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Buildings
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Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation
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Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 9042

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xue Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: structural analysis; reinforced concrete; structural engineering; earthquake engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The built environment is the area of human activities that uses the most energy and resources. With climate change threatening ecosystems, biodiversity, and human life, research on energy-efficient structures has become critical. In recent decades, numerous structures and transport infrastructure projects have been built and are now increasingly unsustainable due to various factors. The optimization of these building structures is a measure of economic and environmental improvement. This Special Issue invites high-quality research studies on sustainability in building structures, including optimization, strengthening, and rehabilitation. Related innovative research articles focused on the sustainability of the construction of buildings and transportation infrastructure are also welcomed. Both experimental and modeling studies will be considered. Submitted studies must clearly identify their novelty and contribution to the state of the art.

Dr. Xue Zhang
Guest Editor

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

  • seismic performance
  • sustainability
  • confinement
  • reinforced concrete
  • structural health monitoring

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 10257 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Performance Evaluation and Strengthening of Rectangular RC Columns with Deficient Lap Splices: Monotonic Loading Tests and Equivalent Plastic Hinge Modeling
by Yuheng Zhao, Fangxin Jiang, Xue Zhang and Yufeng Guo
Buildings 2025, 15(12), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15121964 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 138
Abstract
Reinforced concrete columns constructed prior to the 1970s often exhibit deficient lap splices at the base, characterized by insufficient splice lengths. In response to the urgent need for an efficient seismic assessment of these vulnerable structural elements, this study proposed a modelling method [...] Read more.
Reinforced concrete columns constructed prior to the 1970s often exhibit deficient lap splices at the base, characterized by insufficient splice lengths. In response to the urgent need for an efficient seismic assessment of these vulnerable structural elements, this study proposed a modelling method for lap-spliced columns. Typically, numerical simulations of columns with lap splices require the cross-sections of the lap-spliced and non-lap-spliced zones to be established, a process that is complex and time-consuming. This paper proposes an equivalent distribution of curvature along the height of the column to represent the effect of lap splice defects on the mechanical behavior of columns, thereby reducing the modelling complexity of such components. Four large-scale column specimens with varying lap splice lengths were subjected to monotonic pushover loading to investigate the effect of splice length on failure modes, strain distribution, and displacement ductility. An active strengthening method was employed to improve the performance of columns with deficient lap splices. Applying lateral prestress to the strengthening devices improves the mechanical behavior of columns. The experimental results revealed that insufficient splice lengths lead to reduced ductility and stress-transfer capacity. The strengthened specimen demonstrated significantly improved ductility and enhanced stress-transfer efficiency, indicating a marked improvement in mechanical performance. The proposed equivalent plastic hinge model was established in OpenSees. A database was created to verify the accuracy of the model. The results showed the modelling method to be accurate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation)
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22 pages, 20123 KiB  
Article
Stress-Responsive Spatial Voronoi Optimization for Lightweight Architectural Shell Structures
by Haining Zhou, Xinyu Shi, Da Wan, Weijiu Cui, Kang Bi, Wenxuan Zhao, Rong Jiao and Hiroatsu Fukuda
Buildings 2025, 15(9), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091547 - 3 May 2025
Viewed by 423
Abstract
Gradient porous structures (GPS) offer significant mechanical and functional advantages over homogeneous counterparts. This paper proposes a computational design framework utilizing spatial Voronoi diagrams to create lightweight, stress-responsive spatial frames optimized for architectural double-curvature arched shell roofing components. The method integrates Solid Isotropic [...] Read more.
Gradient porous structures (GPS) offer significant mechanical and functional advantages over homogeneous counterparts. This paper proposes a computational design framework utilizing spatial Voronoi diagrams to create lightweight, stress-responsive spatial frames optimized for architectural double-curvature arched shell roofing components. The method integrates Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP)-based topology optimization (TO) to establish initial stress-informed material distributions, adaptive Voronoi control point (CP) placement guided by localized stress data, and a bi-objective genetic algorithm (GA) optimizing maximum and average displacement. Following optimization, a weighted Lloyd relaxation (LR) refines Voronoi cells into spatial frameworks with varying densities corresponding to stress gradients. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) demonstrates that the optimized Voronoi-driven GPS achieves notable improvements, revealing up to 79.7% material volume reduction and significant improvement in structural efficiency, achieving a stiffness-to-weight ratio (SWR) exceeding 2200 in optimized configurations. Furthermore, optimized structures consistently maintain maximum von Mises (MVM) stresses below 20 MPa, well within the allowable yield strength of the Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) material (53 MPa). The developed framework effectively bridges structural performance, material efficiency, and aesthetic considerations, offering substantial potential for application in advanced, high-performance architectural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation)
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23 pages, 8415 KiB  
Article
Advancements in Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Retrofitting Techniques for Seismic Resilience of Reinforced Concrete Structures
by Naser Kabashi, Milot Muhaxheri, Enes Krasniqi, Ylli Murati and Florentina Latifi
Buildings 2025, 15(4), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040587 - 14 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1962
Abstract
In recent years, civil engineering has increasingly focused on utilizing fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) to retrofit and strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This paper explores advancements in FRP retrofitting techniques, with a particular focus on their application to beam–column joints in RC structures. The [...] Read more.
In recent years, civil engineering has increasingly focused on utilizing fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) to retrofit and strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This paper explores advancements in FRP retrofitting techniques, with a particular focus on their application to beam–column joints in RC structures. The introduction outlines the evolution of FRP materials and their optimization for seismic retrofitting applications. A critical review of existing research highlights the effectiveness of FRP reinforcement in improving seismic resilience. The study examines three distinct cases from post-earthquake assessments in Albania, addressing the impact of poor concrete quality and inadequate detailing on structural performance. To capture the behavior of FRP-strengthened RC structures comprehensively, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was employed for localized analysis to observe the influence of FRP strengthening on critical joints, while finite element modeling (FEM) was used for global analysis to demonstrate the behavior at the structural level. The combined approach evaluates the effectiveness of FRP reinforcement in mitigating vulnerabilities, such as shear deficiencies and brittle failure modes, across varying scenarios of material quality and detailing. Key findings indicate that FRP retrofitting strategies result in a 25% increase in peak shear force and a 20% improvement in displacement capacity, showcasing enhanced ductility and seismic resilience. The finite element analysis demonstrated strong prediction accuracy, with error margins below 5% when compared to experimental results. These results emphasize the critical role of tailored FRP retrofitting strategies in enhancing seismic resilience, offering valuable insights for future retrofitting practices in seismic-prone regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation)
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20 pages, 14895 KiB  
Article
Shear Strengthening of Stone Masonry Walls Using Textile-Reinforced Sarooj Mortar
by Yasser Al-Saidi, Abdullah H. Al-Saidy, Sherif El-Gamal and Kazi Md Abu Sohel
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2070; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072070 - 6 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1122
Abstract
Most historical buildings and structures in Oman were built using unreinforced stone masonry. These structures have deteriorated due to the aging of materials, environmental degradation, and lack of maintenance. This research investigates the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the local building materials. [...] Read more.
Most historical buildings and structures in Oman were built using unreinforced stone masonry. These structures have deteriorated due to the aging of materials, environmental degradation, and lack of maintenance. This research investigates the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the local building materials. It also presents the findings of an experimental study on the in-plane shear effectiveness of a modern strengthening technique applied to existing stone masonry walls. The technique consists of the application of a textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) on one or two faces of the walls. Shear loading tests of full-scale masonry samples (1000 mm width, 1000 mm height, and 350 mm depth) were carried out on one unreinforced specimen and six different cases of reinforced specimens. The performances of the unreinforced and reinforced specimens were analyzed and compared. We found that strengthened specimens can resist in-plane shear stresses 1.5–2.1 times greater than those of the unreinforced specimen; moreover, they demonstrate ductility rather than sudden failure, due to the presence of fiberglass and basalt meshes, which restrict the opening of cracks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation)
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20 pages, 12663 KiB  
Article
Interface Characteristics between Fiber-Reinforced Concrete and Ordinary Concrete Based on Continuous Casting
by Minjin Cai, Hehua Zhu, Timon Rabczuk and Xiaoying Zhuang
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072062 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1316
Abstract
