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Integration of Experimental and Numerical Methods in the Development of...
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Integration of Experimental and Numerical Methods in the Development of Innovative Concrete Materials and Sustainable Building Systems

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1358

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ali Shubbar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
Interests: sustainable construction materials; low carbon circular economy; energy savings; carbon neutrality; life cycle assessment (LCA) of sustainable construction materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mohammed Salah Nasr

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering, University of Babylon, Babylon 51002, Iraq
Interests: concrete technology; sustainable construction materials; corrosion of rebar; recycled aggregate; cement replacement materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainable development of cement and concrete is crucial for resilient infrastructures that address environmental and societal challenges. Traditional cement production significantly contributes to carbon emissions and resource depletion. Innovations such as alternative binders, recycled materials, and carbon capture technologies reduce environmental impacts. Advancements in self-healing concrete and durability optimization enhance infrastructure resilience to climate change and natural disasters. These efforts align construction practices with global sustainability goals, promoting eco-friendly, durable, and adaptable infrastructure solutions.

The aim of this Special Issue is to identify the latest research in the development of sustainable materials in concrete and cement for sustainable infrastructure. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • Low-carbon construction materials and structures;
  • Sustainable pavement engineering;
  • Three-dimensionally printed concrete;
  • Engineered cementitious composites (ECC);
  • Alkali-activated materials;
  • Ultra-high performance concrete;
  • Geopolymer materials;
  • Unfired bricks;
  • Recycled aggregate concrete;
  • Eco-friendly concrete technology;
  • CO2 capture.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in CivilEng.

Dr. Ali Shubbar
Dr. Mohammed Salah Nasr
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

  • recycling and reuse of low-carbon sustainable materials
  • life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • pavement engineering
  • geopolymer materials
  • green infrastructures

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 6706 KB  
Article
Mechanical and Microstructural Evaluation of Compacted Mixtures of Tropical Soils with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Waste for Sustainable Construction Applications
by Gian Fonseca dos Santos, Heraldo Nunes Pitanga, Klaus Henrique de Paula Rodrigues, Gustavo Henrique Nalon and Taciano Oliveira da Silva
Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4037; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224037 - 9 Nov 2025
Viewed by 753
Abstract
Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a lightweight thermoplastic polymer widely used in packaging and insulation, has become a growing environmental concern due to its non-biodegradable nature and escalating global consumption. Although EPS waste shows potential in construction applications, previous studies have primarily incorporated it into [...] Read more.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS), a lightweight thermoplastic polymer widely used in packaging and insulation, has become a growing environmental concern due to its non-biodegradable nature and escalating global consumption. Although EPS waste shows potential in construction applications, previous studies have primarily incorporated it into mortars, concrete, or soil–cement mixtures, often relying on the addition of cement to improve its mechanical performance. This approach compromises sustainability and has generally overlooked the role of microstructural interactions in the behavior of soil–EPS waste mixes without cement. This study differs from prior works by exploring the mechanical and microstructural properties of soil–EPS waste mixtures without cementitious binders under different compaction energies. Experimental tests were carried out for the technical characterization of soils, ground EPS waste, and mixtures of soil and different contents of EPS waste (0%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of the total apparent volume of the composite), using different compaction energies (Intermediate and Modified Proctor). The mixtures were subjected to Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and direct shear strength tests, in addition to physical and microstructural characterization. The results indicated that both soil type and compaction energy influenced the engineering behavior of the mixtures. The clayey soil exhibited superior mechanical performance, while the sandy soil showed reductions in all mechanical properties. The UCS values of the clayey soil with the addition of EPS did not change significantly (297 kPa to 286 kPa at intermediate energy and 514 kPa to 505 kPa at modified energy), while for the sandy soil, there was a decrease in values (from 167 kPa to 46 kPa at intermediate energy and from 291 kPa to 104 kPa at modified energy). In the CBR tests, only the 20% and 30% addition of EPS to the clayey soil, using the Modified Proctor energy, showed an increase (from 18% to 20% for both percentages). This behavior was primarily attributed to adhesion mechanisms at the soil–EPS waste interface, with friction playing a secondary role, thereby suggesting that clayey soils may offer better mechanical response. The lower dry density of these mixtures compared to compacted natural soils presents a technical benefit for use as backfill in areas with low bearing capacity, where minimizing the load from the fill material is critical. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Experimental and Numerical Methods in the Development of Innovative Concrete Materials and Sustainable Building Systems)
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