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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 10161

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Liseane Padilha Thives

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
Interests: stormwater; rainwater; harvesting; water saving
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The indiscriminate use of natural resources was a trend in infrastructure for many years. The infrastructure area is of great importance for the development of countries, and also, it generates wealth and jobs. However, considering that this area generates much waste, it is also responsible for promoting environmentally friendly alternatives to deal with the problem.

Nowadays, in order to promote awareness of environmental sustainability it is necessary to promote research about recycling of wastes and sustainable alternatives. Otherwise, adverse effects such as the lack of natural materials and high prices will affect future generations.

The global challenge is to promote sustainable development practices, sustainable and green materials, and recycling. This Special Issue seeks to publish articles that address sustainable infrastructure construction, green building construction materials, recycling material roads, contributing to solutions to face this challenge. All areas of knowledge can be published in this Special Issue, such as, but not limited to: buildings construction; road pavements recycling, green materials, sustainability; solid wastes recycling; resilience; renewable sources; recovered, refurbished or remanufactured construction materials; energy efficiency, life cycle analysis.

Prof. Dr. Liseane Padilha Thives
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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 construction
sustainable infrastructure construction
industrial sustainability materials
green materials
waste chain management resilience
recycling management
low carbon impact
life cycle analysis
recycling materials

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating BIM-LCA to Enhance Sustainability Assessments of Constructions

by Mayara S. Siverio Lima, Susana Duarte, Hans Exenberger, Georg Fröch and Matthias Flora

Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1172; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031172 - 30 Jan 2024

Viewed by 957

Abstract

The need for sustainable practices in the construction sector has never been more pressing, as the sector seeks to mitigate its carbon footprint, water consumption, and waste generation. The integration of building information modeling (BIM) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) emerges as a promising solution for rapidly and accurately evaluating the environmental impact of construction. This integration has the potential to empower stakeholders to make informed decisions, paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future in the construction sector. However, there are still challenges to overcome before this is a standard procedure. Data interoperability and standardized classifications necessitate ongoing research. To understand the potential of BIM–LCA integration in minimizing carbon emissions in constructions, this study focuses on a hypothetical renovation project, unraveling the mechanics of BIM–LCA integration and exploring its challenges and opportunities. While the existing literature acknowledges the potential benefits of BIM–LCA integration, few research efforts delve into the specific issues that practitioners may face. Our approach seeks to fill this gap by presenting a holistic view of the integration process, highlighting the practical steps and addressing the intricacies involved. The results show that the most relevant information when performing a BIM–LCA integration using Revit^® (v 2022) and OneClick LCA (OCL) is the name-property given to the materials within Revit^®. Despite the advances made by this semi-automated approach, interoperability and data accessibility challenges remain. The results show that automated material identification relies on Revit^® classifications and necessitates careful modeling practices to prevent impact-calculation redundancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Infrastructure Construction and Green Building Construction Materials)

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21 pages, 3230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical, Rheological, and Permanent Deformation Behaviors of WMA-RAP Asphalt Binders

by Kátia Aline Bohn, Liseane Padilha Thives and Luciano Pivoto Specht

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13737; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813737 - 14 Sep 2023

Viewed by 849

Abstract

With the rapid global expansion of road networks, the asphalt industry faces several environmental challenges, such as material shortages, environmental concerns, escalating material costs, demand for eco-friendly materials, and the implementation of “Net Zero” policies. Given these challenges and recognizing the need to explore new solutions, this research evaluated asphalt binder samples incorporating Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) and Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), or WMA-RAP. The assessment focused on analyzing the physical, rheological, and permanent deformation characteristics of WMA-RAP samples containing 20%, 35%, and 50% recycled pavement. The study utilized a chemical surfactant-type WMA additive, Evotherm^® P25. The findings showed that the WMA-RAP combination resulted in increased stiffness ranging from 247% to 380% and a reduced phase angle of 16% to 26% with an increasing RAP content from 20% to 50% at T_ref 20 °C and 10 Hz. Furthermore, the penetration decreased from 20% to 47%, and the softening point increased from 7% to 17%. An improvement of 2 PGHs was observed by adding 35% and 50% RAP. Additionally, WMA samples containing up to 50% RAP presented more elevated permanent deformation resistance, supporting traffic levels of 64V or 70H. WMA-RAP binders allow mixture production at lower temperatures—an amount of 30 °C less—conserving energy and decreasing the need for new aggregate materials by incorporating recycled materials, thus minimizing the environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Infrastructure Construction and Green Building Construction Materials)

