Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Materials Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advanced Lightweight Structural Materials in Civil Engineering

Print Special Issue Flyer
Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2027 | Viewed by 2990

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Dr. Valentino Paolo Berardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Interests: industrial engineering; civil engineering; aerospace engineering; materials science; structural mechanics; fracture mechanics; applied computational mathematics; composite materials and structures; structural junctions; retrofitting of existing structures; thin-walled beams; rheology of materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Paulina Obara

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Kielce University of Technology, 25-314 Kielce, Poland
Interests: structural engineering; structural analysis; stability analysis; dynamic analysis; steel structures; tensegrity structures; analytical methodologies of analysis; finite element method
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Tomasz Maleska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Opole University of Technology, 45-758 Opole, Poland
Interests: soil-steel bridge; soil-structure interaction; dynamic analysis; bridge; structure engineering; steel structure; soil mechanics; geodesic dome; seismic analysis; lightweight structure; relieving materials; culvert

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lightweight structures used in civil engineering are increasingly used all over the world. The continuing development of lightweight structural systems has enabled structures to carry much greater loads than their own weight. Lightweight structures are civil engineering objects which require relatively small amounts of construction material and achieve extremely high design parameters, such as large spans of roofs or bridges without middle support, considerable height of buildings, towers or masts, and extremely large useful surface or free volume of buildings, tanks or reservoirs, distinguishing themselves from similar structures erected up till now. The following topics can be included: spatial lattice structures, plate and shell structures, domes and membranes, high-rise buildings, towers, reservoirs, bridges, and thin-walled, tension, cable and pneumatic structures. Innovative structural design methodologies adopting structural optimization schemes to obtain efficient structural forms with improved structural performance and structural sections with enhanced load-carrying capacity compared to conventional structural sections are worth discussing. Any kind of material and structures defined above can be discussed. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to cover the analysis, evaluation, durability, and rehabilitation of all types of lightweight structures with special emphasis on life-cycle design, assessment, maintenance and management of such structures. Presentations on experimental and numerical analyzes of lightweight structures under various loads (static, dynamic) as well as innovative methods of construction and renovation are also welcome in the session.

Dr. Valentino Paolo Berardi
Dr. Paulina Obara
Dr. Tomasz Maleska
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 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-anonymized 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

lightweight structures
cables
efficiency
shells
optimization
composite materials
membranes
sustainable
thin-walled members
trusses

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.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

34 pages, 16835 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Second-Order Effects on the Critical Load Multiplier and Natural Frequencies of a Low-Rise Steel Dome

by Paweł Zabojszcza, Paulina Obara and Urszula Radoń

Materials 2026, 19(16), 3445; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19163445 - 14 Aug 2026

Viewed by 145

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of loading pattern, analysis level, and nodal connection stiffness on the stability and dynamic behaviour of a low-rise steel dome. Three joint configurations and two loading scenarios, symmetrical and asymmetrical, were analysed. Structural stability was evaluated using linear buckling analysis, second-order analysis, full geometrically nonlinear analysis. Dynamic properties were determined by modal analyses performed with and without the geometric stiffness matrix. The results show that the structural response is governed primarily by the asymmetric distribution of axial forces. For the model with pinned joints, a 68.4% decrease in the critical load multiplier is observed. Modal analysis revealed that asymmetric loading not only reduced the first natural frequency but also fundamentally changed the modal structure. Global vibration modes disappeared, modal mass became distributed over a large number of modes, and the Modal Assurance Criterion remained below 0.11, confirming a qualitative change in the vibration mechanism. In contrast, symmetrical loading caused only minor frequency reductions while largely preserving the mode shapes. The results demonstrate that linear analyses may significantly overestimate the stability and dynamic performance of low-rise steel domes under asymmetric loading. Accurate assessment therefore requires second-order effects, geometric nonlinearity, and geometric stiffness to be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Lightweight Structural Materials in Civil Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 22456 KB

Open AccessArticle

Weight Optimization of Steel Tied-Arch Footbridge

by Damian Sokołowski and Tomasz Wudkiewicz

Materials 2026, 19(15), 3288; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19153288 - 3 Aug 2026

Viewed by 343

Abstract

This study presents a materials-oriented, code-based parametric optimization of the load-bearing steel tubular arch girder in a tied-arch footbridge inspired by the Father Bernatek Footbridge in Krakow. The objective was to reduce structural steel demand by minimizing the arch-girder weight under Eurocode load combinations with ultimate limit state (ULS) and serviceability limit state (SLS) constraints, while accounting for discrete tubular cross-section changes within a realistic finite element model. A semi-automated workflow linked Autodesk Dynamo, Python scripts, and Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis to generate bridge geometry, build the finite element method (FEM) model, apply code-based loads and combinations, and evaluate structural response using a discrete, non-gradient-based search. A preliminary sensitivity screening was performed for the full set of design parameters, while the final optimization was governed mainly by arch rise, hanger number, and ULS-controlled discrete arch cross-section changes. The optimization reduced the arch-girder weight by 10.7% relative to the reference configuration, from 360.3 × 10³ kg to 321.6 × 10³ kg, within the adopted design domain. The optimum solution corresponded to an arch rise of 23.4 m, 31 hangers, and a deck spacing of 6.0 m. Hanger arrangement strongly affected force redistribution in the arch girder, while the final optimum was controlled by code-based utilization thresholds. The results show that an application programming interface (API)-driven parametric workflow can support early-stage optimization of tied-arch footbridges under code-based design constraints. The scientific contribution of the study lies not in automating Eurocode verification alone, but in identifying the structural mechanisms that govern the minimum-weight solution, including the interaction between arch rise, hanger arrangement, force redistribution, ULS utilization, and discrete tubular cross-section changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Lightweight Structural Materials in Civil Engineering)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 10067 KB

Open AccessArticle

Quasi-Static Deformations of Fiber-Reinforced Materials Based on Hyperelasticity

by Aleksander Franus and Stanisław Jemioło

Materials 2026, 19(10), 1927; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19101927 - 8 May 2026

Viewed by 474

Abstract

This work addresses the quasi-static behavior of fiber-reinforced materials whose response is based on a hyperelastic formulation augmented by viscous and damage-like effects. A transversely isotropic constitutive model is developed within the framework of an internal scalar variable, enabling the reversible description of material damage while ensuring objectivity, thermodynamic admissibility and polyconvexity of the stored-energy function. The isotropic contribution is constructed from a generalized Ciarlet model, whereas the anisotropic part accounts for a family of elastic fibers embedded in a viscoelastic matrix, interpreted through a simple mixture theory. The resulting constitutive equations are implemented in Abaqus/Standard via a UMAT subroutine, and their rate form is derived consistently with the Zaremba–Jaumann objective stress rate. The performance of the model is examined by means of finite element simulations, including homogeneous tests in uniaxial strain and simple shear, relaxation and creep problems, and an inflation-like problem. The results demonstrate the capability of the model to capture strain-rate sensitivity, creep, stress relaxation and energy dissipation, as well as nonuniform deformation patterns, while highlighting its current limitation in representing permanent deformations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Lightweight Structural Materials in Civil Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1931 KB

Open AccessArticle

Techno-Economic Approach to Carbon Fibre Fabrics for Structural Strengthening: Life-Cycle Cost Analysis, Market Value, and Economic Viability

by Maciej Adam Dybizbański, Marceli Hązła, Alicja Krajewska and Katarzyna Rzeszut

Materials 2026, 19(10), 1913; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19101913 - 7 May 2026

Viewed by 705

Abstract

The escalating financial burden of deteriorating civil infrastructure worldwide necessitates a shift from conventional repair methods towards more durable and economically efficient long-term solutions. This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic review of using carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabrics for structural strengthening. Moving beyond a simple first-cost comparison, this review utilizes a life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) framework to evaluate the total cost of ownership. The analysis deconstructs the complete cost profile, demonstrating that while CFRP systems have a high initial material cost, this is frequently offset by substantial savings in labour, equipment, and, critically, the indirect costs associated with reduced construction time and operational disruption. Furthermore, the inherent corrosion immunity of CFRP virtually eliminates future maintenance and repair expenditures, leading to a lower total life-cycle cost compared to traditional steel or concrete-based methods in a wide range of applications. Specifically, the conducted LCCA case study demonstrates that the CFRP alternative can reduce total life-cycle costs by nearly 25% relative to conventional steel sheet bonding, overwhelmingly driven by minimized operational downtime and related indirect costs. The value proposition is shown to be context-dependent, driven by minimizing user delay costs in bridges, mitigating catastrophic risk in seismic retrofitting, preserving cultural value in heritage structures, and maximizing revenue uptime in industrial facilities. The review also examines market dynamics, including the roles of standardization and government policy in driving adoption, and explores future trends such as inorganic matrix composites (TRM/FRCM), integrated structural health monitoring (SHM), and the push towards a circular economy. The findings conclude that a holistic, life-cycle-based economic assessment establishes CFRP strengthening as a cornerstone technology for the sustainable and resilient management of modern civil infrastructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Lightweight Structural Materials in Civil Engineering)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 31023 KB

Open AccessArticle

Shaping Efficiency: Parametric Design for Schwedler Domes

by Ahmed Fathy Aly Omar Ibrahim, Katarzyna Jeleniewicz and Artur Piekarczuk

Materials 2026, 19(9), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19091772 - 27 Apr 2026

Viewed by 601

Abstract

Lightweight structures such as Schwedler domes offer high strength-to-weight ratios for large-span applications; however, their design typically involves time-consuming iterative processes. This study proposes an integrated parametric workflow combining geometry generation, structural analysis, and automated load application to improve both design efficiency and structural performance. The methodology is based on Python scripting within Grasshopper, enabling parametric control of dome geometry and direct interoperability with Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional. Three open-apex Schwedler dome configurations were analyzed as a focused demonstration of the workflow, differing in cross-sectional typology and structural layout. The results show that the use of closed sections reduces structural mass by up to 31%, while hybrid configurations achieve significantly improved member utilization, reaching 0.87 for ribs and 0.63 for rings. Importantly, the parametric workflow enabled the rapid generation and evaluation of multiple design variants, significantly reducing modeling time and eliminating inconsistencies between geometric and analytical models. The study demonstrates that parametric modeling provides an effective framework for designing efficient dome structures, enabling both material optimization and accelerated design processes. The same parametric source is also suitable for extension into BIM and fabrication environments, as well as into life-cycle assessment, which are identified as planned continuations of this research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Lightweight Structural Materials in Civil Engineering)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advanced Lightweight Structural Materials in Civil Engineering

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI