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New Materials and Methods for Reinforcement and Thermal Improvement of Existing Structures

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2026 | Viewed by 682

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marco Corradi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering and Technology, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK
Interests: retrofitting buildings; sustainable construction materials; new advanced materials for upgrading of existing masonry and wood historic constructions; structural analysis and retrofitting of historic constructions; mechanics of structures and experimental analysis of existing structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The need to decarbonize the built environment calls for innovative materials and sustainable retrofit solutions for existing masonry, concrete, and timber structures. This Special Issue explores new research on green materials, low-carbon composites, bio-based solutions, and circular economy approaches in structural rehabilitation. Emphasis is placed on zero-carbon technologies, reversible interventions, and energy-efficient reinforcement techniques that enhance durability while minimizing environmental impact. Contributions on fiber-reinforced and natural materials, metals, suitable mortars, geopolymer-based solutions, adaptive reuse strategies, and digital-driven retrofitting are welcome. By integrating sustainability and structural performance, this Special Issue aims to foster innovative approaches to increase thermal efficiency and strengthen aging building stock while reducing its carbon footprint. Researchers, engineers, and practitioners are invited to contribute to this critical discussion on the future of sustainable construction.

Prof. Dr. Marco Corradi
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

  • green materials
  • low-carbon composites
  • bio-based solutions
  • circular economy
  • rehabilitation
  • earthquake engineering
  • thermal efficiency

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 17945 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Temperature Effects on Dynamic Impact Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced High-Performance Concrete
by Pengcheng Huang, Yan Li, Fei Ding, Xiang Liu, Xiaoxi Bi and Tao Xu
Materials 2025, 18(14), 3241; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18143241 - 9 Jul 2025
Viewed by 211
Abstract
Metallurgical equipment foundations exposed to prolonged 300–500 °C environments are subject to explosion risks, necessitating materials that are resistant to thermo-shock-coupled loads. This study investigated the real-time dynamic compressive behavior of high-performance concrete (HPC) reinforced with steel fibers (SFs), polypropylene fibers (PPFs), polyvinyl [...] Read more.
Metallurgical equipment foundations exposed to prolonged 300–500 °C environments are subject to explosion risks, necessitating materials that are resistant to thermo-shock-coupled loads. This study investigated the real-time dynamic compressive behavior of high-performance concrete (HPC) reinforced with steel fibers (SFs), polypropylene fibers (PPFs), polyvinyl alcohol fibers (PVAFs), and their hybrid systems under thermo-shock coupling using real-time high-temperature (200–500 °C) SHPB tests. The results revealed temperature-dependent dynamic responses: SFs exhibited a V-shaped trend in compressive strength evolution (minimum at 400 °C), while PPFs/PVAFs showed inverted V-shaped trends (peaking at 300 °C). Hybrid systems demonstrated superior performance: SF-PVAF achieved stable dynamic strength at 200–400 °C (dynamic increase factor, DIF ≈ 1.65) due to synergistic toughening via SF bridging and PVAF melt-induced pore energy absorption. Microstructural analysis confirmed that organic fiber pores and SF crack-bridging collaboratively optimized failure modes, reducing brittle fracture. A temperature-adaptive design strategy is proposed: SF-PVAF hybrids are prioritized for temperatures of 200–400 °C, while SF-PPF combinations are recommended for 400–500 °C environments, providing critical guidance for explosion-resistant HPC in extreme thermal–industrial settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Methods for Reinforcement and Thermal Improvement of Existing Structures)
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17 pages, 4892 KiB  
Article
Enhancing High-Speed Penetration Resistance of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Through Hybridization of Steel and Glass Fibers
by Mehmet Gesoglu, Guler Fakhraddin Muhyaddin, Yavuz Yardim and Marco Corradi
Materials 2025, 18(12), 2715; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18122715 - 9 Jun 2025
Viewed by 346
Abstract
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a material with high mechanical properties that requires the use of fibers to overcome its brittleness, but the use of only one type of fiber may not improve UHPC performance enough. This study investigates the hybrid use of steel [...] Read more.
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a material with high mechanical properties that requires the use of fibers to overcome its brittleness, but the use of only one type of fiber may not improve UHPC performance enough. This study investigates the hybrid use of steel and glass fibers to achieve ultra-high strength along with improved ductility and impact resistance. A total of 22 concrete samples, including both plain (unreinforced) and fiber-reinforced types, were produced using micro straight-steel fibers, hooked steel fibers, and micro glass fibers, either individually or in combination. The mechanical properties, ductility, and impact behavior of the concrete samples were evaluated through experimental testing. The inclusion of microfibers had little impact on the compressive strength of concrete, which remained in the range of 130–150 MPa. However, it significantly enhanced the tensile strength, as evidenced by a flexural strength increase of up to 163% compared to the control concrete without microfibers. Numerical simulations were carried out to complement and validate the experimental investigation of projectile penetration. The depth of projectile penetration (DOP) test results were compared with existing empirical models from the literature. The incorporation of hooked steel fibers in hybrid blends significantly improved ductility and enhanced penetration resistance. In addition, previously proposed models from the literature were found to be highly conservative in predicting DOP at high projectile velocities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Materials and Methods for Reinforcement and Thermal Improvement of Existing Structures)
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