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Advanced Construction Materials and Smart Structural Technologies for Sustainable Civil...
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Advanced Construction Materials and Smart Structural Technologies for Sustainable Civil Structures

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1237

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zu'bi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11937, Jordan
Interests: structural retrofitting; FRP composites; nano-modified adhesives and cementitious materials; mechanical performance and durability of structures; interfacial bonding behavior; failure mechanisms; sustainable construction materials; materials characterization; life cycle assessment (LCA); structural optimization; sustainable and resilient structures
Dr. Rabee Shamass

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University of London, London UB8 3PH, UK
Interests: concrete structures; FRP composites; numerical analysis and simulation; LCA; finite element analysis
Prof. Dr. Ahmed M. Ashteyat

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, The Faculty of Engineering, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Interests: self compacted concrete; structure repairing; green concrete
Dr. Musab Rabi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineereing, Jerash University, Jerash 26110, Jordan
Interests: structural engineering; reinforced concrete; material; steel structures; stainless steel reinforcement; machine learning methods; numerical modelling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global construction industry is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by the need to reduce environmental impact, enhance durability, and improve structural performance. Achieving these goals demands the integration of sustainable construction materials, advanced technologies, and intelligent design systems. This Special Issue (SI) aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for researchers and practitioners to share cutting-edge developments that advance the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of civil engineering structures.

We welcome contributions focusing on fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites (Carbon, Glass, and Basalt), polymer nanocomposites, and nanotechnology-enhanced adhesives, which are widely used to improve the bonding behavior, mechanical performance, and service life of both new and retrofitted structures. Emphasis is also placed on green and eco-friendly materials, including low-carbon cement, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) (i.e., Fly Ash (FA), Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS or Slag Cement), Silica Fume (SF), and Natural Pozzolans), recycled and carbonated aggregates, and nano-modified cementitious composites, which support global decarbonization strategies while maintaining structural integrity.

The SI strongly encourages studies on the experimental investigation, finite element (FE) simulation, and structural health monitoring (SHM) of innovative materials and systems under service and extreme conditions. Moreover, we welcome research that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in structural performance prediction, material optimization, and automated design workflows, paving the way toward smarter infrastructure.

Our utmost aim is to bridge materials science, structural engineering, and environmental performance, fostering innovation that drives the transition to resilient, intelligent, and low-carbon civil infrastructure.

Topics of Interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Sustainable and green construction materials;
  • Eco-friendly building materials for civil infrastructure;
  • FRP composites for strengthening and new construction;
  • Nanotechnology and nanocomposites for structural and material enhancement;
  • Nanomaterial-modified epoxy and cement-based adhesives for improved bonding;
  • Recycled and carbonated aggregates for sustainable concrete;
  • Low-carbon cement and alternative binders;
  • Nano-enhanced cementitious and concrete composites;
  • Experimental investigations and mechanical performance assessment;
  • Finite Element (FE) simulation and structural modelling;
  • AI and machine learning applications in materials and structural engineering;
  • Structural health monitoring (SHM) and smart sensing technologies;
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and service life design;
  • Structural optimization and intelligent infrastructure solutions.

We welcome original research articles, comprehensive review papers, short communications, and mini reviews that align with the scope of this Special Issue. Submissions from academia, industry, and interdisciplinary collaborations are highly encouraged to advance innovation and provide practical insights into smart, durable, and sustainable construction materials, structural systems, and technologies.

Dr. Mohammad Al-Zu'bi
Dr. Rabee Shamass
Prof. Dr. Ahmed M. Ashteyat
Dr. Musab Rabi
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. 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

  • sustainable and green building materials
  • smart construction materials
  • nanotechnology and nanomaterials
  • low-carbon cement
  • FRP composites
  • supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)
  • structural retrofitting and strengthening
  • bonding behavior and mechanical performance
  • recycled and carbonated aggregates
  • cement-based and epoxy adhesives
  • structural health monitoring (SHM)
  • artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • finite element simulation and modelling
  • life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • experimental investigations in structural engineering
  • structural optimization and innovative design

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • 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 (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 16082 KiB  
Article
Improvement in the Recycled Aggregate Replacement Ratio in Concrete Pavement Bricks by Incorporating Nano-Calcium Carbonate and Basalt Fibre: Model Experiment Investigation
by Biao Zhang, Xueyuan Zhang, Mengyao Wang, Daoming Zhang, Dandan Wang and Xinwu Ma
Buildings 2025, 15(12), 2070; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15122070 - 16 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 378
Abstract
This study focuses on improving the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement ratio in recycled aggregate concrete products. First, the mix design and compressive performance of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC, RCA replacement percentages of 20%, 35%, and 50%) were evaluated using the monofactor analysis [...] Read more.
This study focuses on improving the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement ratio in recycled aggregate concrete products. First, the mix design and compressive performance of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC, RCA replacement percentages of 20%, 35%, and 50%) were evaluated using the monofactor analysis method and response surface methodology under three different conditions: single addition of nano-calcium carbonate (NC, dosages of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%), single addition of basalt fibre (BF, volume content of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%), and combined addition of both. The results show that the compressive strength of RAC at 7 and 28 days rises as the BF or NC content increases and then falls as the NC content increases. According to the sensitivity analysis, RAC’s compressive strength is significantly impacted by the replacement ratio of RCA, with NC having a more considerable effect on RAC’s 7-day compressive strength than BF, while BF affects the 28-day compressive strength more than NC does. Based on the desirability function, the ideal BF and NC content in RAC was optimised and confirmed by the compressive strength test. It demonstrates that the best compressive performance is achieved by RAC with 1% NC and 0.3% BF. Finally, concrete pavement brick models were created using the ideal mix proportion provided by the compressive strength test. The model compression test results show that RAC pavement bricks (RCA replacement ratio of 60%) with 1% NC and 0.3% BF had a 28d compressive strength of 5.7% and 15.8% higher than NAC and RAC pavement bricks, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Construction Materials and Smart Structural Technologies for Sustainable Civil Structures)
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21 pages, 4503 KiB  
Article
Influence of Fast Freeze-Thaw Cycles on the Behavior of Segmental Bridge Shear Key Joints Using Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis
by Bara’a R. Alnemrawi and Rajai Al-Rousan
Buildings 2025, 15(11), 1892; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111892 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 280
Abstract
The structural behavior of precast concrete segmental bridges is very important to investigate, and the necessity is increased under the effect of being exposed to severe environmental conditions, such as freezing and thawing cycles. In this study, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was [...] Read more.
The structural behavior of precast concrete segmental bridges is very important to investigate, and the necessity is increased under the effect of being exposed to severe environmental conditions, such as freezing and thawing cycles. In this study, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was adopted to address the behavior of reinforced shear keys where they were very small and distributed within the overall depth of the connection region. The effect of the amount of lateral confinement was investigated using six values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 MPa), along with the effect of different freezing-thawing cycles (0 (undamaged), 100, 200, 300, and 400). Simulation was accomplished using the direct static shear method, where vertical loading was applied. The simulated models were first validated using experimental data from the literature, where the overall structural behavior was captured well. Thirty NLFEA models were simulated, and results were reported in terms of the load-deflection characteristics and the detailed cracking propagation process. It was found that increasing the lateral confinement will increase the shear strength capacity of the confined joint, in addition to increasing the ultimate deflection and initial stiffness values. Furthermore, a new formula was introduced for calculating the shear capacity compared with experimental data, NLFEA results, literature models, and AASHTO predictions, where good matching was observed, with a minor margin error. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Construction Materials and Smart Structural Technologies for Sustainable Civil Structures)
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