14131; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914131 - 24 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2000

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has become one of the most promising construction techniques and repairing materials in recent times for the construction industry. Generally, plain concrete has a very low tensile strength and limited resistance to cracking prior to the ultimate load, which can be mitigated by the incorporation of fiber. Natural fibers have emerged as an appealing sustainable option in the last few decades due to their lower cost, energy savings, and minimized greenhouse effects. Areca fiber is one of the natural fibers that can be sourced from the waste-producing areca nut industry. Hence, this study aims to assess the mechanical, rheological, and micro-structural properties of areca fiber-reinforced concrete (AFRC). For this purpose, areca fiber was used in the concrete mix as a weight percentage of cement. In this regard, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by weight of cement substitutions were investigated. As key findings, 2% areca fiber enhanced the compressive strength of concrete by 2.89% compared to the control specimen (fiber-free concrete). On the other hand, splitting tensile strength increased by 18.16%. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the cement matrix and fibers are adequately connected at the interfacial level. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) test results showed more biodegradable carbon elements in the areca fiber-mixed concrete as well as an effective pozzolanic reaction. The study also exhibited that adding natural areca fiber lowered the fabrication cost by almost 1.5% and eCO₂ emissions by 3%. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that AFRC can be used as a possible building material from the standpoint of sustainable construction purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments on the Use of Sustainable Retrofitting and Construction Materials)

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26 pages, 3811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Waste Glass Cullet as Partial Substitutions of Coarse Aggregate to Produce Eco-Friendly Concrete: Role of Metakaolin as Cement Replacement

by Noor Md. Sadiqul Hasan, Nur Mohammad Nazmus Shaurdho, Md. Habibur Rahman Sobuz, Md. Montaseer Meraz, Md. Saidul Islam and Md Jihad Miah

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11254; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411254 - 19 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2305

Abstract

The utilization of waste products is becoming a vital aspect of the construction industry to safeguard environmental assets and mitigate pollution, all of which lead to long-term sustainable development. From this perspective, this experimental investigation was carried out to determine the cumulative influence of waste glass cullet and metakaolin (MK) as partial replacements for coarse aggregates and cement in an isolated and combined manner. This research demonstrated the influence of integrating glass aggregate and metakaolin wherein coarse aggregate was substituted by 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% glass cullet (by weight), and cement was supplemented with 10% metakaolin. The substitution of waste glass with coarse aggregate significantly declines the compressive strength correspondingly; however, the integration of 10% metakaolin powder enhanced the strength slightly for all specimens up to 25%. On the other hand, for flexural strength, the inclusion of glass waste in concrete reduced the performance, whereas the incorporation of metakaolin boosted the strength but did not achieve greater strength compared to the control mixture. The sustainability analysis revealed that the production cost and eCO₂ emission could be reduced by 15% and 7% by incorporating glass cullet and metakaolin in the concrete mix, which satisfied sustainability. Based on the experimental results, the ideal proportion substitution would be 25% glass aggregate with 10% metakaolin, which could satisfactorily be used to generate sustainable concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments on the Use of Sustainable Retrofitting and Construction Materials)

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Review

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17 pages, 277 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Smart Materials in 4D Printing for Hygrothermal Rehabilitation: Innovative Insights for Sustainable Building Stock Management

by Babak Farham and Luis Baltazar

Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4067; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104067 - 13 May 2024

Viewed by 354

Abstract

There is an issue in the building stock, especially in Europe, concerning energy efficiency and climate change adaptation. Due to insufficient thermal insulation and passive solutions, the majority of the existing buildings are not only ill-prepared for the negative effects of climate change, but they also contribute to higher energy consumption. The combination of smart materials and 4D printing for hygrothermal rehabilitation of building facades is the main topic of this review paper. The paper examines the application of smart materials in construction to overcome problems with moisture and heat transfer and other issues in the building envelope. It discusses numerous instances of this printing technology’s applications, such as particular responsive elements, identifies trends and draws attention to knowledge gaps in the field, and assesses environmental and economic impacts. The objective is to offer comparable data to aid in upcoming studies concerning the creation of 4D-printed building façade solutions. Additionally, the paper can be interpreted as a collaborative attempt to influence the direction of future hygrothermal building rehabilitation practices. It also aims to assist designers and other relevant parties in understanding the advantages, restrictions, and difficulties related to 4D printing and smart materials for the sustainable management of buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments on the Use of Sustainable Retrofitting and Construction Materials)

25 pages, 2714 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Challenge of Integrating Seismic and Energy Retrofitting of Buildings: An Opportunity for Sustainable Materials?

by Luca Penazzato, Rogiros Illampas and Daniel V. Oliveira

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3465; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083465 - 21 Apr 2024

Viewed by 909

Abstract

Recent earthquakes and escalating energy demands are exposing building stock deficiencies, particularly in terms of seismic resilience and energy efficiency. Many aged constructions do not fulfil current regulations both in terms of seismic and thermal design principles, thus requiring suitable retrofitting solutions. Integrated approaches for concurrent seismic and energy renovation have emerged as promising strategies in recent years, offering holistic solutions that optimize interventions and maximize benefits. While these combined methods hold significant potential for practical applications, there remain opportunities for further research to enhance their advantages. Furthermore, addressing climate concerns requires concentrated effort within the construction sector, where synergetic refurbishments can serve a dual purpose by reducing emissions and promoting the use of more sustainable materials. This study discusses strategies proposed in the literature for integrated retrofitting, considering their environmental impact, both in terms of energy performance and embodied carbon. The overview shows the innovation potential for the development of materials and systems combining acceptable performance with eco-friendly attributes. Yet, their application in integrated retrofitting systems, either as structural components or insulators, is still limited, underscoring the need for continued investigation and advancement. This paper concludes with recommendations to inspire further research and advancements in this critical field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments on the Use of Sustainable Retrofitting and Construction Materials)

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