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Advances in Enhancing Properties of Concrete, Mortar, Gypsum, and Plaster...
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Advances in Enhancing Properties of Concrete, Mortar, Gypsum, and Plaster Materials

A topical collection in Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This collection belongs to the section "Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation".

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Editors

Dr. Hasan Mostafaei

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Interests: concrete technology; sustainability evaluation; structural health monitoring; dam engineering; modal analysis
Dr. Paulo Santos

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: sustainable materials; circular economy; thermal behaviour and energy efficiency of buildings; lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniel Ferrández Vega

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Departamento de Tecnología de la Edificación, Escuela Técnica Superior de Edificación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: construction materials; sustainability; building management; energy efficiency; building physics; waste management; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete, mortar, gypsum, and plaster are fundamental materials in construction, playing a crucial role in shaping modern infrastructure and architectural advancements. With the growing demand for sustainable and high-performance building materials, researchers and industry professionals are focusing on innovative solutions to enhance durability, reduce environmental impacts, and improve construction efficiency.

This Topical Collection will explore recent advancements in concrete, mortar, and plaster, including novel material formulations, advanced manufacturing techniques, and the integration of smart technologies. It will provide a platform for cutting-edge research that contributes to the development of sustainable, high-performance, and resilient construction materials.

We invite the submission of high-quality original research papers and comprehensive review articles addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Innovative binder materials (e.g., geopolymers, alkali-activated materials, fibre-reinforced composites);
  • Low-carbon and eco-friendly binders;
  • Durability and performance of novel materials;
  • Recycled and waste-based materials in binder composites;
  • Lifecycle assessment and sustainability evaluation;
  • Characterisation studies on concrete, mortar, gypsum, and plaster in building construction.

Dr. Hasan Mostafaei
Dr. Paulo Santos
Dr. Daniel Ferrández Vega
Collection 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 collection 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. 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

  • high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC)
  • recycled aggregate concrete (RAC)
  • ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC)
  • supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)
  • eco-friendly binder alternatives
  • low-carbon materials
  • geopolymer materials
  • recycled material composites
  • waste-based materials
  • circular material composites
  • fiber-reinforced composites

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

2025

24 pages, 3266 KiB  
Review
State of the Art Review on Hempcrete as a Sustainable Substitute for Traditional Construction Materials for Home Building
by Wei Tong and Ali M. Memari
Buildings 2025, 15(12), 1988; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15121988 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 799
Abstract
Currently, the construction industry relies mainly on non-environmentally sustainable materials such as fired clay brick, concrete, and steel, which significantly contribute to global carbon dioxide generation, leading to environmental degradation. In response to mounting environmental concerns, there is a growing emphasis on developing [...] Read more.
Currently, the construction industry relies mainly on non-environmentally sustainable materials such as fired clay brick, concrete, and steel, which significantly contribute to global carbon dioxide generation, leading to environmental degradation. In response to mounting environmental concerns, there is a growing emphasis on developing and utilizing low-impact materials that mitigate the ecological footprint of construction activities. This review offers a detailed overview of current formulations and applications of hempcrete and compares the performance of different types of hempcrete as construction materials. Additionally, this paper seeks to evaluate the potential of hempcrete as a sustainable substitute for traditional construction materials with high energy demands and significant CO2 emissions based on life cycle assessment (LCA). Furthermore, this study summarizes current challenges and prospects for composite innovations in hempcrete, emphasizing the need for standardized product control and broader industrial acceptance, thus providing useful insights for practitioners and researchers in the field. Full article
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24 pages, 11392 KiB  
Article
Microstructural Evolution and Rheological Enhancement of Asphalt–Rubber Binders: Unveiling the Role of Morphology in Performance
by Eslam Deef-Allah, Mohyeldin Ragab, Mohamed Attia and Magdy Abdelrahman
Buildings 2025, 15(12), 1963; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15121963 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 484
Abstract
Understanding the development of an asphalt binder’s internal network structure is essential when interacting asphalt and crumb rubber. Thus, the focus of this study was to reveal the development of asphalt–rubber binders’ (A-RBs) network structures at different interaction times and their correlation with [...] Read more.
Understanding the development of an asphalt binder’s internal network structure is essential when interacting asphalt and crumb rubber. Thus, the focus of this study was to reveal the development of asphalt–rubber binders’ (A-RBs) network structures at different interaction times and their correlation with performance. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to image the morphologies of the binders, and the binders’ performances were explored rheologically with a dynamic shear rheometer. Extending the interaction time to 8 h and utilizing a soft binder altered the network structures from agglomerated dispersoids—minuscule distributed phase zones embedded in the continuous matrix of the asphalt binder—to well-organized lamellar structures. At 8 h, using a softer binder increased stiffness by 25% and elasticity by 15%, accelerating early rubber dissolution. Extending the interaction time from 4 to 8 h increased rubber dissolution by 5–23%, depending on the binder type. The 150% increase in stress overshoot for A-RBs with the soft binder versus those with the stiff one reflects the development of the network structure. At 8 h, the soft binder reduced the AFM mean phase angle by 10% and the standard deviation by 64%, indicating a more homogeneous and stable network than that obtained with the stiff binder. Thus, the 8 h interaction time and soft binder facilitated rubber swelling and enhanced component diffusion, aiding in the formation of a homogeneous network. Full article
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26 pages, 429 KiB  
Review
Reorienting Green Ratings Towards the Big Problems Rather than Business as Usual: A Review of Pragmatic Issues
by Riley Smith, Verena Reid, Dylan Smith, John Rodwell, Scott Rayburg and Melissa Neave
Buildings 2025, 15(11), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111915 - 2 Jun 2025
Viewed by 391
Abstract
With expanding urban sprawl and the characterization of Australian housing as little more than glorified tents, there is a clear need for expert-informed tools—such as the Green Building Council of Australia’s Communities ratings. But what lessons can be learned from the ratings of [...] Read more.
With expanding urban sprawl and the characterization of Australian housing as little more than glorified tents, there is a clear need for expert-informed tools—such as the Green Building Council of Australia’s Communities ratings. But what lessons can be learned from the ratings of recent housing developments? A review of existing cases and supporting materials found low rates of engagement for some criteria and few projects meeting the criteria, with the most direct links being with sustainability. The patterns of scores obtained and criteria addressed appear to reflect many developers placing emphasis on compliance with the minimum standards rather than best practice in sustainability. Notable areas with poor performance include greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, the use of environmentally friendly materials and the sustainability of buildings. Strong, comprehensive education campaigns regarding up-front costs relative to long-term benefits, perhaps more heavily focused on end consumers, may help address some of the hesitancy developers have in engaging with key criteria. However, current rating frameworks fail to account for the pressing need for infill development to address the ‘missing middle’. Perhaps an evolution is needed in sustainability-oriented ratings, such as a mandatory sustainability assessment, that would crystallize the green premium of sustainable housing, thereby harnessing the demand from consumers’ for better quality. Full article
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