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13 pages, 1986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fatigue of Cold Recycled Cement-Treated Pavement Layers: Experimental and Modeling Study

by William Fedrigo, Lucas Fraporti Heller, Lélio Antônio Teixeira Brito and Washington Peres Núñez

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 7816; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107816 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1081

Abstract

Fatigue is the main design criterion for cold recycled cement-treated mixtures (CRCTMs). However, the literature shows that the fatigue behavior of such mixtures is still not well known. For example, the effect of increasing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) contents is yet a topic of discussion. This experimental and modeling study helps fill knowledge gaps on CRCTM fatigue behavior using long-term curing fatigue tests and three design methods currently being used in different countries. The objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize the mechanical and fatigue behavior of mixtures of RAP, aggregates and cement; (2) to evaluate the fatigue life of pavements with base and subbase layers of such mixtures using the novel Brazilian design method (MeDiNa); and (3) to compare the results with those obtained using the South African Pavement Engineering Manual (SAPEM) transfer functions and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials AASHTOWare Pavement Mechanistic-Empirical Design (PMED) software. The mixtures were tested in the laboratory using flexural static and cyclic tests, and the required parameters to use the methods were obtained. Experimental results and modeling demonstrated a superior fatigue behavior of recycled layers with higher RAP contents. On the other side, layers with lower RAP contents abruptly lost stiffness in short periods, making thicker structures necessary. Therefore, using high RAP contents is not only a sustainable practice, but also a technical benefit. The equivalent single axle loads obtained using the SAPEM were higher than those obtained using MeDiNa, while the PMED ones were higher than both previous methods. Despite the inherent differences, this suggests that MeDiNa is more conservative. It also highlights the importance of calibration based on long-term pavement performance data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Infrastructure Construction and Green Building Construction Materials)

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15 pages, 5163 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Phosphoric Acid and Rice Hulk Ash as Lateritic Soil Stabilizers for Paving Applications

by Angelo Magno dos Santos e Silva, Paula Taiane Pascoal, Magnos Baroni, Alexandre Silva de Vargas, Jaelson Budny and Luciano Pivoto Specht

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7160; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097160 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1442

Abstract

Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) is a product that can be used as a stabilizing additive for tropical soils in an exploratory manner by the construction industry. For the drying process of this grain, its husks are used as fuel for ovens, generating rice husk ash (RHA), which is considered an environmental liability if not reused. In this sense, this paper aimed to evaluate the resilient behavior and the simple compressive strength, at different curing ages, of the use of rice husk ash and phosphoric acid in a simple and combined mixture for the stabilization of lateritic soil. The lateritic soil was mixed with different contents of RHA, H₃PO₄, and water and compacted in intermediate and modified Proctor energies. Fractured soil samples in the mechanical compressive strength tests were analysed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results show the potential for stabilization of the lateritic soil in question in terms of resilience and simple compressive strength through the addition of RHA and H₃PO₄ at different curing ages. The insertion of only H₃PO₄ produced the most satisfying resilient behavior. By adding RHA, the strength properties were improved, and good mixtures were obtained for use in paving. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Infrastructure Construction and Green Building Construction Materials)

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26 pages, 2604 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Case Study on Life Cycle Assessment Applied to Road Restoration Methods

by Gislaine Luvizão and Glicério Trichês

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6679; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086679 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1952

Abstract

Brazil’s dependence on road transportation, combined with the high extent of the network and the lack of investment management in maintenance and restoration, makes traffic conditions poor, resulting in unwanted costs and environmental impacts. Life cycle assessments are a promising tool that assists in decision making. This study aimed to evaluate the environmental performance of three roads, applying different restoration and maintenance techniques throughout the analysis cycle. To develop this study, the ecoinvent database and the OpenLCA software were used to model, based on studies developed in the HDM-4 (Highway Development and Management) software, and the interventions were applied for the initial year and for 30 years. Using the life cycle assessment methodology, the environmental impacts generated for the categories of acidification, climate change, eutrophication, ecotoxicity, human toxicity and photochemical oxidation were identified. The results show that, when analyzing the restorations in their implementation, deep recycling generates more environmental impacts; however, when planning the restorations throughout the cycle, deep recycling becomes, on average, 47% less impactful than the structural reinforcement technique, which is the same behavior that has been identified with the Whitetopping technique. It becomes evident that the use of rigid structures, such as Whitetopping or semi-rigid structures and deep recycling with Portland cement additions, generate fewer environmental impacts when compared to flexible structures that consume a large amount of asphalt binder, and that require interventions at shorter intervals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Infrastructure Construction and Green Building Construction Materials)

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17 pages, 8020 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advances in the Rheology of Synthetic Binder for Sustainable Road Pavements: An Improved Protocol for DSR Testing

by Marco Pasetto, Andrea Baliello, Giovanni Giacomello and Emiliano Pasquini

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5146; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065146 - 14 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1298

Abstract

Bituminous binders are thermal-dependent visco-elastic materials commonly used in pavement engineering. However, synthetic binders represent quite a new family of products that can be used in the substitution of conventional binders with various purposes. Among them, clear synthetic resins recently experienced a quick diffusion since they can be employed in the production of sustainable road pavements (which address aesthetic concerns, thermal aspects, etc.). Since specific studies addressing the rheological modeling of clear synthetic binders cannot be found in the literature, the purpose of this research is setting up an advanced rheological protocol to characterize such materials, bridging the existing knowledge gap. An extensive laboratory investigation with the dynamic shear rheometer was carried out in oscillatory mode (amplitude and frequency sweeps) to analyze the stress–strain state of such binders. An innovative test at a constant strain rate was used to construct non-linear master curves, overcoming various criticisms about the stress state of the binder when subjected to time-dependent deformations. Results indicated that, using non-linear data, horizontal and vertical shift factors (functions of temperature and strain rate) can be modeled through power law equations to obtain the master curves. This method was considered suitable for depicting the rheological response of the binders displaying such complex behaviors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Infrastructure Construction and Green Building Construction Materials)

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22 pages, 6693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strength Iso-Responses of Shear-Deficient Ultra-High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete Beams

by Yassir M. Abbas, Nasir Shafiq, Galal Fares, Montasir Osman, Mohammad Iqbal Khan and Jamal M. Khatib

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4265; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054265 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1104

Abstract

The development of sustainable construction methods can be achieved by improving the performance of reinforced concrete elements, resulting in an increase in structural life expectancy. This paper presents a study of the structural performance of shear-deficient ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) concrete beams to produce sustainable construction materials. In the first phase of the experimental campaign, performance-based optimizations were implemented for UHPC. The characteristic compressive strength of all mixes was kept at 130 ± 10 MPa. The elastic modulus of plain UHPC was obtained at 8 GPa, and for the fiber-reinforced one was 40 GPa. Additionally, 18 sets of reinforced UHPC beams were investigated for their structural behavior based on the overall depth, reinforcement ratio (ρ), and the shear-span-to-depth ratio (λ) as key variables. Here, λ was varied between 1 and 2 and ρ was varied between 0.56% and 3.15%. The experimental study determined the lowest shear strength as 4.56 MPa, and the highest shear strength was calculated as 11.34 MPa. The database of the current shear strength results and similar literature results were used to develop models for predicting shear capacity. This research focused on applying a statistical approach using neuro-fuzzy logic, the robust analytical model. The ratio of the experimentally calculated shear strength and the predicted shear strength for different values of λ and ρ was obtained between 0.75 and 1.25, which was in good agreement with the results of similar literature. The results of this study suggest that high-strength fiber may extend structural lifetimes in UHPC applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Sustainable Infrastructure Construction and Green Building Construction Materials)

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