Special Issue "Sustainability and Innovation in Transport Infrastructure Geotechnics"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fernanda Bessa Ferreira
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CONSTRUCT, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: sustainable transportation infrastructure; reuse of waste materials; rail geotechnics; reinforcement of ballasted tracks; construction and demolition wastes; geosynthetic-reinforced structures; soil–geosynthetic interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have witnessed an increasing environmental awareness and the recognition of the importance of reducing waste generation and the consumption of non-renewable natural resources. The design and construction of transport infrastructure can significantly contribute to overall sustainable development by adopting sustainable practices, such as the use of alternative, environmentally friendly materials and the reuse of waste materials, leading to a substantial reduction in the carbon footprint of such infrastructure projects.

This Special Issue of Sustainability welcomes original research papers addressing the development of innovative and sustainable approaches in geotechnical design, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of transport infrastructure, with special reference to the use of recycled waste materials and geosynthetics. Submissions reporting laboratory, field and numerical studies are encouraged, as well as case studies describing original work on the topic.

The purpose of this Special Issue is therefore to act as a platform for researchers and practitioners to share the latest research advances and emerging technologies in the field of transportation geotechnics, while promoting the use of sustainable approaches and the implementation of circular economy in the construction sector.

Dr. Fernanda Bessa Ferreira
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 papers will be 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 1900 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

  • sustainable development
  • transport infrastructure
  • geotechnics
  • recycled waste materials
  • geosynthetics
  • pavements
  • railway tracks
  • harbour facilities
  • airfields
  • underground structures
  • laboratory and field testing
  • numerical modelling
  • circular economy
  • construction industry

Published Papers (3 papers)

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

Research

Jump to: Review

Article
Recycled Glass Blends with Recycled Concrete Aggregates in Sustainable Railway Geotechnics
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2463; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052463 - 25 Feb 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 536
Abstract
This research investigates the static and cyclic characteristics of recycled glass (RG) as a supplementary material with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in the rail track capping layer. RG was blended by-weight with RCA in 10% increments up to 50% RG content. A performance-based [...] Read more.
This research investigates the static and cyclic characteristics of recycled glass (RG) as a supplementary material with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in the rail track capping layer. RG was blended by-weight with RCA in 10% increments up to 50% RG content. A performance-based laboratory testing scheme was designed according to the field loading conditions of capping layers in rail tracks. Basic geotechnical properties of RG + RCA blends were evaluated through their particle size distribution, compaction properties, and California bearing ratio. Effect of flooding was assessed with one-dimensional static and cyclic compression tests. Multistage triaxial compression tests were performed to determine the effect of RG content on shear strength parameters. A new repeated loading triaxial testing protocol was introduced for railway capping layer materials to assess the stiffness of RG blends to cyclic loading. Long term performance of samples also was evaluated through multistage cyclic permanent deformation tests. The shakedown concept was used to assess the permanent deformation results of RG + RCA samples. Results indicated that RG can be used effectively as a supplementary geomaterial in construction of rail track substructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Innovation in Transport Infrastructure Geotechnics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

