Special Issue "Innovative Construction Materials for Sustainable Development"

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 December 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Nassim Sebaibi
E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering (ESITC Caen), 1 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 14610 Epron, France
Interests: sustainable construction materials; FRC; SCC; durability and sustainability of concrete; innovative materials for sustainable construction; precast technique

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increase in the population density leads society to consume more, build more, and increase  production and economic growth. The production of construction materials needs high amounts of energy and, together with that, gives rise to significant CO2 emissions. Sustainability can be defined as a set of environmental, economic, and social conditions in which all society has the capacity to maintain and improve its quality of life without degrading the quantity, quality, or availability of natural, economic, and social resources. Given the significant growth in the field of civil engineering, the sustainability principle must be taken into consideration, particularly when producing materials.  This requires a comprehensive assessment that takes into consideration human needs for life cycle assessment of construction materials (natural resources, industrial products, energy, transportation, housing, and efficient management of waste and materials) while conserving and protecting the quality of the environment and the natural resource base essential for future development.

The Special Issue will feature papers presenting the problems due to climate change as well as papers on circular economy and resource preservation as well as competitiveness, economic viability, and user comfort in construction materials. Different themes can be presented in this Special Issue, such as:

  • Durability and sustainability of concrete
  • Sustainability construction materials
  • Eco & green materials in construction
  • Environmental impact mitigation
  • Innovative concrete for sustainable construction
  • Performance and sustainability of special concrete
  • Sustainable construction through the precast system

Dr. Nassim Sebaibi
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

  • FRC
  • Carbone Footprint of concrete
  • energy consumption
  • pervious concrete pavers
  • waste management
  • valorization

