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Buildings
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Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structural Engineering
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Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structural Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 February 2026 | Viewed by 1976

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Violetta K. Kytinou

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Reinforced Concrete and Seismic Design of Structures, Civil Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Interests: structural analysis; finite element analysis; structural engineering; building materials; structural dynamics; FRP; reinforced concrete; SFRC; NDT; rehabilitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Adamantis Zapris

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Reinforced Concrete and Seismic Design of Structures, Civil Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Interests: reinforced concrete; FRP; shear; torsion; strengthening; rehabilitation; anchors; externally bonded; NSM; NDT
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ali Ghamari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran
Interests: FRC; composite materials; seismic behavior; dampers; SPSW

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue "Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structural Engineering" aims to present the latest advancements in sustainable practices and material innovations that address new construction and the pressing need to preserve and upgrade existing infrastructure. Adopting advanced technologies and eco-conscious materials becomes essential as the construction industry transitions toward greener and more efficient systems.

This Issue welcomes contributions focused on developing and applying novel materials such as fiber-reinforced polymers, self-healing and ultra-high-performance concrete, bio-based composites, recycled aggregates, and low-carbon binders. Topics include innovative construction approaches such as 3D printing, modular systems, and digital fabrication. Emphasis is placed on AI-driven design and optimization methods that support material efficiency and long-term structural sustainability.

Particular attention is given to strategies for the sustainable rehabilitation, strengthening, and extension of service life in existing infrastructure, aiming to reduce resource consumption and environmental impact. Both original research articles and review papers spanning experimental studies, analytical models, life cycle assessments, and real-world applications are invited. The Special Issue provides a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration toward resilient and future-ready structural systems.

Dr. Violetta K. Kytinou
Dr. Adamantis Zapris
Dr. Ali Ghamari
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 construction materials
  • fiber-reinforced polymers
  • AI-driven structural design
  • sustainable retrofit and strengthening
  • infrastructure rehabilitation
  • eco-friendly engineering solutions
  • structural durability

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2969 KB  
Article
Self-Healing Concrete Reinforced with Sisal Fibers and Based on Sustainable Bacillus subtilis Bacteria Calcium Lactate-Fortified
by Hebah Mohammad Al-Jabali, Walid Fouad Edris, Ahmed D. Almutairi, Abd Al-Kader A. Al Sayed and Shady Khairy
Buildings 2025, 15(24), 4495; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15244495 - 12 Dec 2025
Abstract
Self-healing concrete provides an eco-efficient approach for restoring cracks through autonomous repair, reducing maintenance demands and enhancing long-term durability. This study evaluates concrete incorporating Bacillus subtilis bacteria and sisal fibers to examine their individual and combined effects on mechanical performance and microstructural development. [...] Read more.
Self-healing concrete provides an eco-efficient approach for restoring cracks through autonomous repair, reducing maintenance demands and enhancing long-term durability. This study evaluates concrete incorporating Bacillus subtilis bacteria and sisal fibers to examine their individual and combined effects on mechanical performance and microstructural development. Bacterial cells at a concentration of 2 × 108 CFU/mL were introduced with calcium lactate as a nutrient source at varying dosages, while sisal fibers were added at a volume fraction of 0.9%. Concrete mixes containing 0%, 2.5%, and 5% bacterial content were tested under fresh-water curing. Compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths were assessed at multiple ages, accompanied by SEM and EDS analyses to investigate healing products and microstructural alterations. Bacteria-enhanced mixes demonstrated improved long-term compressive behavior, with B5/5/1 reaching 50.1 MPa at 56 days, while higher bacterial content slightly reduced early-age strength but benefited later performance. Incorporating sisal fibers consistently improved mechanical resistance, notably in combination with bacteria. The SB5/5/1 mix achieved 55.2 MPa at 56 days, representing a 30% gain over the control. Tensile strength was particularly influenced by fibers, with SB10/5/1 recording 6.3 MPa at 56 days (≈70% increase). Flexural strength results similarly highlighted the superior behavior of hybrid systems, where SB10/5/1 attained 9.2 MPa (+67%), reflecting enhanced self-healing efficiency even under challenging curing conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structural Engineering)
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21 pages, 5074 KB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Metamaterial-Inspired Periodic Foundation Systems with Embedded Piezoelectric Layers for Seismic Vibration Attenuation
by Mehmet Furkan Oz, Atila Kumbasaroglu, Hakan Yalciner, Nurettin Korozlu, Yunus Babacan, Fulya Esra Cimilli Çatır and Done Sayarcan
Buildings 2025, 15(24), 4399; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15244399 - 5 Dec 2025
Viewed by 146
Abstract
Seismic metamaterial-inspired periodic foundations have emerged as promising vibration-mitigation concepts capable of attenuating seismic wave propagation within specific frequency bands. This study presents an experimental investigation on the dynamic response of periodic foundation configurations, with and without embedded piezoelectric layers, to evaluate their [...] Read more.
Seismic metamaterial-inspired periodic foundations have emerged as promising vibration-mitigation concepts capable of attenuating seismic wave propagation within specific frequency bands. This study presents an experimental investigation on the dynamic response of periodic foundation configurations, with and without embedded piezoelectric layers, to evaluate their vibration-attenuation characteristics. The experimental program employed a shake table driven by a 0.75 kW servo motor and included excitation step counts of 3000, 4000, and 5000. Accelerometers mounted on the specimen surfaces recorded vibration data at 80 ms intervals. Three foundation configurations were tested: (i) a conventional reinforced concrete block, (ii) a one-dimensional periodic foundation composed of alternating concrete and rubber layers, and (iii) a periodic foundation incorporating piezoelectric modules. Time-domain and frequency-domain analyses showed that the periodic foundations achieved notable reductions in both peak and RMS accelerations, especially near resonance frequencies. The configuration, including piezoelectric layers, exhibited similar attenuation performance while also generating measurable instantaneous voltage outputs under vibration. However, these voltage peaks—reaching a maximum of 1.64 V—represent only a laboratory-scale, proof-of-concept demonstration of electromechanical coupling rather than a practical or continuous form of energy harvesting, given the inherently sporadic nature of seismic excitation. Overall, the results confirm that the tested system is not a full metamaterial in the classical sense but rather a metamaterial-inspired periodic arrangement capable of inducing band-gap-based vibration attenuation. The inclusion of piezoelectric elements provides auxiliary sensing and micro-energy-generation capabilities, offering a preliminary foundation for future multifunctional seismic-protection concepts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structural Engineering)
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27 pages, 6842 KB  
Article
Non-Conventional and Sustainable Retrofitting of Fire-Exposed Reinforced Concrete Columns Using Basalt Fiber–Engineered Geopolymer Composites
by Ruba Palanivelu, Bhuvaneshwari Panchanatham, Adamantis G. Zapris and Violetta K. Kytinou
Buildings 2025, 15(12), 1962; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15121962 - 6 Jun 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1279
Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable and resilient construction solutions calls for the integration of innovative, non-conventional materials in structural retrofitting. This study investigates the use of basalt fiber-based engineered geopolymer composites (BFEGC) as a retrofitting material for fire-damaged reinforced concrete (RC) short columns. [...] Read more.
The increasing demand for sustainable and resilient construction solutions calls for the integration of innovative, non-conventional materials in structural retrofitting. This study investigates the use of basalt fiber-based engineered geopolymer composites (BFEGC) as a retrofitting material for fire-damaged reinforced concrete (RC) short columns. A total of 14 columns (150 mm × 150 mm × 650 mm) were cast. Two columns were used as control specimens. The remaining 12 columns were exposed to various fire conditions: 300 °C for 30 min, 600 °C for 20 min, and 900 °C for 15 min, followed by gradual (GC) or rapid cooling (RC). Among the columns, six were left unwrapped (GC-NW, RC-NW), while six others were retrofitted with BFEGC (GC-W, RC-W) and subjected to axial loading until failure. The results showed that BFEGC wrapping improved the mechanical performance of fire-damaged columns, especially at 600 °C. The 600RC-W columns exhibited 1.85 times higher ultimate load, 1.56 times greater displacement ductility, and 2.99 times higher energy ductility compared to unwrapped columns. The strength index and confinement coefficient of the 600RC-W columns increased by 2.31 times and 40.2%, respectively. Microstructural analysis confirmed the formation of salient hydration products under elevated temperatures. BFEGC shows significant reduction in carbon emissions and embodied energy, compared to conventional cement-based binders for fiber-reinforced polymer systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structural Engineering)
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