Review
Advancements in Geo-Inclusions for Ballasted Track: Constitutive Modelling and Numerical Analysis
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9048; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169048 - 12 Aug 2021
Viewed by 306
Abstract
This paper reviewed some salient features evolving through mathematical and numerical modelling of ballasted track components incorporating recycled rubber products. Firstly, a constitutive model based on the bounding surface concept was introduced to simulate the shear stress-strain response of waste mixtures (i.e., recycled [...] Read more.
This paper reviewed some salient features evolving through mathematical and numerical modelling of ballasted track components incorporating recycled rubber products. Firstly, a constitutive model based on the bounding surface concept was introduced to simulate the shear stress-strain response of waste mixtures (i.e., recycled rubber crumbs, coal wash, and steel furnace slag) used for the capping layer placed below the ballast medium, whereby the energy absorbing property resulting from the inclusion of different amounts of rubber has been captured. Subsequently, key research findings concerning the inclusion of recycled rubber mats on ballasted tracks for reduced particle degradation under cyclic loading were examined and discussed. Discrete element modelling (DEM) coupled with Finite element modelling (FEM) to micro-mechanically characterise ballast behaviour with and without rubber mats offers invaluable insight into real-life track operations. In particular, this coupled DEM-FEM model facilitates the exploration of micromechanical aspects of particle breakage, contact force distributions within the granular assembly, and the orientation of contacts during cyclic loading. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Innovation in Transport Infrastructure Geotechnics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review
A Critical Review on the Performance of Pile-Supported Rail Embankments under Cyclic Loading: Numerical Modeling Approach
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2509; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052509 - 26 Feb 2021
Viewed by 543
Abstract
Searching for economical and practical solutions to increase any transport substructure’s protection and stability is critical for ensuring the long-term viability and adequate load-bearing capacity. Piles are increasingly being used as an economical and environmentally sustainable solution to enhance the strength of soft [...] Read more.
Searching for economical and practical solutions to increase any transport substructure’s protection and stability is critical for ensuring the long-term viability and adequate load-bearing capacity. Piles are increasingly being used as an economical and environmentally sustainable solution to enhance the strength of soft subgrade soils on which embankments are raised. As per the available literature, there are two main strategies used to explain railway embankments’ performance: experimental approaches and numerical simulations on a broad scale. The purpose of this study is to examine the state-of-the-art literature on numerical modeling methods adopted to assess the performance of pile-supported rail embankments subjected to cyclic loading. The paper addresses the main results from various numerical methods to explain the appropriate mechanisms associated with the load deformation response. It also presents the key issues and drawbacks of these numerical methods concerning rail embankment development while outlining the specific shortcomings and research gaps relevant to enhanced future design and analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability and Innovation in Transport Infrastructure Geotechnics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Advancements in Geo-inclusions for Ballasted Track: Mathematical and Discrete Element Modelling Approaches
Authors: Yujie Qi; Buddhima Indraratna; Trung Ngo; Fernanda Ferreira
Affiliation: University of Technology Sydney, Sydney NSW 2007, Australia
Abstract: This paper presents some salient features evolving through mathematical and computational modelling of ballasted track components incorporating recycled rubber products. Firstly, a constitutive model based on the bounding surface concept is introduced to simulate the shear stress-strain response of waste mixtures (steel furnace slag, coal wash and rubber crumbs) used for the capping layer placed below the ballast medium, whereby the energy absorbing capacity resulting from the inclusion of different amounts of rubber in the mixture has been captured. Subsequently, key research findings in relation to volumetric strains occurring under both static and cyclic loading, as well as the influence of confining pressure and the inclusion of recycled rubber mat on ballast degradation are examined and discussed. Discrete element modelling to micromechanically quantify ballast behaviour with and without rubber mats under cyclic loading offers invaluable insight into real-life track operations. In particular, this DEM model facilitates the exploration of micromechanical aspects of particle breakage, contact force distributions within the granular assembly, and the orientation of contacts during cyclic loading.

Title: Recycled construction and demolition materials in unbound pavement applications. A literature review emphasizing the long-term performance
Authors: Paulo M. Pereira; Castorina S. Vieira
Affiliation: CONSTRUCT, University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Abstract: The construction sector is one of the biggest sectors of economic activity of the European Union (EU), consuming more energy and natural resources than any other industrial activity. Additionally, construction waste is the most common waste produced throughout the EU. A more efficient and effective use of natural resources, as well as the attenuation of environmental impacts induced by their extraction could be accomplished if correct construction and demolition (C&D) waste management and recycling policies were implemented. The use of recycled C&D waste in road pavements is a solution with economic and environmental benefits that has been widely studied in recent decades. This paper presents a review of the most important engineering properties of different types of recycled aggregates from C&D waste, their comparison with natural aggregates and how these recycled aggregates perform in the long-term when used in unbound pavement applications. An analysis of the current status of C&D waste generation and recovery practice in the EU is also presented. The main objective of this review is to promote the use of recycled C&D materials, showing that, in general, research conducted worldwide has demonstrated their good performance in short and long-term.

Back to TopTop