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

Article
Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Low Carbon Binders Manufactured from Calcined Canal Sediments and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS)
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9057; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169057 - 12 Aug 2021
Viewed by 373
Abstract
This research study evaluated the effects of adding Scottish canal sediment after calcination at 750 °C in combination with GGBS on hydration, strength and microstructural properties in ternary cement mixtures in order to reduce their carbon footprint (CO2) and cost. A [...] Read more.
This research study evaluated the effects of adding Scottish canal sediment after calcination at 750 °C in combination with GGBS on hydration, strength and microstructural properties in ternary cement mixtures in order to reduce their carbon footprint (CO2) and cost. A series of physico-chemical, hydration heat, mechanic performance, mercury porosity and microstructure tests or observations was performed in order to evaluate the fresh and hardened properties. The physical and chemical characterisation of the calcined sediments revealed good pozzolanic properties that could be valorised as a potential co-product in the cement industry. The results obtained for mortars with various percentages of calcined sediment confirmed that this represents a previously unrecognised potential source of high reactivity pozzolanic materials. The evolution of the compressive strength for the different types of mortars based on the partial substitution of cement by slag and calcined sediments showed a linear increase in compressive strength for 90 days. The best compressive strengths and porosity were observed in mortars composed of 50% cement, 40% slag and 10% calcined sediment (CSS10%) after 90 days. In conclusion, the addition of calcined canal sediments as an artificial pozzolanic material could improve strength and save significant amounts of energy or greenhouse gas emissions, while potentially contributing to Scotland’s ambitious 2045 net zero target and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in the UK and Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Construction Materials for Sustainable Development)
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Article
Reusing Geopolymer Waste from Matrices Based on Metakaolin or Fly Ash for the Manufacture of New Binder Geopolymeric Matrices
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 8070; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13148070 - 20 Jul 2021
Viewed by 373
Abstract
The increasing use of geopolymer materials in the construction and civil engineering sectors generates a large amount of non-biodegradable waste that will end up in landfills. It is therefore necessary to anticipate solutions for the proper management of this waste. In this work, [...] Read more.
The increasing use of geopolymer materials in the construction and civil engineering sectors generates a large amount of non-biodegradable waste that will end up in landfills. It is therefore necessary to anticipate solutions for the proper management of this waste. In this work, new geopolymer materials were fabricated by partially replacing the reactive raw minerals (fly ash, FA, or metakaolin, MK) with used geopolymers (fully fly ash-based, FAref, or metakaolin-based, MKref), in order to develop a strategy to reuse geopolymer waste. Their workability and setting behavior were studied in the fresh state, and the geopolymerization process was investigated by calorimetry and by electrochemistry. Mechanical properties and the ability for coating mineral aggregates were assessed, and the resulting adhesion properties were analyzed using matrix/sand mortars. It appears that the new geopolymer materials as well as the mortars are endowed with good performances. The compressive strengths are above 50 MPa and therefore meet the requirements of different construction materials. This demonstrates the recyclability of geopolymer materials. Moreover, an analysis of the influence of the substitution of recycled geopolymers on the setting and on the mechanical performances of mortars makes it possible to propose a binder-recycled geopolymer interaction model for the formation of new binding matrices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Construction Materials for Sustainable Development)
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Article
Reactivity Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Formation of Carboaluminate Phases in Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Blended Cements
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6504; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116504 - 07 Jun 2021
Viewed by 585
Abstract
The reactivity effect of calcium carbonate, present in ground oyster shells and limestone filler, on the formation of carboaluminate phases in ground granulated blast furnace slag blended cement pastes was reported in this paper. Six different binary and ternary blended cement pastes were [...] Read more.
The reactivity effect of calcium carbonate, present in ground oyster shells and limestone filler, on the formation of carboaluminate phases in ground granulated blast furnace slag blended cement pastes was reported in this paper. Six different binary and ternary blended cement pastes were prepared using ground granulated blast furnace slag, ground oyster shells and limestone filler with different replacement levels (from 5 to 35%). The carboaluminate formation was assessed and quantified directly using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and indirectly by following the aluminate phase’s reaction (heat flow) and consumed calcium carbonate using Isothermal Calorimetry (IC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), respectively. Further, the overall reaction degree calculated based on TGA results and the compressive strength were determined to support the findings obtained. The results revealed that the calcium carbonate present in ground oyster shells is more reactive when compared to that present in limestone filler, where more formed hemi- and monocarboaluminate phases were observed in mixtures containing ground oyster shells. An enhancement in compressive strength and overall reaction degree was observed by adding 5% ground oyster shells as cement replacement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Construction Materials for Sustainable Development)
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Article
Manufacturing of Low-Carbon Binders Using Waste Glass and Dredged Sediments: Formulation and Performance Assessment at Laboratory Scale
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094960 - 28 Apr 2021
Viewed by 627
Abstract
Few studies focus on the co-valorization of river dredging sediments (DS) and residual waste glass (RWG) in alkali-activated binders. This study investigates the use of DS as an aluminosilicate source by substituting a natural resource (metakaolin (MK)), while using RWG as an activator [...] Read more.
Few studies focus on the co-valorization of river dredging sediments (DS) and residual waste glass (RWG) in alkali-activated binders. This study investigates the use of DS as an aluminosilicate source by substituting a natural resource (metakaolin (MK)), while using RWG as an activator (sodium silicate source). Suitable treatments are selected to increase the potential reactivity of each residue. The DS is thermally treated at 750 °C to promote limestone and aluminosilicate clays’ activation. The RWG (amorphous, rich in silicon, and containing sodium) is used as an alkaline activator after treatment in 10 M NaOH. Structural monitoring using nuclear magnetic resonance (29NMR and 27NMR), X-ray diffraction, and leaching is conducted to achieve processing optimization. In the second stage, mortars were prepared and characterized by determining compressive strength, water absorption, mercury porosimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Results obtained show the great advantage of combining RWG and DS in an alkali-activation binder. The treated RWG offers advantages when used as sodium silicate activating solution, while the substitution of MK by calcined sediments (DS-750 °C) at 10%, 20%, and 30% leads to improvements in the properties of the matrix such as an increase in compressive strength and a refinement and reduction of the pore size within the matrix. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Construction Materials for Sustainable Development)
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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: Reactivity effect of calcium carbonate on the formation of carboaluminate phases in ground granulated blast furnace slag blended cements

Authors: Walid Deboucha1,*, Nassim Sebaibi1, Yassine El-Mendili1, Aurélie Fabien1, Mohamed Boutouil1, U. Johnson Alengaram2, Nordine Leklou3, Mahmoud N Hamdadou3

Abstract: The reactivity effect of calcium carbonate present in ground oyster shells and limestone filler on the formation of carboaluminate phases is reported in this paper. Ground granulated blast furnace slag, ground oyster shells and limestone filler, in binary and ternary combination, were used to prepare the blended cement pastes. Isothermal calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and X-ray diffraction were used to assess and quantify the carboaluminate formation. It was found that the calcium carbonate present in ground oyster shells is more reactive compared to that present in limestone filler where more hemi- and monocarboaluminate phases formed were observed in binary and ternary mixtures containing ground oyster shells, particularly in ternary mixtures which based on both ground oyster shells and ground granulated blast furnace slag. The overall reaction degree and the compressive strength were further determined to support the finding obtained. The carboaluminate phases formation resulting from the interaction between carbonate calcium present in ground oyster shells and aluminate phases of ground granulated blast furnace slag led to the enhanced overall reaction degree and compressive strength.

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