Advances in Building Materials and Concrete

1. Introduction

The global construction sector faces the unprecedented challenge of meeting growing infrastructure demands while drastically reducing its environmental footprint. Concrete, as the most consumed man-made material, is central to this paradigm shift. Recent developments have focused on two main pillars: material innovation—specifically the creation of ‘greener’ and stronger materials [1]—and structural enhancement—through advanced techniques for repair, strengthening, and seismic protection [2]. Advances include the development of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC/UHPC) and the integration of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites [3].

Despite this progress, several knowledge gaps persist. For instance, a significant void remains regarding the standardization and lifecycle assessment of sustainable materials; while waste-derived materials are promising, there is a lack of data on their long-term durability, consistent performance, and standardized methods for a full carbon and cost assessment across the product lifecycle [4]. A second critical area is the need for more in-depth advanced structural behavior modeling, which requires greater experimental and numerical understanding of complex phenomena such as the behavior of structural interfaces under cyclic loading [5] and the performance of innovative seismic isolation/dissipation devices [6]. Finally, more reliable and accessible Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods are required for accurate in situ assessment and retrofitting, particularly in heritage structures and post-tensioned systems [7], alongside the practical application of novel strengthening technologies [8]. This Special Issue was curated to present high-quality research that directly contributes to bridging these three critical gaps, showcasing a holistic view of the “advances” in the field.

2. Overview of Published Articles

The 14 papers collected in this Special Issue provide valuable contributions across the materials-to-structure spectrum. They can be grouped into the following four sections.

2.1. Sustainable and Innovative Cementitious Composites

This cluster is defined by the quest for sustainability and high performance through waste utilization. Abdolpour et al. (contribution 1) pioneer the “Green Manufacturing” of UHPFRC using waste derived from scrap tires and oil refineries, showcasing a path to circular economy principles [9]. This theme is reinforced by Alemu et al. (contribution 2), who investigate the use of marble and glass waste powder as cement replacement in mortar, and Sandanayake et al. (contribution 3), which presents a carbon and cost assessment of concrete with textile and cardboard fibers, providing practical case studies towards a circular economy. Furthermore, Guo et al. (contribution 4) explore a sustainable approach by studying the performance of Steel Slag Micropowder Ecotype UHPC in short columns, consistent with the push for using industrial byproducts [10].

2.2. Enhanced Structural Performance and Seismic Resilience

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to improving the safety and resilience of structures. On the material performance front, Lu et al. (contribution 5) analyze the ultimate bearing capacity of UHPC walls under a challenging combination of thermal load and eccentric compression [11]. Focusing on seismic protection, Angeli et al. (contribution 6) experimentally investigate a device (U-FREIs) to restrain horizontal sliding, and Katsimpini et al. (contribution 7) thoroughly examine innovative supplementary dampers to enhance the seismic behavior of structural systems. The complex interaction within structural elements is tackled by Palieraki et al. (contribution 8), who provide experimental data on the effect of compressive interface stress on interfaces in reinforced concrete elements under cyclic action.

2.3. Advanced Strengthening and Assessment Techniques

This section presents new methodologies for rehabilitation and inspection. Karayannis and Golias (contribution 9) propose an innovative technique for strengthening RC columns and connections using C-FRP ROPES, contributing to the evolution of external reinforcement systems [12]. Complementary to this, Zhang and Lan (contribution 10) study the shear behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with a FRP Grid–PCM Composite Reinforcement, providing insight into hybrid strengthening systems [13]. For structural assessment, Rossi et al. (contribution 11) conduct an explorative investigation of the flat-jack test for prestress assessment in post-tensioned concrete structures, a crucial area where traditional NDT methods often fall short. Addressing heritage structures, Duliu et al. (contribution 12) present a method for assessing the degradation status of a historical church’s imperial doors.

2.4. Construction Management and Technology

Two papers offer a wider lens on construction applications. Xiong et al. (contribution 13) research safety performance evaluation and improvement in prefabricated building construction using advanced decision-making tools (DEMATEL and NK). Lastly, Tažiková et al. (contribution 14) provide a time–cost analysis of administrative buildings using wood-based construction systems, offering a comparative look at non-concrete alternatives and hybrid construction.

3. Future Research Directions

The journey toward truly sustainable and resilient construction is ongoing, and the contributions within this Special Issue provide a sturdy foundation for the next wave of innovation. Future research should immediately focus on several critical domains, starting with the development of digital twin models for advanced materials like UHPC. These models are crucial for allowing real-time monitoring and predictive modeling of long-term durability and structural lifespan under various environmental and loading conditions [14], which will necessitate the integration of NDT data with computational models. Concurrently, a major effort must be directed toward the standardization and certification of waste-derived binders. A key barrier to the large-scale adoption of ‘green’ concrete is the lack of standardized guidelines and certification protocols for cementitious materials utilizing high volumes of waste and secondary raw materials [15]. Future work should focus on establishing robust, internationally recognized performance specifications to overcome this hurdle. Furthermore, researchers should aggressively explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) [16] to optimize low-carbon concrete mix designs, predicting the complex interactions between novel supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and ensuring specified mechanical properties while minimizing the embodied carbon footprint [17]. Finally, all future studies on material innovations must systematically integrate comprehensive Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and formal Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to provide industry stakeholders with the necessary data to make informed, sustainable investment decisions [18].

4. Conclusions

This Special Issue successfully gathered and disseminated state-of-the-art research that tangibly addresses contemporary challenges in building materials and concrete. It demonstrated that sustainable material development and enhanced structural performance are not mutually exclusive, highlighting a strong research focus on waste valorization and the development of high-performance, resilient structural systems. The collected works have not only provided new experimental data and innovative material compositions but have also introduced new methodologies for structural assessment and construction safety.