materials-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

State-of-the-Art Construction Materials and Technologies for Structural Health Monitoring of Infrastructures

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 5166

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Room 404, Jaesung Civil Engineering Building, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Interests: green/smart construction materials; rebar corrosion; maintenance; structural health monitoring; durability; Bayesian inference; artificial neural networks

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Hanyang University, Jaesung Civil Engineering Building, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong Gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
Interests: cement composites; durability; thermal/electrical conductivity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Technology is advancing at an incredibly fast pace around the world; subsequently, construction technology is evolving to keep pace as well, and remarkable technologies are launched every year, from advances in materials to smart construction using artificial neural networks. Research in this field aims to analyze the performance, properties, and characteristics of different materials, such as concrete, steel, wood, and composites, in order to optimize their structural integrity, energy efficiency, fire resistance, and environmental impact. By examining the behavior and durability of construction materials under different conditions and loads, researchers can identify potential weaknesses and develop novel solutions to enhance their performance and sustainability requirements, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the construction industry as a whole. Consequently, this Special Issue is a specially proposed issue with the purpose of including excellent technical articles from researchers. Therefore, this Special Issue actively welcomes your submissions and awaits your excellent research, aiming to include studies on advanced technologies such as smart construction materials, machine learning, structural health monitoring, corrosion monitoring, durability smart analysis, and so on.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Byeong Hun Woo
Dr. Hong Gi Kim
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

  • smart construction materials
  • self-sensing cement composites
  • thermal properties of the cement composites
  • smart snow-melting systems
  • rebar corrosion monitoring
  • durability analysis
  • machine learning
  • advanced statistical approaches

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

25 pages, 9928 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning-Based Simulation of the Air Conditioner Operating Time in Concrete Structures with Bayesian Thresholding
by Changhwan Jang, Hong-Gi Kim and Byeong-Hun Woo
Materials 2024, 17(9), 2108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092108 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1309
Abstract
Efficient energy use is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality and reduction. As part of these efforts, research is being carried out to apply a phase change material (PCM) to a concrete structure together with an aggregate. In this study, an energy consumption simulation [...] Read more.
Efficient energy use is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality and reduction. As part of these efforts, research is being carried out to apply a phase change material (PCM) to a concrete structure together with an aggregate. In this study, an energy consumption simulation was performed using data from concrete mock-up structures. To perform the simulation, the threshold investigation was performed through the Bayesian approach. Furthermore, the spiking part of the spiking neural network was modularized and integrated into a recurrent neural network (RNN) to find accurate energy consumption. From the training-test results of the trained neural network, it was possible to predict data with an R2 value of 0.95 or higher through data prediction with high accuracy for the RNN. In addition, the spiked parts were obtained; it was found that PCM-containing concrete could consume 32% less energy than normal concrete. This result suggests that the use of PCM can be a key to reducing the energy consumption of concrete structures. Furthermore, the approach of this study is considered to be easily applicable in energy-related institutions and the like for predicting energy consumption during the summer. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 9417 KiB  
Article
Utilizing Wheel Washing Machine Sludge as a Cement Substitute in Repair Mortar: An Experimental Investigation into Material Characteristics
by Changhwan Jang and Tadesse Natoli Abebe
Materials 2024, 17(9), 2037; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092037 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1438
Abstract
The construction industry strives for sustainable solutions to tackle environmental challenges and optimize resource use. One such focus area is the management of industrial byproducts and waste materials, including fugitive dust control through wheel washers. While wheel washers play a pivotal role in [...] Read more.
The construction industry strives for sustainable solutions to tackle environmental challenges and optimize resource use. One such focus area is the management of industrial byproducts and waste materials, including fugitive dust control through wheel washers. While wheel washers play a pivotal role in dust management, they generate a challenging byproduct known as wheel washer sludge (WWS). The disposal of WWS is complicated due to its composition and potential hazards. Recent research explores reusing WWS in construction materials, particularly in repair mortar, aiming for sustainability and circular economy principles. This study investigates the incorporation of WWS into repair mortar formulations, evaluating mechanical properties, durability, and environmental implications. Results show that WWS enhances workability but prolongs setting time. Mechanical strength tests reveal improvements with WWS addition, especially when pretreated. Water absorption rates decrease with pretreated WWS, indicating enhanced durability. Chemical attack tests demonstrate resistance to carbonation and chloride penetration, especially with modified WWS. Freeze–thaw tests reveal improved resistance with WWS addition, particularly modified. Microstructure analysis confirms hydration products and denser matrices with WWS inclusion. Environmental hazard analysis shows WWS contains no harmful heavy metals, indicating its suitability for use in repairs. Overall, this study highlights the technical feasibility and environmental benefits of incorporating WWS into repair mortar, contributing to sustainable construction practices. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 2374 KiB  
Review
Sustainable Management of Photovoltaic Waste Through Recycling and Material Use in the Construction Industry
by Sandra Bulińska, Agnieszka Sujak and Michał Pyzalski
Materials 2025, 18(2), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020284 - 10 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
The rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) technology as a source of renewable energy has resulted in a significant increase in PV panel waste, creating environmental and economic challenges. A promising strategy to address these challenges is the reuse of glass waste from decommissioned [...] Read more.
The rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) technology as a source of renewable energy has resulted in a significant increase in PV panel waste, creating environmental and economic challenges. A promising strategy to address these challenges is the reuse of glass waste from decommissioned PV panels as a component of cementitious materials. This review explores the potential of integrating glass waste from PV panels into cementitious materials, focusing on its impact on their mechanical, thermal, and durability properties. This analysis includes various methods of processing PV glass waste, such as crushing and grinding, to obtain the desired particle size for cementitious applications. It goes on to analyze how advances in cementitious materials can facilitate the incorporation of PV glass waste, helping to improve properties such as compressive strength, workability, and setting time. In addition, this review makes a detailed analysis of the long-term sustainability and environmental benefits of PV glass waste, highlighting its potential to reduce the carbon footprint of cementitious materials. Incorporating PV glass waste can improve certain properties of cementitious materials, resulting in increased durability and improved thermal insulation, while contributing to waste reduction and resource conservation. This review highlights the importance of developing standardized recycling methods and integration processes and identifies areas for further research to optimize the use of PV glass waste in cement formulations. Ultimately, the sustainable integration of PV glass panel waste into cementitious materials is a viable approach to promote green building practices and support a circular economy in the construction industry. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop