Advances in Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure: Enhancing Structural Resilience and Promoting Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

The recent surge in the number of reinforced concrete structures approaching the end of their service life necessitates attention due to deterioration from environmental factors or increased applied loads. Many of these structures are now classified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, highlighting the need for innovative design approaches and comprehensive rehabilitation or replacement strategies. Recent advancements in reinforced concrete have emphasized sustainability, durability, and resilience by integrating advanced materials and technologies. Key focus areas include sustainable infrastructure preservation and retrofitting using advanced composites like Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP). Computational modeling is vital in evaluating these methods while enhancing resilience, which is critical to preparing structures for evolving demands. Structural health monitoring (SHM) and fatigue assessments ensure safety under diverse conditions. Innovations such as durable, "maintenance-free" concrete, 3D printing, and nanotechnology are improving efficiency. At the same time, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and advanced repair techniques address damage caused by corrosion, freeze–thaw cycles, and cracking. These advancements aim to overcome the limitations of traditional concrete, including its vulnerability to cracking and environmental impact, while enhancing structural performance and longevity.

This Special Issue aims to discuss the latest reinforced concrete structural performance achievements, extend service life, and address environmental concerns. It also features work on various topics centered around the concept of smart cities applied to civil engineering systems. Papers considered for publication must articulate a clear contribution to the art and science of maintenance and rehabilitation of transport infrastructures.

Potential topics for submissions include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Sustainable strategies for infrastructure preservation and eco-efficient rehabilitation;
2. Retrofitting reinforced concrete with advanced composite materials;
3. Use of advanced computational modeling techniques for evaluating retrofitting methods;
4. Enhancing infrastructure intelligence and resilience for futureproofing;
5. Structural health monitoring (SHM) and fatigue life assessment of concrete structures;
6. Innovation in "maintenance-free" and longer-lasting concrete materials;
7. Safety, serviceability, and performance of concrete under varied loading and environmental conditions;
8. Application of 3D printing and fiber-reinforced concrete technologies in modern construction;
9. Adoption of nanotechnology, climate-friendly technologies, and advanced composite materials;
10. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and innovative repair techniques for mitigating infrastructure damage (e.g., corrosion, freeze–thaw, cracking).

Dr. Mohanad M. Abdulazeez
Dr. Haibin Zhang
Dr. Cameron Robert Rusnak
Dr. Mohamed Elshazli
Dr. Emad Hassan
Dr. Zeinab Bayati
Dr. Pengfei Ma
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Infrastructures is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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.