Sustainability and Performance of Reinforced Concrete and Cement Composite
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: Heritage; Composites; Artificial Intelligence; Masonry; Concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As global urbanization accelerates and infrastructure demands intensify, the construction industry faces a pressing dual challenge: ensuring high-performance structural materials while significantly reducing environmental impact. This Special Issue delves into the forefront of innovation in reinforced concrete and cement-based composites, highlighting sustainable technologies, novel materials, and advanced performance evaluation strategies that can reshape future construction practices. The Issue brings together original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore a spectrum of sustainability-driven advancements in cement composites. Topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Eco-Friendly Materials: Development of low-carbon and alternative binders such as geopolymer cement, alkali-activated materials, and blends incorporating industrial by-products like fly ash, slag, and silica fume.
- Recycled and Circular Resources: Use of recycled aggregates, reclaimed fibers, and waste-derived additives aimed at minimizing resource depletion and enhancing material circularity.
- High-Performance Reinforcement: Advancements in fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), textile reinforcement, and hybrid composite systems that improve mechanical integrity, ductility, and durability under extreme conditions.
- Durability and Life-Cycle Assessment: In-depth evaluations of long-term performance, corrosion resistance, fatigue behavior, and sustainability metrics across the service life of structures.
- Innovative Testing and Modeling: Integration of digital tools, predictive modeling, and non-destructive testing methods that support performance-based design and sustainability benchmarks.
- Applications in Resilient Infrastructure: Case studies showcasing the application of sustainable cementitious systems in real-world projects including seismic retrofitting, marine structures, and smart buildings.
This collection serves as a multidisciplinary platform for civil engineers, materials scientists, sustainability researchers, and industry professionals to share transformative approaches that align durability with environmental stewardship. The Issue fosters dialogue on how reinforced concrete and cement composites can play a pivotal role in shaping a greener and more resilient built environment.
Dr. Alessio Cascardi
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. Materials 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 construction materials
- reinforced concrete durability
- cementitious composites
- low-carbon cement
- recycled aggregates
- fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC)
- life cycle assessment (LCA)
- alternative binders
- corrosion resistance
- green Infrastructure
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