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Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 12454

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Dr. Ivan Kraus

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Guest Editor

Laboratory, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Interests: earthquake engineering; dynamics of structures; rammed earth; earthen construction; heritage structures

Dr. Davide Lavorato

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Guest Editor

Department of Architecture, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Largo Giovanni Battista Marzi 10, 00153 Rome, Italy
Interests: concrete and corrosion
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry is currently one of the biggest consumers of resources and a major contributor to climate change. The greatest threat to our planet is the climate emergency. With regard to the future of the economy, the protection of the environment and the benefits for people are unavoidable values.

With the increasing demand for innovation and development in seismic and structural engineering to ensure adequate structural performance, safety, robustness, and resilience while improving productivity, labour safety, quality, cost efficiency, and work efficiency, greater attention needs to be paid to selecting more sustainable solutions. This Special Issue of Applied Sciences aims to explore the latest technological breakthroughs, methods, approaches, and practises in construction. The focus is on presenting multidisciplinary research papers that offer new insights, effective solutions, and practical applications to the challenges in the field. This edition also aims to provide an opportunity for academic and professional discussions on management, structural and material design, technology, and construction. Numerical, experimental, and review papers are accepted to bring together the findings of numerous researchers and to address the constant challenges of technological advancement.

This Special Issue addresses a wide range of topics relevant to new or historic structures aimed at improving safety, robustness, and long-term seismic performance and sustainability, including, but not limited to, the following:

Natural building materials, such as rammed earth, unfired brick, stone, and timber;
Recycled materials, such as concrete with recycled aggregates;
Protection, conservation, and restoration of cultural heritage;
Smart sustainable materials;
Automated fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing;
Applications of artificial intelligence in design, construction management, and process control;
Repair and retrofitting strategies;
Solutions for seismic isolation or energy dissipation;
Innovative applications and methods in the field of non-destructive techniques;
Monitoring strategies;
Structural optimisation;

Dr. Ivan Kraus
Dr. Davide Lavorato
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

earthquake engineering
structural resilience
seismic risk mitigation
heritage structures
earth-based materials
smart materials
sustainable building solutions
seismic isolation systems
3D printing
AI in construction engineering

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 2018 KB

Open AccessArticle

Structuring Sustainability-Oriented Reconstruction Decisions After Earthquakes: A MIVES-Based Methodological Framework

by Josephin Rezk, Carlos Muñoz-Blanc and Oriol Pons-Valladares

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 3449; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16073449 - 2 Apr 2026

Viewed by 792

Abstract

Post-earthquake reconstruction involves complex decision-making that extends beyond structural safety to include economic, environmental, and social considerations under conditions of uncertainty and limited resources. Although sustainability-oriented assessment frameworks and multi-criteria decision-making approaches have increasingly been applied in disaster contexts, existing models typically address localized technical interventions and rarely support strategic reconstruction planning after earthquakes. This study develops a sustainability-based decision-support framework for post-earthquake reconstruction of reinforced concrete buildings using the Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment (MIVES). This framework is derived through a systematic synthesis of the post-earthquake, post-disaster, and MIVES-based literature. Reconstruction alternatives reported in previous studies are first identified and classified to structure the reconstruction decision space. Sustainability requirements, criteria, and indicators are then examined and adapted through processes of retention, modification, elimination, and addition. The principal outcome of the study is an adapted MIVES requirements tree composed of 10 criteria and 19 indicators organized across the sustainability dimensions, providing a context-consistent hierarchical structure for strategic building-level reconstruction decisions. By explicitly linking reconstruction alternatives with sustainability indicators within clearly defined decision boundaries, the framework strengthens methodological rigor in sustainability-oriented reconstruction planning. The present article focuses on the methodological development of the framework (Part I). The operational implementation of the model—including expert-based weighting, value-function definition, indicator aggregation, and empirical validation through case studies—will be presented in a companion study. The proposed framework provides a transparent and transferable basis for sustainability-oriented reconstruction planning and supports informed decision-making by public authorities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 5493 KB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Evaluation of Sheep Wool Fibers and Recycled Aggregates in Mortar

by Silvija Mrakovčić, Sandra Juradin, Ivanka Netinger Grubeša and Dalibor Kramarić

