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Applied Sciences
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Development and Application of Innovative Construction Materials
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Development and Application of Innovative Construction Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2025 | Viewed by 2330

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cinthia Maia Pederneiras

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Laboratory for Civil Engineering—LNEC, 1700-066 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: sustainable construction materials; life cycle assessment; environmental product performance; cementitious materials; recycled aggregates
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Catarina Brazão Farinha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
C5LAB—Sustainable Construction Materials Association, Linda-a-Velha, Portugal
Interests: mortar; mortar waste eco-mortar recycling; wastes; CO2 capture; concrete aggregates; construction and demolition waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry is at a pivotal point, where sustainability and environmental considerations are becoming increasingly critical. To address these challenges, we invite submissions for a Special Issue titled "Development and Application of Innovative Construction Materials". This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research and innovative practices that contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of construction materials and processes.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Life cycle assessment (LCA) of construction materials and processes;
  • Use of recycled and renewable materials in construction;
  • Energy-efficient building designs and technologies;
  • Environmental impact of construction waste management;
  • Innovations in sustainable construction practices;
  • Policy and regulatory frameworks for sustainable construction;
  • Case studies and best practices in green building initiatives.

We particularly welcome studies that offer practical solutions and theoretical insights into the sustainability challenges facing the construction industry. Submissions may include original research articles, comprehensive reviews and case studies that demonstrate significant advancements in sustainable construction practices.

We look forward to your contributions to this vital discourse on sustainable construction and environmental impact.

Dr. Cinthia Maia Pederneiras
Dr. Catarina Brazão Farinha
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

  • life cycle assessment
  • materials in construction
  • building designs and technologies
  • construction waste management
  • sustainable construction
  • green building initiatives

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4091 KiB  
Article
Towards Industrial Implementation: Experimental Campaign Based on Variations in Temperature, Humidity, and CO2 Concentration in Forced Carbonation Reactions of Recycled Aggregates
by David Bastos, Catarina Brazão Farinha, Cinthia Maia Pederneiras, Rosário Veiga, José Alexandre Bogas, Ricardo Infante Gomes and António Santos Silva
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 5005; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15095005 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 152
Abstract
This research presents a sensitivity analysis of various parameters that affect the carbonation of recycled aggregates (RAs), namely CO2 concentration, temperature, and relative humidity. The range of parameter values is close to that found in cement plant chimneys with regard to the [...] Read more.
This research presents a sensitivity analysis of various parameters that affect the carbonation of recycled aggregates (RAs), namely CO2 concentration, temperature, and relative humidity. The range of parameter values is close to that found in cement plant chimneys with regard to the forced carbonation of RAs. With this purpose, the main characteristics of flue gas streams (CO2 concentration, temperature, and relative humidity) from two Portuguese cement plants were identified and used in this research. The results indicated that temperatures around 60 °C and CO2 concentrations around 25% accelerate the carbonation reaction and increase CO2 absorption in mixed recycled aggregates (MRAs). CO2 absorption consistently decreased as the relative humidity was reduced from 60% to 40%. The highest amount of CO2 captured was by a recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in the conditions of 23 °C, 60% RH, and 25% CO2. Overall, the RAs were able to capture a significant amount of CO2, ranging from 52 to 348 kg of CO2 per tonne of cement paste, depending on the nature of the RA. These findings drawn from a parametric campaign provide valuable insights into the potential enforcement of carbonation for recycled aggregates under conditions that closely reflect those found in cement plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Application of Innovative Construction Materials)
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37 pages, 37848 KiB  
Article
3D-Printed Lightweight Foamed Concrete with Dispersed Reinforcement
by Magdalena Rudziewicz, Adam Hutyra, Marcin Maroszek, Kinga Korniejenko and Marek Hebda
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4527; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084527 - 19 Apr 2025
Viewed by 227
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of various reinforcing fibers, including coconut, basalt, glass, merino wool, and polypropylene, on the properties and processability of cementitious mixtures, with a particular emphasis on their application in 3D printing. The incorporation of fibers at a concentration of [...] Read more.
This study investigates the influence of various reinforcing fibers, including coconut, basalt, glass, merino wool, and polypropylene, on the properties and processability of cementitious mixtures, with a particular emphasis on their application in 3D printing. The incorporation of fibers at a concentration of 1 wt.% was found to significantly hinder the printing process. Specifically, certain fibers, such as polypropylene, rendered extrusion impractical due to nozzle clogging. However, reducing the fiber content to 0.5 wt.% improved material flowability and minimized structural defects during printing. Fiber selection, in addition to its impact on mechanical properties, plays a crucial role in determining overall process efficiency. Mixtures incorporating coal slag as a dense filler, combined with stiff fibers such as basalt or glass, exhibited the highest flexural strength. Moreover, the inclusion of merino wool fibers enhanced the flexural performance of fly ash-based mixtures, achieving strength levels comparable to or exceeding those of stiffer fibers. These findings contribute to the advancement of sustainable construction practices. Notably, samples produced via 3D printing consistently demonstrated higher flexural strength than those fabricated using traditional molding techniques. This enhancement is attributed to microstructural modifications induced by the layer-by-layer deposition process. Depending on the sample composition and the type of reinforcing fiber, water absorption behavior varied significantly. Merino wool and coconut fibers exhibited the highest water absorption due to their hydrophilic nature and capillary action, particularly in 3D-printed samples with open-pore structures. In contrast, glass and basalt fibers, characterized by their higher density and hydrophobicity, exhibited lower water absorption levels. These results underscore the importance of optimizing fiber type, concentration, and processing methodologies to achieve tailored performance in fiber-reinforced cementitious mixtures. Such optimizations align with the principles of sustainable development and hold significant potential for advancing 3D-printed construction applications Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Application of Innovative Construction Materials)
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22 pages, 3216 KiB  
Article
Environmental Assessment of Natural Coarse Aggregate Production in Gravel Pits—Assessing CO2 Offsets Through Vine Cultivation
by Jorge Los Santos-Ortega, Esteban Fraile-García and Javier Ferreiro-Cabello
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15041868 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 872
Abstract
Natural aggregates are widely used in the construction sector. Their production and generation entail environmental impacts, which must be identified and reduced as far as possible in order for the construction sector to achieve sustainability. The objective of this research is the environmental [...] Read more.
Natural aggregates are widely used in the construction sector. Their production and generation entail environmental impacts, which must be identified and reduced as far as possible in order for the construction sector to achieve sustainability. The objective of this research is the environmental characterization, through the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, of the production of 1 ton of natural coarse aggregate produced in a common gravel pit in Spain, with a cradle-to-gate scope. The activity data are collected from inventory databases from national companies. Their results reveal emissions of 4.30 kg CO2 eq, the consumption of 106.08 MJ of fossil fuels and the use of 12.52 m3 of natural water per ton of natural coarse aggregate. Subsequently, innovative concepts are explored to mitigate the previously defined environmental impacts through the creation of vine cultivation. The most relevant results indicate that 1 hectare of vine cultivation generates a net balance of emissions of −3.785 tCO2, acting as a carbon sink, which means producing a total of 879.6 t of natural coarse aggregates produced in gravel pits free of CO2 emissions. By applying this cultivation to the construction sector, the aim is to make companies in the sector aware that by adopting this measure, at least in the global warming impact category, environmental impacts can be mitigated and thus contribute to achieving greater sustainability in the sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Application of Innovative Construction Materials)
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Review

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23 pages, 578 KiB  
Review
A Short Review of Recent Innovations in Acoustic Materials and Panel Design: Emphasizing Wood Composites for Enhanced Performance and Sustainability
by Aleksandrs Korjakins, Genadijs Sahmenko and Vjaceslavs Lapkovskis
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4644; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094644 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 689
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of wood composites as sustainable acoustic materials and to explore their integration with advanced manufacturing techniques for improved performance. Using a comprehensive review methodology, the paper analyzes recent innovations in wood composites, focusing [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of wood composites as sustainable acoustic materials and to explore their integration with advanced manufacturing techniques for improved performance. Using a comprehensive review methodology, the paper analyzes recent innovations in wood composites, focusing on the combination with other sustainable materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and natural fibers. The results show that wood composites can achieve sound absorption coefficients (α) of up to 0.9, with oak panels showing transmission losses of up to 11 dB. In addition, advanced designs, including biodegradable panels and lightweight honeycomb structures, significantly improve sound transmission loss, with an average sound transmission loss (TLeq) of up to 28.3 dB reported for composite panels made from waste tire rubber. In addition, the study highlights the environmental benefits achieved through the use of agricultural byproducts and industrial waste in the development of these materials, confirming the role of wood composites as a carbon-neutral alternative in the quest for green building solutions. This study provides valuable insights into the transformative potential of wood composites for sustainable acoustic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Application of Innovative Construction Materials)
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