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Infrastructures
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Civil, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering—Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st...
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Civil, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering—Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st Century

A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3975

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Enrico Zacchei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School of Ávila, University of Salamanca (USAL), Ávila, Spain
Interests: structural engineering; mechanical engineering; earthquake engineering; dynamic analyses; design for steel structures; design for RC structures; numerical solutions; risk analyses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue (SI), “Civil, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering—Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st Century”, emerged with the purpose and ambition of translating research into practice. This SI aligns with the recent inclusion of the "impact" section in the Scopus database, which provides insights into an author’s scholarly influence and highlights the importance of research within the academic and professional community. By focusing on the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations (https://sdgs.un.org/goals), this SI encourages evaluations of how engineering research contributes to achieving "peace and prosperity for people and the planet" across multiple fields.

While some SDGs, such as “industry, innovation, and infrastructure”, align directly with engineering disciplines, this SI invites a broader perspective by posing the following question: What role does engineering play in advancing all 17 SDGs? By examining engineering projects not only through their design and materials but also their workforce, intended social impact, and long-term benefits, this SI encompasses various SDGs.

For instance, from conception to completion, engineering has a transformative effect on communities, creating sustainable and inclusive infrastructure. Civil engineering projects on transportation systems, healthcare facilities, and schools enhance access to resources, public health, and education. Mechanical engineering’s role in designing systems for optimizing resource use and reducing waste directly contributes to circular economic practices. Advancements in materials science and disaster-resilient infrastructure address urgent environmental challenges, whereas environmental engineering integrates structures harmoniously with marine and land environments. Furthermore, innovations in carbon reduction across industrial processes affirm engineering’s commitment to climate action. Finally, ethical practices and interdisciplinary collaboration among these all areas enhance engineering’s contribution to economic and social inclusivity.

This SI provides a publication platform for research presented at conferences where the Guest Editor (GE) has participated as a guest and technical committee member. External contributions are also welcome. 

Dr. Enrico Zacchei
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 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. 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.

Keywords

  • civil engineering
  • mechanical engineering
  • environmental engineering
  • sustainable development goals

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

32 pages, 9737 KB  
Article
Experimental Study on Marly Clay Stabilization Under Short-Term Conditions Using Volcanic Ash and Reactivity-Controlled Lime as Activator
by Roberto Ponce, Svetlana Melentijević, Natalia Montero and Sol López-Andrés
Infrastructures 2025, 10(12), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10120340 - 10 Dec 2025
Viewed by 372
Abstract
Expansive soils undergo significant volume changes with moisture fluctuations, posing persistent challenges for infrastructure due to heave, settlement, and loss of bearing capacity. Stabilization is a common mitigation strategy, though traditional binders, such as cement and lime, are associated with high energy consumption [...] Read more.
Expansive soils undergo significant volume changes with moisture fluctuations, posing persistent challenges for infrastructure due to heave, settlement, and loss of bearing capacity. Stabilization is a common mitigation strategy, though traditional binders, such as cement and lime, are associated with high energy consumption and considerable CO2 emissions. In this context, identifying low-carbon alternatives is essential. This study evaluates the short-term behavior of expansive marly clays from southern Spain stabilized with volcanic ash generated during the 2021 Tajogaite eruption (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain). Volcanic ash was incorporated in different proportions to assess its performance as a natural pozzolan, while natural hydrated lime was used both as a direct stabilizer and as an activator to enhance ash reactivity. A key methodological contribution of this research is the monitoring of lime reactivity throughout storage, using XRD and TGA to quantify portlandite loss and partial carbonation before mixing—an aspect seldom addressed in stabilization studies. The experimental program included chemical and mineralogical characterization, compaction, Atterberg limits, free swelling, unconfined compressive strength, and direct shear tests on natural and stabilized mixtures. The results show that volcanic ash, particularly when lime-activated, substantially improves volumetric stability. Free swelling decreased from 11.9% in the natural soil to values as low as 1.7%, while dry density increased and plasticity decreased. Strength gains were modest under short-term conditions, consistent with the limited time for pozzolanic reactions to develop. The combined use of volcanic ash and lime reduced the lime demand required to achieve equivalent volumetric control, offering an eco-efficient and technically viable alternative for stabilizing expansive marly clays. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Civil, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering—Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st Century)
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16 pages, 2932 KB  
Article
Reducing Seismic Vulnerability of Non-Structural Elements to Support Sustainable Development Goals
by Stefano Solarino, Gemma Musacchio and Elena Eva
Infrastructures 2025, 10(11), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10110294 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 836
Abstract
This paper presents an approach to risk mitigation strategies through seismic vulnerability of buildings’ non-structural elements (NSEs) proposing practical and accessible strategies for risk reduction aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework. NSEs play a crucial role in the overall [...] Read more.
This paper presents an approach to risk mitigation strategies through seismic vulnerability of buildings’ non-structural elements (NSEs) proposing practical and accessible strategies for risk reduction aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework. NSEs play a crucial role in the overall safety and resilience of built environments during seismic events. However, their vulnerability is often underestimated, despite their potential to cause significant human, economic, and social losses. Moreover, NSEs remain widely overlooked in both seismic risk assessments and mitigation strategies, including risk education. This issue directly impacts multiple SDGs. NSE damage exacerbates poverty by increasing financial burdens due to repair and recovery costs. It also affects access to quality education, not only by disrupting school infrastructure but also by limiting access to knowledge, which is essential for strengthening the coping capacity of communities. Furthermore, seismic risk mitigation must be inclusive to reduce inequalities, ensuring that safety is not a privilege but a right for all. Lastly, NSE vulnerability directly influences the resilience and sustainability of cities and communities, affecting urban safety and disaster preparedness. Simple mitigation actions, such as proper anchoring, reinforcement, or improved design guidelines, could drastically reduce their vulnerability and related consequences. Raising awareness of this underestimated issue is essential to foster effective policies and interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Civil, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering—Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st Century)
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31 pages, 5334 KB  
Article
Tailoring a Three-Layer Track Model to Delay Instability and Minimize Critical Velocity Effects at Very High Velocities
by Zuzana Dimitrovová
Infrastructures 2025, 10(8), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10080200 - 31 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 483
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to tailor the geometry and material parameters of a three-layer railway track model to achieve favorable properties for the circulation of high-speed trains at very high velocities. The three layers imply that the model should have three [...] Read more.
The aim of this paper is to tailor the geometry and material parameters of a three-layer railway track model to achieve favorable properties for the circulation of high-speed trains at very high velocities. The three layers imply that the model should have three critical velocities for resonance. However, in many cases, some of these values are missing and must be replaced by pseudo-critical values. Since no resonance occurs at pseudo-critical velocities, even in the absence of damping, deflections never reach infinity. By using optimization techniques, it is possible to adjust the model’s parameters, so that the increase in vibrations remains minimal and does not pose a real danger. In this way, circulation velocities could be extended beyond the critical value, thereby increasing the network capacity and, consequently, improving the competitiveness of rail transport compared to other modes of transportation, thus contributing to decarbonization. The presented results are preliminary and require further analysis and validation. Several optimization techniques are implemented, leading to the establishment of designs that already have rather high pseudo-critical velocities. Further research will show how these theoretical findings can be utilized in practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Civil, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering—Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st Century)
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20 pages, 1901 KB  
Article
A Probabilistic Design Framework for Semi-Submerged Curtain Wall Breakwaters
by Damjan Bujak, Dalibor Carević, Goran Lončar and Hanna Miličević
Infrastructures 2025, 10(6), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10060144 - 11 Jun 2025
Viewed by 701
Abstract
Semi-submerged curtain breakwaters are increasingly favored to protect marinas and other microtidal basins, yet they are still almost exclusively designed with deterministic wave transmission equations. This study introduces a fully probabilistic design framework that translates uncertainty in wave climate and water level design [...] Read more.
Semi-submerged curtain breakwaters are increasingly favored to protect marinas and other microtidal basins, yet they are still almost exclusively designed with deterministic wave transmission equations. This study introduces a fully probabilistic design framework that translates uncertainty in wave climate and water level design parameters into explicit confidence limits for transmitted wave height. Using Latin Hypercube Sampling, input uncertainty is propagated through a modified Wiegel transmission model, yielding empirical distributions of the transmission coefficients Kt and Ht. Our method uses the associated safety factor required to satisfy a 95% non-exceedance criterion, SF95. Regression analysis reveals the existence of a strong inverse linear relationship (R = −0.9) between deterministic Kt and the probabilistic safety factor, indicating that designs trimmed to low nominal transmission (e.g., Kt ≤ 0.35) must be uprated by up to 55% once parameter uncertainty is acknowledged, whereas concepts with greater transmission require far smaller margins. Sobol indices show that uncertainty in Hm0 and Tp each contribute ≈40% of the variance in Ht for a tide signal standard deviation of ση = 0.16 m, while tides only become equally important when ση > 0.30 m. Model-based uncertainty is negligible, standing at under 8%. The resulting lookup equations allow designers to convert any deterministic Kt target into a site-specific probabilistic limit with a single step, thereby embedding reliability into routine breakwater sizing and reducing the risk of underdesigned marina and port structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Civil, Mechanical and Environmental Engineering—Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st Century)
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