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Applied Sciences
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Recent Advances in Sustainable Construction Materials and Structures
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Recent Advances in Sustainable Construction Materials and Structures

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2025) | Viewed by 1399

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fernando Ávila

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Continuum Mechanics and Theory of Structures, Polytechnic University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: computational engineering; materials characterization; sustainable building materials; historical structures
Dr. María Esther Puertas García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Structural Mechanics and Hydraulic Engineering, University of Granada, 18001 Granada, Spain
Interests: computational engineering; materials characterization; sustainable building materials; historical structures
Dr. Chiara Bedon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Interests: sustainability; numerical simulation; structural analysis; structural dynamics; constructions; finite element analysis; numerical modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the construction sector strives to address global environmental challenges, sustainable materials and structural innovations have emerged as critical areas of focus. This Special Issue aims to bring together the latest research and technological advancements that contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of construction activities. It seeks to highlight innovative approaches to developing eco-friendly materials, optimizing resource use, and designing resilient, energy-efficient structures. The issue welcomes interdisciplinary perspectives that integrate scientific, technical, and practical insights to foster sustainable construction practices and structural solutions.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

  • Development and mechanical characterization of sustainable construction materials.
  • Structural optimization for sustainability and resilience.
  • Bio-based, earth-based, and renewable materials for construction applications.
  • Advanced computational methods for sustainable design.
  • Low-carbon concrete, alternative binders, and innovative cement technologies.
  • Recycling and upcycling of industrial and construction waste.
  • Energy-efficient and net-zero building systems.

Dr. Fernando Ávila
Dr. María Esther Puertas García
Dr. Chiara Bedon
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. Applied Sciences 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

  • construction materials
  • sustainable structures
  • earth-based materials
  • green technologies
  • construction recycling
  • materials characterization
  • computational methods
  • sustainable structural design

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 2927 KiB  
Article
Innovative Suspension Structures: The Role of Straight Elements Under Asymmetric Loads
by Algirdas Juozapaitis and Alfonsas Daniūnas
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7009; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137009 - 21 Jun 2025
Viewed by 189
Abstract
Suspension structures, known for their excellent properties, have been widely used to cover medium and large spans. Their efficiency lies in their ability to primarily withstand permanent and variable loads through tension. Consequently, suspension roof structures typically adopt a parabolic shape, which remains [...] Read more.
Suspension structures, known for their excellent properties, have been widely used to cover medium and large spans. Their efficiency lies in their ability to primarily withstand permanent and variable loads through tension. Consequently, suspension roof structures typically adopt a parabolic shape, which remains in equilibrium under symmetric loads. However, when subjected to asymmetric loads, such structures experience significant kinematic displacements. To reduce these displacements, suspension systems with bending stiffness, commonly referred to as “rigid” cables, are employed. Such elements increase the sustainability of the suspension system compared with conventional spiral ropes. Although previous studies have analyzed the behavior of such systems under symmetric loads, this article examines the performance of an innovative cable–strut system composed of straight “rigid” elements under asymmetric loads. The behavior of three different types of suspension structures under asymmetric loads is analyzed. A non-linear analysis of forces and displacements is conducted in this system, assessing the impact of bending stiffness on the structural response. The results indicate that the proposed two-level suspension system performs more effectively under asymmetric loads than both conventional parabolic suspension structures and suspension systems comprising two straight “rigid” elements. It was found that the total forces and stresses in the “rigid” upper chord elements of the two-level system are the lowest among all the systems considered. Therefore, this system is particularly suitable for covering medium- and large-span roofs, especially when subjected to relatively large asymmetric loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sustainable Construction Materials and Structures)
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15 pages, 1366 KiB  
Article
Predicting the Hydration of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag and Recycled Glass Blended Cements
by Mark Tyrer, Mark Richardson, Niall Holmes, John Newell, Marcus Yio and Hong Wong
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6872; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126872 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 349
Abstract
The use of recycled glass powder (RCGP) is investigated as a partial replacement for ground granulated blast furnace slag in blended CEM II/A-LL cements using thermodynamic modelling to simulate cement paste hydration at a water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.5. This study allows a [...] Read more.
The use of recycled glass powder (RCGP) is investigated as a partial replacement for ground granulated blast furnace slag in blended CEM II/A-LL cements using thermodynamic modelling to simulate cement paste hydration at a water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.5. This study allows a rapid means of examining the likely evolution of these materials over the first two to three years, allowing experimental work to focus on promising formulations. A comparison is made between the evolving solid phase and solution chemistries of four materials: a standard Portland-limestone (CEM II/A-LL), a ‘control’ blend, comprising equal quantities of CEM II/A-LL with GGBS and two novel blended cements containing RCGP. These represent 15% replacement (by mass) of GGBS by RCGP blended with either 40% or 60% CEM II/A-LL. The simulations were performed using the code HYDCEM, a cement hydration simulator, which calls on the thermodynamic model PHREEQC to sequentially simulate the evolution of the four cements. The results suggest that partial replacement of GGBS by 15% RCGP results in no significant change in system chemistry. The partial replacement of cementitious slag by waste container glass provides a route by which this material can be diverted from the landfill inventory, and the mass-balance and energy balance implications will be reported elsewhere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sustainable Construction Materials and Structures)
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20 pages, 9533 KiB  
Article
The Corrosion Failure Mechanism of a Peak Load Boiler in a District Heating System
by Min Ji Song, Woo Cheol Kim and Soo Yeol Lee
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4528; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084528 - 19 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 443
Abstract
The peak load boiler (PLB) is a heat production facility that uses SA178 Gr. A and SA516 Gr. 70 low-carbon steels as tube and plate materials, respectively. Recently, failures were frequently observed near plugged tubes due to water leakage, raising concerns about corrosion [...] Read more.
The peak load boiler (PLB) is a heat production facility that uses SA178 Gr. A and SA516 Gr. 70 low-carbon steels as tube and plate materials, respectively. Recently, failures were frequently observed near plugged tubes due to water leakage, raising concerns about corrosion mechanisms and their impact on tube durability. This work investigates the corrosion failure mechanisms using a combination of endoscopy, ultrasound inspection, oxide scale analysis (X-ray diffraction), chemical analysis (ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), and computational fluid dynamics simulations. The undamaged tube near the leaked tube exhibited oxide scale levels comparable to those directly affected. Surface examinations revealed gas-side pits indicative of localized corrosion, while oxide scales were predominantly composed of iron oxides formed under humid conditions and sodium compounds derived from boiler water. Analysis of the leaked water revealed its mixture with combustion gases, forming an acidic, chloride-rich environment that significantly accelerates corrosion. Computational fluid dynamics simulations demonstrated that leaked water vapor facilitated the condensation of acidic ions near affected tubes, promoting dew point corrosion. These phenomena, driven by localized condensation and chemical concentration at the dew point temperature, exacerbate material degradation, emphasizing the importance of targeted prevention strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sustainable Construction Materials and Structures)
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