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Advances in Bridge Design and Construction: Sustainable Innovations and Emerging...
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Advances in Bridge Design and Construction: Sustainable Innovations and Emerging Technologies

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2027 | Viewed by 939

Editors

Prof. Dr. Khaled Sennah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: structural engineering; bridge infrastructure design; evaluation; rehabilitation; strengthening; applications of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) in bridges and structures; accelerated bridge construction using prefabricated bridge elements and connection technology; high-performance concrete and steel applications for sustainable bridges; integral abutment bridges
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Munzer Hassan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Construction Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, University of Quebec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
Interests: accelerated bridge construction; bridge design; bridge rehabilitation; structures strengthening using FRP materials; soil–structure interaction; deep foundations; FE modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bridges are more than mere crossings—they are symbols of human progress, connectivity, and technological achievement, playing a major role in the economic and social development of communities and nations. Globally, many bridges have reached the end of their service lives, necessitating reinforcement, rehabilitation, or replacement. These efforts must now contend with resource limitations, climate change, and increasingly restrictive seismic and safety requirements.

To meet the challenges of modern bridge engineering, sustainability must be central to design and construction. Beyond structural strength, safety, and cost-efficiency, bridges should also embody environmental responsibility, durability, and social value. Innovations in materials, including smart and high-performance composites, enhance efficiency while minimizing maintenance and embodied carbon. At the same time, digital technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming the design process, enabling engineers to optimize resource use, predict long-term performance, and simulate sustainability outcomes before construction begins. Prefabrication and modular construction methods further contribute to sustainability by reducing waste, accelerating timelines, and minimizing disruptions to surrounding ecosystems and communities. In addition, modern bridge projects should embrace life-cycle thinking, considering not just the immediate construction phase but the entire lifespan of the structure. Strategies such as incorporating renewable energy elements, using recycled or locally sourced materials, and designing for adaptability and deconstruction should also be integrated as part of a circular economy approach.

This Special Issue invites researchers and practising engineers to submit original articles addressing advances and future perspectives in the design, rehabilitation, and construction of innovative sustainable bridges. Submissions may include case studies as well as reviews of novel practices and methodologies.

Prof. Dr. Khaled Sennah
Prof. Dr. Munzer Hassan
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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

  • bridge design
  • construction
  • rehabilitation
  • sustainability
  • innovative materials
  • digital technologies
  • artificial intelligence
  • climate change
  • circular economy
  • life-cycle cost

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 8469 KB  
Article
Mechanical Behaviour and Parametric Analysis of the Hybrid Girder Bridges Joint Between Steel-Concrete Composite Girder and Prestressed Concrete Girder
by Yiteng Lin, Qingtian Su, Fawas. O. Matanmi, Xingfei Yan and Shang Gao
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(13), 6322; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16136322 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026
Abstract
This study focuses on a novel three-span hybrid continuous beam bridge, analyzing the force performance and key design parameters of the non-cellular post-support plate joint. A finite element model and parametric analysis were used to reveal the stress distribution patterns, the load-bearing characteristics [...] Read more.
This study focuses on a novel three-span hybrid continuous beam bridge, analyzing the force performance and key design parameters of the non-cellular post-support plate joint. A finite element model and parametric analysis were used to reveal the stress distribution patterns, the load-bearing characteristics of the connectors, and the load transfer path under negative bending moments. The study shows that the axial force within the joint is equitably shared among three load paths: the top slab concrete (20.7%), the bearing plate (40.1%), and the shear connectors (39.2%). Although interfacial friction contributes approximately 27.1% to the total shear resistance, it is conservatively recommended to neglect this effect in design due to inherent uncertainties. Parametric analysis reveals distinct marginal effects and efficiency thresholds: increasing the bearing plate thickness from 20 mm to 100 mm results in a mere 1.0 MPa reduction in the peak concrete stress, while extending the joint length beyond 1.0 times the beam height renders the central connectors ineffective. Furthermore, reducing the connector stiffness effectively lowers the non-uniformity coefficient from 2.3 to below 2.0. Notably, the first row of web PBLs carries 34.8% to 47.2% of the total shear force, with a stable non-uniformity coefficient of 1.05–1.06, establishing it as the critical control section for simplified design. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the design of similar joints in hybrid girder bridges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Bridge Design and Construction: Sustainable Innovations and Emerging Technologies)
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30 pages, 5546 KB  
Article
Influence of Steel Section Configuration on the Seismic Performance of Concrete-Encased Steel Rectangular Bridge Piers
by Mohammadreza Moradian and Munzer Hassan
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 2832; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16062832 - 16 Mar 2026
Viewed by 412
Abstract
Concrete-encased steel (CES) bridge piers can be considered as a robust alternative to traditional reinforced concrete sections, especially in regions prone to seismic activity. CES piers combine the ductility of steel with the compressive strength of concrete, offering improved energy dissipation and resilience [...] Read more.
Concrete-encased steel (CES) bridge piers can be considered as a robust alternative to traditional reinforced concrete sections, especially in regions prone to seismic activity. CES piers combine the ductility of steel with the compressive strength of concrete, offering improved energy dissipation and resilience during earthquakes. Given the lack of CES design specifications in the Canadian design code, it is crucial to compile a body of knowledge describing the behavior of the CES bridge pier in order to facilitate the codification of the design guide. This study assesses the seismic performance of CES rectangular bridge piers with a focus on how variations in the steel section configuration affect the pier’s overall behavior under seismic loads. To conduct this assessment, a fiber element model was employed to model CES bridge piers subjected to seismic loading. The thickness and height of the web and the width and the thickness of the flanges of the I-shape steel section were varied to understand their impact on the bridge’s seismic performance. In addition to the I-shape sections, a crossed two-I-shape section was also studied. Spectral analysis, nonlinear pushover analysis and nonlinear time-history analysis was performed on the bridge models in order to better understand the seismic performance of the studied bridge piers. Simulation results indicate that larger flanges increase the pier’s bending moment capacity, allowing it to absorb greater seismic energy and undergo larger deformations without failing. This increases the overall ductility of the pier and enhances its ability to dissipate seismic energy. However, excessively large flanges or web can reduce the concrete cover and reduce the durability of the pier in the context of Canadian extreme-winter conditions. The study concludes that a balance between web thickness and flange width must be achieved to ensure the bridge can resist seismic forces while maintaining sufficient ductility and energy dissipation. Therefore, an optimized design, according to seismic demands, enhances the overall resistance of CES bridge piers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Bridge Design and Construction: Sustainable Innovations and Emerging Technologies)
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