Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2024 | Viewed by 12369

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alessandro Arrigoni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission, 1755 LE Petten, The Netherlands
Interests: life cycle assessment; sustainability; eco-efficient concrete; concrete binder; supplementary cementitious materials; alternative aggregates; industrial wastes; mechanical, structural, and durability-related behaviour; durability; microstructure

Dr. Tanvir Qureshi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Interests: alternative binder concrete; self-healing concrete; recycled waste materials; supplimentary cementitious materials; smart cement based composite; multifunctional concrete; microstructure; durability performance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, typically produced using Portland cement (PC) as the binder. The mass of PC used in concrete construction brings about a critical environmental issue due to the high emission of carbon dioxide gas during its manufacture from the calcination of limestone and the combustion of fossil fuel. On the other hand, the rising demands to reduce the cost of binder in concrete desiderate the aim to offer an alternative source to PC. To date, novel concrete systems, such as geopolymer concrete, magnesium phosphate concrete, and concrete using supplementary cementitious materials, have been extensively explored in concrete research.

This Special Issue aims to publish current advanced concrete studies concerning environmentally friendly solutions. Papers topics should focus on, but are not limited to, the properties, evaluation, novel manufacturing/experimental techniques, analytical methods, microstructure, modeling, design, production, and practical applications of novel binders/aggregates in concrete, and their behaviours in the concrete structures of in situ performance, renovation, maintenance, recycling, durability, and sustainability.

Dr. Alessandro Arrigoni
Dr. Tanvir Qureshi
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
sustainability
eco-efficient concrete
concrete binder
supplementary cementitious materials
alternative aggregates
industrial wastes
mechanical, structural, and durability-related behaviour
durability
microstructure

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

19 pages, 2529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Various Commonly Used Building Materials on the Shielding Effectiveness, Reflection and Absorption of the Electromagnetic Wave

by Marek Pavlík, Matej Bereš and Ľubomír Beňa

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2521; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062521 - 16 Mar 2024

Viewed by 464

Abstract

People spend two-thirds of their time in buildings. Building materials are, therefore, natural shielding for us. Many studies describe the shielding effect of non-building materials. This study evaluates the shielding effectiveness (SE) of electromagnetic fields for various building materials over a frequency range of 1 GHz to 9 GHz. Measurements of SE, reflection (R), and calculated absorption (A) were conducted to determine the shielding properties of mineral wool (MW), hardened polystyrene (PT), extruded polystyrene (PE), polyurethane board (PUR), brick wall (BW), brick wall filled with mineral wool (BW-MW), and concrete wall. The results demonstrate that MW, PT, PE, and PUR exhibit low SE and R, indicating minimal shielding capabilities, with absorption values that do not significantly deviate from the level of measurement uncertainty. Conversely, BW, BW-MW, and concrete wall materials exhibit high SE, with notably increased absorption at higher frequencies, highlighting their potential for effective EMI shielding. Particularly, the concrete wall presents the highest absorption values, making it a superior choice for shielding applications. Reflection trends revealed a plateau for BW in the 6 GHz to 9 GHz range, indicating a frequency-dependent behavior of shielding mechanisms. This study underscores the importance of balancing reflective and absorptive properties in shielding materials and suggests that composite materials may offer enhanced performance. The findings of this research provide guidance for the selection and design of shielding materials in environments with a frequency spectrum of electromagnetic frequencies from 1 GHz to 9 GHz. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 10192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concrete with Organic Waste Materials as Aggregate Replacement

by Nicolas Bertoldo, Tanvir Qureshi, Dylan Simpkins, Alessandro Arrigoni and Giovanni Dotelli

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010108 - 21 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1593

Abstract

The disposal of high volumes of organic waste is a global issue. Using organic waste instead of sand as an aggregate material for concrete could reduce the strain on waste treatment processes and on the extraction of finite resources. At the same time, it could be a climate change mitigation strategy, by storing the biogenic carbon contained in the organic waste. This project investigated the viability of replacing 10% of fine aggregate in concrete with various organic waste materials, namely rice husk ash, wood ash, corncob granules, and wheat straw. The fresh concrete’s properties were studied using the slump test, and the hardened concrete’s mechanical properties were measured using the compressive strength and flexural strength tests. In this study, 14 days of curing were considered for the mechanical tests, although the 28-day mechanical strength is more generally accepted. The mechanical performances along with a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparison between the concrete with organic waste and traditional concrete were conducted. The results suggested that rice husk ash and wood ash are the most-suitable organic waste products for use as aggregate replacers considering the mechanical properties. The concrete samples incorporating wheat straw and corncob granules exhibited relatively low strength; unless advanced treatment methods are applied to enhance the concrete’s performance, the utilization of these organic wastes in concrete may be limited. The environmental impact assessment of traditional concrete shows that the main contributor to almost every impact category is the production of Portland cement. Sand production contributes only marginally to the overall impact of the concrete. In terms of life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, traditional concrete exhibits the lowest GWP impact per cubic meter when mechanical properties are included in the functional unit used for the comparison. Nevertheless, concrete samples with wood ash and rice husk ash partially offset their lower compressive strength with higher carbon sequestration, showing a similar GWP impact to traditional concrete. This makes them promising alternatives, especially for cases where limited compressive strengths are needed. Further investigations to improve their mechanical properties and optimize their performance are warranted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Humidity Conditions of Aerated Concrete Walls Depending on the Type of Finishing Coating

by Mikhail Vladimirovich Frolov, Valentina Ivanovna Loganina and Elena Alekseevna Zhuravleva

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9529; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179529 - 23 Aug 2023

Viewed by 697

Abstract

A study was conducted to analyze how different types of plaster coatings affect the humidity levels in aerated concrete walls under varying climatic conditions. The suggestion is to utilize a specialized heat-insulating lime plaster designed specifically for finishing aerated concrete. It has been determined that the use of a specialized heat-insulating lime dry building mixture allows the temperature to be reduced at which condensate begins to fall in the enclosure by 1.5–7.0 °С. The research determined the amount of condensation that occurs during periods of negative outdoor temperatures in different climatic zones when using these walls. It has been established that the use of a specialized heat-insulating lime dry building mixture allows for some external walls to exclude the formation of condensate, while for others the amount of condensate falling out is reduced by 21.5–50.6%. Thus, it has been established that the use of a specialized heat-insulating lime dry building mixture significantly improves the moisture regime in the outer walls of aerated concrete. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 8788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical and Fracture Properties of Air-Entrained FRC Containing Zeolitic Tuff

by Zinoviy Blikharskyy, Taras Markiv, Yurii Turba, Oleksii Hunyak, Yaroslav Blikharskyy and Jacek Selejdak

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9164; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169164 - 11 Aug 2023

Viewed by 699

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of zeolitic tuff, an air-entraining agent, and different types of fibers on the compressive strength and fracture parameters of concrete with increased strength. Notched beams were tested in three-point bending to determine the fracture parameters of concrete. It was established that the partial replacement of Portland cement (10% by mass) with zeolitic tuff, the addition of an air-entraining agent and different types of fibers resulted in the improvement both of the compressive strength (by 3.7% after 28 days of hardening) and fracture properties of concrete (namely, the fracture energy by 35.1% and characteristic length by 61.5%) compared to the reference concrete. The beneficial effects of the air-entraining agent and the mechanisms through which it enhances the properties of concrete by incorporating zeolitic tuff and various types of fibers were explained. It has been demonstrated that the appropriate selection and optimization of various technological factors enable the production of economically effective, high-quality concrete with a 10% lower cement content. As a result, this leads to reduced CO₂ emissions, aligning with a sustainable development strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

35 pages, 20266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Buckling-Restrained Bracing System with Ultra-High-Performance Fiber Concrete

by Nima Ostovar and Farzad Hejazi

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(14), 8250; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148250 - 16 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1074