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020962 - 17 Jan 2026

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 601

Abstract

This paper examines the use of sheep wool and recycled aggregates (recycled concrete aggregate, reclaimed asphalt aggregate, recycled brick aggregate) in mortars. Nine cement mortars were prepared: a reference mortar with natural aggregate and no fibers, and eight mortars with 30% recycled aggregate, either fiber-free or micro-reinforced with 0.1% by mass of sheep wool fibers. The study investigates the effects of these components on the workability, mechanical properties, and microstructure of mortars. Micro-reinforcing mortars with sheep wool fibers or partially replacing natural aggregate with recycled aggregates reduces workability by up to 32%. Mortars with recycled concrete and recycled brick aggregates showed increased compressive and flexural strength compared to the reference mortar. The combined formulation (recycled brick with sheep wool micro-reinforcement) achieved the highest compressive strength, increasing by 24.3% while maintaining excellent flexural performance. Three-point bending tests with displacement control revealed improved post-crack behavior and greater ductility in fiber micro-reinforced specimens compared to those without fibers. The results support the use of sheep wool fibers in mortars, demonstrate the satisfactory performance of recycled aggregates, and indicate promising potential for formulations combining sheep wool fiber and recycled aggregate as sustainable and waste-reducing alternatives in mortars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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30 pages, 3386 KB

Open AccessArticle

Constructing Artificial Features with Grammatical Evolution for Earthquake Prediction

by Constantina Kopitsa, Glykeria Kyrou, Vasileios Charilogis and Ioannis G. Tsoulos

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020746 - 11 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 552

Abstract

Earthquakes are the result of the dynamic processes occurring beneath the Earth’s crust; specifically, the movement and interaction of tectonic/lithospheric plates. When one plate shifts relative to another, stress accumulates and is eventually released as seismic energy. This process is continuous and unstoppable. This phenomenon is well recognized in the Mediterranean region, where significant seismic activity arises from the northward convergence (4–10 mm per year) of the African plate relative to the Eurasian plate along a complex plate boundary. Consequently, our research will focus on the Mediterranean region, specifically examining seismic activity from 1990 to 2015 within the latitude range of 33–44° and longitude range of 17–44°. These geographical coordinates encompass 28 seismic zones, with the most active areas being Turkey and Greece. In this paper, we applied Grammatical Evolution for artificial feature construction in earthquake prediction, evaluated against machine learning approaches including MLP(GEN), MLP(PSO), SVM, and NNC. Experiments showed that feature construction (FC) achieved the best performance, with a mean error of 9.05% and overall accuracy of 91%, outperforming SVM. Further analysis revealed that a single constructed feature

(N_{f} = 1)

yielded the lowest average error (8.21%), while varying the number of generations indicated that

N_{g} = 200

provided an effective balance between computational cost and predictive accuracy. These findings confirm the efficiency of FC in enhancing earthquake prediction models through artificial feature construction. Our results, as will be discussed in greater detail within the research, yield an average error of approximately 9%, corresponding to an overall accuracy of 91%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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21 pages, 5560 KB

Open AccessArticle

Extended Stiffened End-Plate Steel Joints with Octagonal Bolt Arrangement Under Column Loss Scenario

by Francesco Monte, Roberto Tartaglia and Giuseppe Maddaloni

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16020735 - 10 Jan 2026

Viewed by 528

Abstract

Extended stiffened end-plate bolted connections represent one of the most utilised steel connection types in seismic-prone regions, and several studies have been dedicated to the improvement of their performance. Recently, a new stiffened joint configuration, with a non-symmetric octagonal bolt arrangement, was proposed, highlighting its excellent performance in seismic scenarios. Therefore, two new design procedures according to both the European and North American codes were developed. Within this framework, the present work aims to investigate the performance of this innovative joint under column loss scenarios. A total of sixteen beam-to-column steel assemblies, defined by varying the beam depth and the design procedure, were numerically investigated using advanced FE models validated against experimental results. The numerical results show that the innovative joints exhibit a ductile behaviour, even better than traditional joints designed according to the current versions of EU and US codes. Indeed, the new bolt arrangement allows us to reduce the damage in the connection thanks to a better stress distribution among the bolts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 6144 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Condition of the Foundations of a Building in a Mining Operations Area at Risk of Sinkholes—A Case Study

by Marta Kadela, Leszek Chomacki and Magda Tunkel

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12384; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312384 - 21 Nov 2025

