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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Green and Sustainable Materials in the Construction Industry

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 2537

Special Issue Editors

Dr. José Aguiar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: sustainable construction; energy efficiency of buildings; phase change materials; composite materials; material durability; construction and demolition wastes; foundry industry wastes; polymers in concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zhanping You

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Interests: design, construction, and maintenance of pavements; low carbon materials; micromechanics for road materials; discrete element modeling and finite element modeling techniques; recycled materials for civil engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The significant contribution of the construction industry to global warming underscores the critical need for the development of green and sustainable construction materials. This Special Issue aims to address this imperative by focusing on the preparation, characterization, and application of construction materials with minimal environmental impact across their entire life cycle.

One such example is cementitious materials, which must be studied comprehensively in order to diminish their environmental footprint. This can be accomplished by integrating industrial by-products as an alternative to traditional raw materials in cement mortars and concretes.

Crucially, improving the thermal efficiency of buildings is essential. The use of phase-change materials presents a promising avenue for reducing the energy consumption required for climate control in buildings.

Furthermore, a notable example involves the utilization of waste tire rubber and waste plastics in the construction and maintenance of asphalt pavement. While research in this area commenced several years ago, significant advancements in both research and implementation have been observed in recent years. Reductions in CO2 emissions and energy consumption have become a prominent focus in the design and construction of pavement. It is anticipated that this Special Issue will highlight numerous significant contributions from the field under study.

Dr. José Aguiar
Prof. Dr. Zhanping You
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 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

  • construction industry
  • green materials
  • sustainable materials
  • industrial by-products
  • phase change materials
  • recycled tire rubber
  • asphalt
  • recycled plastic
  • pavement

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3636 KiB  
Article
Effect of Asphalt Content on Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrum and Aging Evaluation of Asphalt Mixtures
by Chenyue Mei, Wei Wang, Junan Shen, Jinkun Sun, Yilin Xu and Jia Che
Materials 2025, 18(9), 2004; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18092004 - 28 Apr 2025
Viewed by 80
Abstract
The aging of asphalt mixtures has a significant impact on the service life of asphalt pavements. Currently, the commonly employed method for assessing aging involves the extraction of asphalt from asphalt mixtures using the Abson method. However, this method is known to be [...] Read more.
The aging of asphalt mixtures has a significant impact on the service life of asphalt pavements. Currently, the commonly employed method for assessing aging involves the extraction of asphalt from asphalt mixtures using the Abson method. However, this method is known to be detrimental to the extracted asphalt samples, time-consuming, and environmentally unfriendly. This study explored a novel non-destructive method for assessing asphalt aging, known as low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). It primarily investigated the influence of asphalt content in asphalt mixtures on the patterns of LF-NMR spectra. Specifically, it examined the effect of asphalt content on LF-NMR spectra in asphalt mixtures with varying particle sizes and aging levels at the same detection temperature. Additionally, machine learning was used to establish predictive models linking NMR spectral features to asphalt mixture aging levels, enhancing interpretation accuracy. The research results revealed the following: (1) Spectral parameters such as peak height, normalized peak area, and normalized total peak area had a significant impact on the first principal component of LF-NMR spectra. (2) Asphalt content in the mixture increased as particle size decreased, leading to corresponding changes in the LF-NMR spectra. (3) There was a strong correlation between the aging degree of asphalt and asphalt mixtures and the normalized total peak area of their LF-NMR spectra. The study provides a non-destructive method to assess asphalt mixture aging, enabling timely maintenance decisions and improving pavement durability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Green and Sustainable Materials in the Construction Industry)
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15 pages, 678 KiB  
Article
Impact of Collected and Recycled Concrete Plant Washing Water on the Physical, Chemical, and Mechanical Properties of Mortars
by Bechara Haddad, Farjallah Alassaad and Nassim Sebaibi
Materials 2025, 18(7), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071641 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 267
Abstract
The management of washing water from concrete plants is a growing environmental and industrial concern due to its high alkalinity and the presence of suspended solids, chemical admixtures, and dissolved salts. This study investigates the impact of collected and recycled concrete plant washing [...] Read more.
The management of washing water from concrete plants is a growing environmental and industrial concern due to its high alkalinity and the presence of suspended solids, chemical admixtures, and dissolved salts. This study investigates the impact of collected and recycled concrete plant washing water on the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of mortars. Two types of wastewater were analyzed: (1) collected water (CW), obtained from settling tanks with residual suspended particles and chemical compounds, and (2) recycled water (RW), subjected to a complete treatment process including pH stabilization and solid particle removal. The effects of these waters were compared against potable water (PW) through a comprehensive experimental program evaluating the porosity, density, shrinkage, and mechanical performance of mortars. The results indicate that using CW and RW leads to increased porosity, higher shrinkage, and a reduction in compressive and flexural strength, with RW having a more pronounced impact. These changes are attributed to the chemical composition of the water, which affects cement hydration and matrix densification. Despite these drawbacks, the proper treatment and controlled usage of such waters may offer sustainable alternatives to potable water in concrete production, contributing to resource conservation and environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Green and Sustainable Materials in the Construction Industry)
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23 pages, 12763 KiB  
Article
Bond Performance of GFRP Bars in Glass and Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Concrete Under Hinged Beam Tests
by Duygu Ertürkmen, Hüsamettin Ürünveren, Ahmet Beycioğlu, Nabi Ibadov, Hüseyin Yılmaz Aruntaş and Andrzej Garbacz
Materials 2025, 18(3), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18030498 - 22 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 764
Abstract
In recent years, researchers have focused on the usability of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars due to their lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and eco-friendly characteristics. Geopolymers, as low-carbon alternatives to traditional binders, aim to reduce CO2 emissions in concrete production. The bond strength between FRP [...] Read more.
In recent years, researchers have focused on the usability of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars due to their lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and eco-friendly characteristics. Geopolymers, as low-carbon alternatives to traditional binders, aim to reduce CO2 emissions in concrete production. The bond strength between FRP bars and concrete is critical for the load-bearing capacity and deformation characteristics of reinforced elements. The objectives of this work are to investigate the bond performance of GFRP bars in chopped glass and basalt fiber-added geopolymer concrete using hinged beam tests. Since the hinged beam test accurately represents the behavior of real bending elements, this test method was selected as a main bonding test. Initially, three geopolymer mixtures with Ms modulus values of 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 were prepared and tested. The mixture with a modulus of 1.2 Ms, achieving a compressive strength of 56.53 MPa, a flexural strength of 3.54 MPa, and a flow diameter of 57 cm, was chosen for beam production due to its optimal workability and strength. After mechanical and workability tests, SEM analysis was performed to evaluate its internal structure. For evaluating the bond performance of GFRP bars, 12 geopolymer beam specimens were prepared, incorporating varying fiber types (chopped glass fiber or basalt fiber) and embedment lengths (5 Ø or 20 Ø). Hinged beam tests revealed that the bond strengths of glass and basalt fiber-added mixtures were up to 49% and 37% higher than that of the control geopolymer concrete, respectively. It was concluded that incorporating fibers positively influenced the bond between geopolymer concrete and GFRP bars, with glass fibers proving more effective than basalt fibers. These findings enhance the understanding of bond mechanisms between GFRP bars and geopolymer concrete, emphasizing their potential for sustainable and durable construction in both industrial and scientific applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Green and Sustainable Materials in the Construction Industry)
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Review

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29 pages, 4030 KiB  
Review
Green Recycled Aggregate in Concrete: Feasibility Study
by Magdalena Bardan and Lech Czarnecki
Materials 2025, 18(3), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18030488 - 22 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 927
Abstract
With increasing concrete production, CO2 emissions rise, and natural resources deplete, creating a need for new material solutions. This article analyzes the feasibility of using green materials, like recycled aggregate (RA) from construction and demolition waste (CDW) to be incorporated into concrete [...] Read more.
With increasing concrete production, CO2 emissions rise, and natural resources deplete, creating a need for new material solutions. This article analyzes the feasibility of using green materials, like recycled aggregate (RA) from construction and demolition waste (CDW) to be incorporated into concrete (RAC). The objective of this paper is to determine that the use of RA ensures receiving sustainable concrete in comparison with NA and LA. The sustainability assessment was conducted based on an analysis of the life cycle in terms of the environmental, economic, and public perception aspects. Additionally, the analysis was extended to include two newly introduced indicators: quality of aggregates and concrete performance. A proprietary scoring method based on ideal aggregate characteristics was used, which was enhanced by innovative multidimensional analysis, with credits assigned based on a literature review conducted using artificial intelligence (AI) statistical tools to partially assist in the selection of items. The results could even show that RA outperformed natural aggregates (NA) and artificial (light) aggregates (LA) in the environmental (over 80% of the results) results as well as the economic (over 65%) and public perception categories (over 80%). However, RA ranked second behind NA in terms of quality aggregates and concrete performance, with LA scoring lowest. The results highlight RAC as a satisfactory sustainable option compared with NAC, supporting the circular economy by reducing waste, emissions, and resource consumption. The best solution would be hybrid concrete containing a partial substitute for natural aggregates in the form of recycled aggregates, enabling the advantages of both types of aggregates to complement each other and offset their limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Green and Sustainable Materials in the Construction Industry)
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