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Sustainable Construction: Innovations in Concrete and Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 1000

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, Ajman University, College of Engineering and Information Technology, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Interests: rehabilitation of existing structures; finite element modelling of structures; sustainability of concrete

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the construction industry has undergone a profound transformation driven by the urgent need for sustainability. As global environmental concerns intensify and the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, the focus has shifted towards developing construction practices that not only minimize environmental impact but also contribute positively to our ecosystems. Innovations in concrete and building materials are central to this movement since they are foundational elements of modern construction. The exploration of sustainable construction focuses on the cutting-edge advancements in concrete technology and material science. The development of eco-friendly concrete mixtures includes utilizing recycled materials and alternative binders as well as the integration of smart materials that enhance energy efficiency. These innovations represent a paradigm shift towards more environmentally responsible building practices. In addition, the role of alternative materials such as geopolymers, photocatalytic concrete, etc. offers promising pathways for reducing the ecological footprint of construction.

This Special Issue highlights the technical aspects and the broader implications for the construction industry and society. These advancements are crucial for building a future where construction practices harmonize with environmental needs, paving the way for a sustainable and resilient built environment.

Dr. Ahmed Godat
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

  • sustainable construction
  • eco-friendly concrete
  • low-carbon concrete
  • recycled materials
  • alternative binders
  • smart materials

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 4425 KB  
Article
Integrating Electromagnetic NDT and IoT for Enhanced Structural Health Monitoring of Corrosion in Reinforced Concrete as a Key to Sustainable Smart Cities
by Paweł Karol Frankowski and Sebastian Matysik
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10307; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210307 - 18 Nov 2025
Viewed by 212
Abstract
The paper addresses a critical gap in early-stage corrosion detection in reinforced concrete, a leading cause of structural failures with significant impacts on humans, the economy, and the environment. It presents the M5 (Magnetic Force-Induced Vibration Evaluation) method, an innovative Structural Health Monitoring [...] Read more.
The paper addresses a critical gap in early-stage corrosion detection in reinforced concrete, a leading cause of structural failures with significant impacts on humans, the economy, and the environment. It presents the M5 (Magnetic Force-Induced Vibration Evaluation) method, an innovative Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) approach that avoids damping in concrete by using electromagnetic excitation and transferring rebar vibrations through magnetic coupling over the sample. By inducing and analyzing natural vibrations directly in reinforcement, M5 enables sensitive, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of corrosion before deterioration occurs. The study follows a systematic literature review based on PRISMA standards and utilizes EmbedSLR v1.0 free software. The methodology combines NDE with IoT deployment using Low-Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) and advanced machine learning (ARA) to detect frequency changes caused by corrosion, ensuring continuous monitoring. Findings suggest that M5 has the potential to enhance sustainable asset management by extending infrastructure lifespan, optimizing maintenance, and reducing waste. Its practical implications are significant for urban planners and engineers aiming to align infrastructure management with smart city strategies. The originality of this work lies in integrating electromagnetic NDT with IoT and data-driven decision-making, offering new insights at the intersection of engineering and sustainable smart city management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction: Innovations in Concrete and Materials)
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26 pages, 4666 KB  
Article
Role of CaO Reactivity in Controlling Fresh Properties and Long-Term Strength Development of CaO-Activated GGBFS Composites
by Karol Chilmon, Piotr Woyciechowski and Beata Jaworska
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 9978; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17229978 - 8 Nov 2025
Viewed by 318
Abstract
This study systematically investigates the influence of CaO reactivity on the fresh-state rheological behavior and long-term mechanical performance of GGBFS binders. Four types of industrial quicklime, characterized by distinct slaking kinetics (tmax ranging from 9 to 36 min), were used as primary [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigates the influence of CaO reactivity on the fresh-state rheological behavior and long-term mechanical performance of GGBFS binders. Four types of industrial quicklime, characterized by distinct slaking kinetics (tmax ranging from 9 to 36 min), were used as primary activators, with dosages of 5%, 9%, and 13% by binder mass. The results reveal that CaO reactivity significantly affects water demand, yield stress, and setting times, with extremely reactive quicklime inducing the greatest increases in water demand and plastic viscosity. Setting behavior was strongly dependent on both activator content and curing environment, with less reactive limes failing to induce setting under water immersion. Compressive strength development was largely unaffected by CaO reactivity up to 120 days, but at 720 days, higher CaO contents (≥9%) contributed to significant strength gains, likely due to carbonation-induced matrix densification. These findings demonstrate that controlling CaO reactivity and dosage is essential for optimizing the workability and durability of CaO-activated slag binders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction: Innovations in Concrete and Materials)
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