Viewed by 816

Abstract

Sinkholes caused by historical underground mining operations are significant geotechnical and safety hazards for new residential developments. This paper presents a case study concerning the assessment of the condition of the foundations of a planned multi-family residential building located within a former mining operations area in southern Poland, which is exposed to the risk of discontinuous ground deformation. This study aimed to identify potential voids within the rock mass and develop safe structural solutions for building foundations. To this end, a comprehensive site investigation was conducted, including two-dimensional electrical resistivity profiling to detect zones of high-resistivity anomalies. High-resistivity anomalies were identified beneath several building segments, suggesting the presence of voids or loose soil resulting from shallow coalmining operations. Based on these findings, a finite element analysis (FEA) of the reinforced concrete foundation slab was performed to simulate the presence of subsurface cavities. The results indicated local tensile stress in the slab of up to 0.34 MPa, which necessitated subsequent design adjustments. Consequently, the use of additional bottom reinforcement and continuous reinforced concrete ribs was proposed to enhance structural safety. This study highlights the necessity of detailed geotechnical and geophysical analyses of planned development zones located in former mining operation areas to address the risks related to sinkholes and ensure the long-term safety of new buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 3669 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of New-Generation Elastic and Design Response Spectra Eurocode 8 with Currently Valid Norm in Terms of N2 Method

by Adriana Brandis, Tanja Kalman Šipoš and Mehmed Čaušević

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(17), 9636; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179636 - 1 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1493

Abstract

The new generation of Eurocode standards has prompted enquiries regarding the major distinctions from the current version, particularly in relation to the application of the N2 method. A substantial change has been made to the definition of elastic spectra. The new spectra are defined through a series of fixed, probabilistically determined points, yet they remain rooted in a probabilistic approach. Three building types—multi-storey reinforced concrete (RC) frames, steel moment frames, and steel braced frames—were analysed in accordance with ground accelerations of 1, 2, and 3 m/s², as well as across five soil types (A–E). Variations in target displacements between soil types, particularly A, B, and D, are notable in the results. For accelerations of 2 and 3 m/s², steel structures demonstrate consistent displacements, whereas RC frames exhibit values that are up to 20% higher, particularly on soils C and E. For soils A and B, the distribution of inter-storey drift remains consistent. Nevertheless, in the case of 1 m/s², the utilisation of next-generation spectra results in an average 46% decrease in inter-storey drifts. The significance of adapting design methods to the updated Eurocode provisions is underscored by these findings, which emphasise the substantial influence of soil type on building response and safety performance, particularly under increased seismic demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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24 pages, 5578 KB

Open AccessArticle

Simplified Frequency Estimation of Prefabricated Electric Poles Through Regression-Based Modal Analysis

by Hakan Erkek, Ibrahim Karataş, Doğucan Resuloğulları, Emriye Çınar Resuloğullari and Şahin Tolga Güvel

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8179; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158179 - 23 Jul 2025

Viewed by 937

Abstract

Prefabricated construction elements are widely used in both large- and small-scale projects, serving structural and infrastructural purposes. One notable application is in power transmission poles, which ensure the safe and efficient delivery of electricity. Despite their importance, limited research exists on the structural and modal behavior of reinforced concrete power poles. This study presents a comprehensive modal analysis of such poles, focusing on how factors like modulus of elasticity, height, and lower/upper inner and outer diameters influence dynamic performance. A total of 3240 finite element models were created, with reinforced concrete poles partially embedded in the ground. Modal analyses were performed to evaluate natural frequencies, mode shapes, and modal mass participation ratios. Results showed that increasing the modulus of elasticity raised frequency values, while greater pole height decreased them. Enlarging the lower inner and upper outer radii also led to higher frequencies. Regression analysis yielded high accuracy, with R² values exceeding 90% and an average error rate of about 6%. The study provides empirical formulas that allow for quick frequency estimations without the need for detailed finite element modeling, as long as the material and geometric properties remain consistent. The approach can be extended to other prefabricated structural elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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30 pages, 15143 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Acceleration Amplification for Seismic Behavior Characteristics Analysis of Electrical Cabinet Model: Experimental and Numerical Study

by Da-Woon Yun, Bub-Gyu Jeon, Sung-Wan Kim, Daegi Hahm and Hong-Pyo Lee

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7274; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137274 - 27 Jun 2025

Viewed by 1255

Abstract

Given the critical role of electrical cabinets in the post-earthquake recovery and emergency response of nuclear power plants (NPPs), a comprehensive assessment of their seismic performance is essential to ensure operational safety. This study analyzed seismic behavior by fabricating an electrical cabinet model based on the dynamic characteristics and field surveys of equipment installed in a Korean-type NPP. A shaking table test with simultaneous tri-axial excitation was conducted, incrementally increasing the seismic motion until damage was observed. A numerical model was then developed based on the experimental results, followed by a seismic response analysis and comparison of results. The findings verified that assuming fixed anchorage conditions in the numerical model may significantly overestimate seismic performance, as it fails to account for the nonlinear behavior of the anchorage system, as well as the superposition between global and local modes caused by cabinet rocking and impact under strong seismic loading. Furthermore, damage and impact at the anchorage amplified acceleration responses, significantly affecting the high-frequency range and the vertical behavior, leading to substantial amplification of the in-cabinet response spectrum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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30 pages, 11015 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seismic Comparison of Hybrid Steel–Reinforced Concrete and Conventional Frames

by Paraskevi K. Askouni

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3772; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073772 - 29 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3867

Abstract

Conventional buildings made of reinforced concrete (r/c) or steel are practically encountered daily in common construction practice. Current regulations offer complete guidance on the seismic design and dimensioning of typical structures made of the same structural material throughout. Nevertheless, in the case of a structure constructed with r/c structural elements at the lower part and steel structural elements at the upper part, forming a so-called hybrid steel–r/c building is common. The present regulations do not address hybrid buildings in design or dimensioning. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by comparing the seismic performance of 3D hybrid buildings to conventional r/c and steel buildings. Three sets of buildings are designed and dimensioned, namely r/c buildings, steel ones, and hybrid steel–r/c ones. The considered r/c, steel, and hybrid models are subjected to the same strong ground excitations using a nonlinear time history analysis, considering the potential impact of the excitation orientation. Especially for hybrid models, two limit interconnection conditions are dealt with, characterized here as a “fixed” or “fixed-pinned” support of the steel part upon the r/c one. Unitless parameters are selected to compare the seismic response diagrams to determine the most detrimental structural effect. The advantages and disadvantages of r/c, steel, and hybrid buildings are comparatively discussed in terms of seismic resilience, noting that a hybrid configuration provides a promising alternative for seismic performance compared to typical constructions, thus providing enhanced possibilities in structural design. The analysis results show that fewer structural failures occur for hybrid buildings compared to conventional ones when subjected to the same earthquake excitations. The findings suggest that hybrid buildings could be a viable solution for practical construction projects, particularly in seismic-prone areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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Review

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22 pages, 1753 KB

Open AccessReview

Fibre-Reinforced Earth-Based 3D Printing: A Review of Mechanical Performance and Environmental Sustainability

by Karim Fahfouhi, Alberto Leal Matilla, Daniel Ferrández, Alfonso Cobo, Humberto Varum, Helena Bártolo and Ana Sofia Guimarães

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3752; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083752 - 11 Apr 2026

Viewed by 563

Abstract

Earth-based additive manufacturing (AM) combines design flexibility and automation of 3D printing (3DP) with low embodied energy, local availability, and circular economy compatibility of earthen materials. However, the sustainability performance of earth-based AM remains contested, particularly when chemical stabilisers and fibres are introduced to address mechanical and durability limitations. This review examines earth-based AM, focusing on fibre reinforcement, mechanical performance, and environmental impacts. Following PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed open-access articles (2015–2025) were identified and analysed using the Web of Science database. The review synthesises findings on material compositions, processing strategies, mechanical behaviour, and life cycle assessments of 3D-printed earthen materials, with particular attention to natural fibres. Results show that fibre reinforcement primarily contributes to crack control, post-peak behaviour, dimensional stability, and printability rather than universal strength enhancement. Compressive strengths range from 1–3 MPa for non-stabilised printed earth to 6–25 MPa for stabilised systems, confirming stabilisation as critical for structural scalability. Environmental assessments reveal that despite low-carbon feedstocks, 3D-printed earth can exhibit higher carbon emissions than conventional earthen techniques due to binder use and energy-intensive printing unless material savings and circular strategies are optimised. Key gaps include heterogeneous testing protocols, limited structural-scale validation, and insufficient techno-economic integration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Earthquake and Structural Engineering: Resilience, Performance, and Sustainability)

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