Economic limitations often hinder the extensive use of fiber-reinforced concrete in full-scale structures. Addressing this, the present study explored localized reinforcement at critical interfaces, deploying a novel synchronized casting mold that deviates from segmented casting interface studies. The research prioritized the flexural, compressive, [...] Read more.
Economic limitations often hinder the extensive use of fiber-reinforced concrete in full-scale structures. Addressing this, the present study explored localized reinforcement at critical interfaces, deploying a novel synchronized casting mold that deviates from segmented casting interface studies. The research prioritized the flexural, compressive, and shear characteristics at the interface between fiber-reinforced concrete and ordinary concrete with continuous casting. The results demonstrated that polyethylene (PE) fibers significantly enhance anti-cracking capabilities, surpassing steel fibers in all mechanical tests. PE fibers’ high modulus of elasticity and tensile strength considerably augmented the interface’s bending resistance, facilitating better load transfer and capitalizing on the fibers’ tensile properties. Additionally, their low density and greater dispersion negated the sinking behavior typical of steel fibers, thereby strengthening the compressive capacity of the interface. Although a 0.75% PE fiber volume is ideal for ductility, volumes as low as 0.25% or 0.5% are economically viable if dispersion is optimal. Conversely, steel fibers, prone to sinking and clustering, offer inferior shear resistance at the interface than PE fibers, marking a significant finding for structural applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation)
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16 pages, 5350 KiB  
Article
Development and Field Analysis of a Novel Servo Concrete Bracing System for Deep Foundation Pit Excavation
by Shaochun Wang, Lei Xu, Xuehui Zhang, Luyuan Long and Xiaoying Zhuang
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061674 - 5 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1286
Abstract
This study demonstrates the design and field implementation of an innovative servo concrete bracing system in foundation pit excavation. The bracing system comprises concrete struts, revised purlins, and hydraulic jacks, and its field performance is evaluated in a deep foundation pit project in [...] Read more.
This study demonstrates the design and field implementation of an innovative servo concrete bracing system in foundation pit excavation. The bracing system comprises concrete struts, revised purlins, and hydraulic jacks, and its field performance is evaluated in a deep foundation pit project in Shanghai, China. The field measurements demonstrate that the servo bracing system effectively reduces the maximum lateral displacement of the retaining wall by up to 31%. Moreover, the servo jacks modify the wall’s flexural behavior by introducing local inflection points at certain depths and driving the displacement peak upward. Furthermore, the system’s performance varies with strut configuration, and servo forces influence not only the corresponding acting strut but also the adjacent struts’ behavior, implying that the monitoring scope should be expanded when applying the servo bracing system in actual engineering. This study provides a meaningful technical reference for future servo concrete bracing system applications in foundation pit engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation)
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23 pages, 7293 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of Ferrocement-Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Beam
by Darko Živković, Predrag Blagojević, Danijel Kukaras, Radovan Cvetković and Slobodan Ranković
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 1082; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041082 - 12 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1891
Abstract
Starting with the premise that the choice of the optimal method for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structures is a complex task and that ferrocement strengthening is comparable to other advanced strengthening technologies due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of construction, and durability, this paper [...] Read more.
Starting with the premise that the choice of the optimal method for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structures is a complex task and that ferrocement strengthening is comparable to other advanced strengthening technologies due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of construction, and durability, this paper presents a comparative study of the flexural bearing capacity of RC beams strengthened with ferrocement strips applied by gluing. An overview of the life cycle assessment (LCA) based on embodied energy or CO2 is presented in the introduction, based on the existing literature review. The research includes tests of 15 RC beams of identical cross-sections (150/250 mm) and a span of 3000 mm. Strengthening was conducted by applying four types of ferrocement strips (different widths and wire mesh layers). Two factors were examined: the verification of the comprehensive FEM numerical model against the experimental results and the applicability of existing simplified calculation methods for sufficiently accurate results which could be used in regular practice. The results show that the failure forces obtained from numerical models and experimental models differ by no more than 3.94%. The increase in the bearing capacity of the strengthened models is up to 21.4%. The transformed area method for the cracked section showed good results when compared to the FEM and experimental models. The analytically calculated failure force is contingent upon the partial factor for variable action, which was explored within the 1.5–1.7 range. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Building Structures: Optimization, Strengthening and Rehabilitation)
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