Advances in Structural Systems and Construction Methods

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 892

Special Issue Editors

Institute for Structural Mechanics, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
Interests: structural mechanics; AI-assisted structural diagnosis; multi-source monitoring data fusion; resilience assessment; segmental tunnel linings; structural joints and connections; fire performance of timber connections; construction safety control

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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 201418, China
Interests: timber structures; fire engineering; AI-assisted structural diagnosis; steel structures; seismic safety assessment; multi-hazard performance based design

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Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, 200092 Shanghai, China
Interests: smart structural design; skeleton structures; modular structures; steel structures; structural stability; spatial structures; structural fire safety; smart firefighting
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rapid urbanization, decarbonization targets, and increasing hazard exposure are driving the need for innovative structural systems and advanced construction methods that deliver higher performance with lower cost, carbon, and disruption. This Special Issue in Buildings (Building Structures Section) aims to showcase recent advances in the mechanics, design, fabrication, and on-site implementation of novel building structural systems and construction methods.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and state-of-the-art reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Advanced connections and joints.
  • Innovative structural forms and systems.
  • Modular/prefabricated and industrialized construction.
  • Construction-stage behavior and safety control.
  • Rapid and lightweight repair, strengthening, and retrofit methods.
  • Performance-based analysis and design under seismic/wind/fire scenarios.
  • Monitoring-informed assessment and digital framework.
  • Sustainability- and lifecycle-oriented structural performance evaluation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Zhen Liu
Dr. Jing Luo
Dr. Shaojun Zhu
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings 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 2600 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

  • innovative structural systems
  • advanced construction methods
  • modular and prefabricated construction
  • retrofit and strengthening
  • performance-based design
  • seismic, wind and fire performance
  • sustainability and lifecycle performance

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 9507 KB  
Article
Damage Evolution of Initial Tunnel Support and Structural Safety of Lining Under Complex Oil–Gas Corrosive Environment
by Baijun Yue, Yu Wang, Xingping Wang, Quanwei Zhu, Junqian He and Yukai Wu
Buildings 2026, 16(9), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091694 - 25 Apr 2026
Viewed by 213
Abstract
Tunnels excavated in non-coal oil- and gas-bearing strata may experience the seepage and intermittent ingress of an oil–gas–water mixture during construction, creating aggressive corrosive conditions that can compromise the integrity of primary support and the safety margin of the final lining. However, the [...] Read more.
Tunnels excavated in non-coal oil- and gas-bearing strata may experience the seepage and intermittent ingress of an oil–gas–water mixture during construction, creating aggressive corrosive conditions that can compromise the integrity of primary support and the safety margin of the final lining. However, the coupled degradation mechanism of primary support and its cascading effect on lining safety under such conditions remain poorly understood. Based on the Huaying Mountain Tunnel project, this study investigates the corrosion-driven damage evolution of primary support and its implications for the structural safety of the secondary lining under wet–dry cycling exposure. Accelerated wet–dry cycling tests were performed on concrete specimens using an on-site crude-oil–formation-water mixture collected during tunnelling, with exposure levels ranging from 0 to 120 cycles. Laboratory observations were then combined with inverse identification of degradation-dependent material parameters to establish a corrosion-informed mechanical description, which was implemented in numerical simulations for structural response assessment. Results show a staged evolution of mechanical properties, with an initial increase followed by progressive deterioration. After 120 cycles, compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus decreased by approximately 18.9%, 23.1%, and 17.4%, respectively. Degradation is more pronounced in the corroded zone, with tensile capacity and stiffness deteriorating earlier than compressive resistance. Numerical results indicate that corrosion leads to significant stress redistribution and damage development. The sidewall tensile stress reaches 2.80 MPa after 120 cycles, exceeding the post-corrosion capacity, while the safety factor drops below the code threshold at 90 cycles. The overall safety probability decreases from 1.0 to 0.4, accompanied by a degradation in safety grade from Level I to Level IV. These findings provide a quantitative basis for deterioration assessment, safety verification, and maintenance planning for tunnels subjected to oil–gas corrosive environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Systems and Construction Methods)
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23 pages, 14742 KB  
Article
Study on Construction Techniques and Key Joints of Giant Arch Suspension Building
by Yuenan Jiang, Chengcheng Xu, Suola Shao and Wenping Wu
Buildings 2026, 16(7), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16071313 - 26 Mar 2026
Viewed by 378
Abstract
Arch-suspended structures represent a distinctive form of hybrid suspension system. By combining an arch with a suspended floor system, this structural typology leverages the inherent advantages of both components while mitigating the limitations of each when used independently. This synergy effectively reduces peak [...] Read more.
Arch-suspended structures represent a distinctive form of hybrid suspension system. By combining an arch with a suspended floor system, this structural typology leverages the inherent advantages of both components while mitigating the limitations of each when used independently. This synergy effectively reduces peak internal forces and flexural deformations in structural members. Although widely applied in bridge engineering, research on arch-suspended building structures remains scarce. This paper investigates the construction techniques employed for a large-scale arch-suspended building. The stability of temporary support systems during construction is verified, and the mechanical behavior of critical joints—including the composite slab hanging pillar, arch support, and arch roof—is examined through both experimental testing and numerical simulation. The results demonstrate that a partitioned and segmented construction method is feasible for such complex structures. Structural internal forces and deformations can be effectively controlled by installing tubular temporary supports on both sides of the hanging pillars and lattice temporary supports at the base. Step-by-step unloading of these temporary supports ensures their stability throughout the construction process. Furthermore, the welds in the composite slab hanging pillar effectively transfer tensile forces from the middle plate to the side plates, enabling composite action and collaborative load-bearing among the steel plates. When subjected to loads of 2 times and 4.3 times the design load, localized plasticity was observed in the arch support and arch roof, respectively, while the overall structural integrity remained secure. This study provides a valuable reference for the design and construction of innovative long-span building structures, offering insights that can inform the development and practical application of arch-suspended systems in future architectural projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Systems and Construction Methods)
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