Abstract

Recently, buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) have been widely implemented as seismic load resistance systems in buildings to enhance their response against dynamic vibration. However, during catastrophic earthquakes, the steel core in BRB devices fully yields, which causes the BRB to lose its functionality. While the incorporation of various filler materials, such as new high-performance concretes, has the potential to enhance the performance of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs), there remains a notable gap regarding comprehensive research investigating this aspect. Therefore, this study assessed the effect of implementing ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPFRC) as filler material on BRB behavior. For this purpose, the finite element model for the proposed BRB was developed and hysteresis analysis results under incremental cyclic loads were investigated. Then, the prototype of a BRB with UHPFRC concrete was cast and experimentally tested under cyclic loads by using a dynamic actuator. Based on the testing results, a new design for a BRB device named as rubber buckling-restrained brace (RBRB) was developed, implementing hyperelastic rubber components between the steel core and UHPFRC as an additional load-bearing mechanism to enhance the device vibration dissipation capacity. Subsequently, a finite element model of the newly proposed rubber buckling-restrained brace (RBRB) was developed to assess the device’s performance. The analysis results demonstrate a notable enhancement in load capacity and energy dissipation for the RBRB device compared to conventional BRBs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 4441 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Porcelain Tile Polishing Residue in Concrete as an Additive or Replacement for Portland Cement

by Humberto Mycael Mota Santos, Lidiane Fernanda Jochem, Paulo Ricardo de Matos, Cézar Augusto Casagrande, Érika Pinto Marinho, Maciej Szeląg and Ana Cecília Vieira de Nóbrega

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 2824; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13052824 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1017

Abstract

In this study, 10–50% of porcelain tile polishing residue (PPR) was used as an additive or as partial replacement of cement in concrete. The cement consumption was kept constant by correcting the amount of sand for each mixture. Concrete workability (slump) was reduced by up to 88.72% when PPR replaced the cement by up to 30%, while it was reduced by only 4.10% when PPR was added to the concrete at the same levels. Compressive strength at 28 days increased up to 92.22% with 50% PPR as additive, reducing the equivalent emission of CO₂ per m³ of concrete up to 38.18%. PPR incorporation reduced the water permeability of concrete by up to 30.70% and 17.54% when used in addition and in cement replacement, respectively. Overall, PPR as an additive up to 50% and in cement with substitution levels up to 10–40% presented themselves as viable solutions for developing more resistant and durable concretes than the reference mixture (without incorporation of PPR). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Human Hair Fibers on the Performance of Concrete Incorporating High Dosage of Silica Fume

by Muhammad Akbar, Tariq Umar, Zahoor Hussain, Huali Pan and Guoqiang Ou

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010124 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5877

Abstract

Sustainable development in structural materials is currently getting attention all around the world. Solid waste, building and demolition waste, natural resources, and their reuse are the most obvious strategies for achieving sustainability in the construction industry. Solid waste human hair fiber (HHF) with a diameter of 70 µm and a length of 30–40 mm is used as a fiber, having a dosage of 0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%, while silica fume (SF) with a dosage of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% is used as a cement substitute. A drop of 50 mm to 75 mm slump was witnessed for the water–cement ratio used in the M20 mix design of concrete. The concrete’s mechanical properties, such as compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength, were determined after 28 days of water curing. The concept of the response surface methodology (RSM) for optimizing human hair fiber concrete (HHFC) and SF substitution was used, which was validated by the polynomial work expectation. The model is statistically significant when the fluctuation of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) is analyzed using a p-value with a significance level of 0.05. The test results showed that the use of 2% human hair as fiber and 15% SF as a cementitious additive or cement replacement considerably improved the strength of concrete. The compressive, flexural, and split tensile strengths of HHFC improved by 14%, 8%, and 7%, respectively, which shows the significance of human hair and the partial replacement of cement with SF. Moreover, SEM analysis was carried out to study the microstructure of the concrete matrix. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Sustainable Concretes: Latest Advances and Prospects

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI