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Sustainable Approaches for Developing Concrete and Mortar
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Sustainable Approaches for Developing Concrete and Mortar

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 11475

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ali Edalat Behbahani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ISISE, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: experimental and numerical characterization of cement-based materials; sustainable approach in developing cement and concrete; fiber reinforced concrete
Dr. Fatemeh Soltanzadeh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ISISE, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: material/structural sustainability; materials engineering; fiber-reinforced polymer-reinforced structures; corrosion resistivity; material/structural durability; FRP strengthening of concrete structures; innovative structural systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Amin Abrishambaf

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CONSTRUCT-LABEST, Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
Interests: fiber reinforced cementitious composites; sustainable cementitious materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are calling for papers for a Special Issue of the journal Sustainability to shed light on the most sustainable approaches for developing concrete and mortar.

Concrete and mortar, which basically consist of different constituents such as binding materials, aggregate, water, and admixture materials, are some of the most widely used construction materials in the world. However, the extensive increase in the rate of industrialization and urbanization, as a result of the parallel growth in economy and population, has made conventional concrete/mortar one of the most unsustainable materials, as it consumes a high amount of natural resources and impacts the environment. For instance, the production of Portland cement, as an essential constituent of concrete/mortar, releases a significant amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Another example is the extraction of natural aggregates for developing concrete/mortar, which causes soil erosion and ecosystem destruction. Thus, the introduction and application of sustainable solutions for the production of the more environmentally friendly concretes/mortars (e.g., by adopting alternative recycled waste materials that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, collaborate in construction and demolition waste management, and conserve non-renewable resources) is of paramount importance for the building sector in order to deal with environmental issues.

This Special Issue encourages the submission of research papers that present novel methods and sustainable approaches for developing concrete and mortar. We also welcome original research that utilizes environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) methods to evaluate the effect of sustainable solutions on reducing the environmental impact of concrete/mortar production.

The papers submitted to this Special Issue will undergo a rigorous peer review procedure similar to the other issues of Sustainability, with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results, developments, and applications.

Dr. Ali Edalat Behbahani
Dr. Fatemeh Soltanzadeh
Dr. Amin Abrishambaf
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 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 cementitious materials
  • recycled aggregate concrete/mortar
  • recycled fiber reinforced cementitious composites
  • life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • LCA inventory data
  • pozzolanic materials

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6121 KiB  
Article
Hydration Products and Properties of Nanocellulose Fibre-Reinforced Mortar
by Taiwo Agunbiade and P. S. Mangat
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2719; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062719 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 343
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of nanocellulose fibre (CF) derived from wood pulp on the hydration, mechanical, shrinkage, and pore properties of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar. The CF was incorporated into mortar mixes at varying dosages (0.15–1.5% by weight of mortar) to [...] Read more.
This study investigates the influence of nanocellulose fibre (CF) derived from wood pulp on the hydration, mechanical, shrinkage, and pore properties of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mortar. The CF was incorporated into mortar mixes at varying dosages (0.15–1.5% by weight of mortar) to evaluate its effect on physical, mechanical, and microstructure properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) were employed to assess the hydration phases and microstructural changes induced by the CF addition. Experimental results indicate that CF alters the hydration kinetics of cement mortar by influencing the formation of hydration products such as calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), portlandite (CH), and carbonate phases. The introduction of CF enhances crack resistance and shrinkage control, particularly at an optimal dosage of 0.45%, which exhibited reduced drying shrinkage and improved phase stability. While CF incorporation had minimal impact on compressive and flexural strength at lower dosages (≤0.45%), higher CF contents (>0.99%) caused pore structure modifications, leading to an increase in total porosity and a reduction in strength. The XRD analysis revealed that CF does not introduce new hydration phases but modifies the crystallinity of existing phases. The hydration behaviour, as indicated by TGA/DTG, showed an increase in bound water content at moderate CF dosages, suggesting enhanced internal curing and prolonged hydration. Overall, the findings demonstrate that CF is a viable sustainable additive for cementitious materials, offering advantages in shrinkage control, hydration enhancement, and durability improvement. The results suggest that an optimal CF dosage of 0.45% provides a balance between workability, mechanical properties, and durability, making it an effective additive for enhancing the performance of OPC mortars in sustainable construction applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches for Developing Concrete and Mortar)
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20 pages, 8373 KiB  
Article
Performance of Environmentally Friendly Concrete Containing Fly-Ash and Waste Face Mask Fibers
by Adnan Nawaz, Ameer Murad Khan, Amorntep Jirasakjamroonsri, Panumas Saingam, Ali Ejaz, Qudeer Hussain, Hisham Mohamad and Phromphat Thansirichaisree
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10385; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310385 - 27 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 841
Abstract
This work was carried out to explore the potential use of used face masks in concrete to develop sustainable green concrete. In this experimental study, used face masks were cut up, removing the ear stripes and internal nose steel wire, to prepare elongated [...] Read more.
This work was carried out to explore the potential use of used face masks in concrete to develop sustainable green concrete. In this experimental study, used face masks were cut up, removing the ear stripes and internal nose steel wire, to prepare elongated fibers. These fibers were incorporated in cement fly ash mixtures as an additive to determine the response of M20-grade concrete. The Class F fly ash (FA) was employed as a fractional substitute of cement up to 25% by weight, whereas the addition of face masks occurred at 0%, 0.125%, and 0.25% by volume of concrete. The testing scheme focused on the mechanical and durability characteristics of the cement FA mixtures carried out after 3, 28, and 60 days of curing. The inclusion of FA and face mask fibers reduced the density of concrete specimens. The compressive, splitting tensile, and flexural strengths of mixes were also reduced at an early age; however, the strength characteristics improved at later ages, compared to the control mix. The combination of both materials in concrete mixtures resulted in lower water absorption, lower bulk water sorption, and lower mass loss values against acid attack at later ages. Similarly, the electrical resistance of concrete substantially enhanced by increasing the percentage of both materials. The experimental results demonstrated that processed face masks can be utilized in cement fly ash mixes without significantly compromising the resultant concrete characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches for Developing Concrete and Mortar)
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19 pages, 6347 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Technological Properties of Mortars with the Addition of Plaster Byproduct
by Carolina Gomes Dias Ribeiro, Gustavo de Castro Xavier, Laimara da Silva Barroso, Carlos Mauricio Fontes Vieira, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Afonso Rangel Garcez de Azevedo
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031193 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1539
Abstract
The incorporation of waste into construction materials is a potential topic for study and is seen as a solution for many industries that face the following impasse: the risk to the environment due to the accumulation of waste in yards. In view of [...] Read more.
The incorporation of waste into construction materials is a potential topic for study and is seen as a solution for many industries that face the following impasse: the risk to the environment due to the accumulation of waste in yards. In view of this, during the production of lactic acid, which is widely used in industries, gypsum is produced as a byproduct, yielding one ton for each ton of lactic acid. Aiming at a functional destination for this byproduct, this study proposes its addition in mortars for covering walls and ceilings. The research proposal was a mortar in a 1:6 ratio (cement:sand) with the addition of 0, 3, 6 and 10% of industrial plaster byproduct. The cement used to prepare the mortar was CPII-E32. To characterize the raw materials, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction analysis were carried out. To evaluate the properties in the fresh state, a consistency index and mass density and entrained air tests were carried out. In the hardened state, mass density, axial compression strength, flexural tensile strength and water absorption via capillarity were evaluated after 28 days of age. Microstructural characterization techniques were also carried out on the reference mixtures and with 3% addition of the byproduct gypsum, such as scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the byproduct is hemihydrate and its addition improved the workability of the mortar. Mortars with the addition of byproduct gypsum showed a reduction in mechanical resistance. The most satisfactory results were for the mixes with a 3% addition, indicating greater resistance to axial compression and flexural traction, with 3.90 MPa and 1.14 MPa, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches for Developing Concrete and Mortar)
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23 pages, 4587 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Sustainability of Fibre-Reinforced Concrete by Considering Both Environmental and Mechanical Properties
by Fatemeh Soltanzadeh, Ali E. Behbahani, Kasra Hosseinmostofi and Carlos A. Teixeira
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106347 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4101
Abstract
The environmental consequences of human activities, e.g., the depletion of non-renewable fuel resources, consumption of natural raw materials, and release of huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, resulted in new challenges in materials engineering. Based on these challenges, building materials must [...] Read more.
The environmental consequences of human activities, e.g., the depletion of non-renewable fuel resources, consumption of natural raw materials, and release of huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, resulted in new challenges in materials engineering. Based on these challenges, building materials must fulfil not only mechanical performance criteria, but also produce the least environmental impact accompanied by their production. In the present study, the possibility of employing scrap tire recycled steel fibres (RSF) as a substitution to industrial steel fibres (ISF) for developing more sustainable fibre-reinforced concretes was explored by adopting a life-cycle approach, integrated both environmental and mechanical properties. Four different fibre-reinforced self-compacting concretes–FRSCCs–were tailored by means of replacing the ISFs partially/totally (i.e., 0%, 50%, 67%, 100% by mass of) with the recycled ones. The effect of applying various dosages of RSFs on mechanical behavior of FRSCC–namely compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile responses–were evaluated experimentally. The environmental impacts associated with the production of each FRSCC were also assessed through life-cycle analysis. The potentiality of the RSFs to be used as concrete reinforcement with a comparable mechanical performance to that of ISF-reinforced concrete and lower environmental footprint was evaluated through a consolidated environmental and mechanical index (EM). In this study, using RSFs instead of industrial fibres for developing FRSCC has provided up to 37% higher EM index. The results confirmed the promising prospects for the application of RSFs in developing more eco-efficient and sustainable reinforced concrete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches for Developing Concrete and Mortar)
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24 pages, 2805 KiB  
Article
A Life-Cycle Approach to Integrate Environmental and Mechanical Properties of Blended Cements Containing Seashell Powder
by Fatemeh Soltanzadeh, Ali E. Behbahani, Eduardo N. B. Pereira and Carlos A. Teixeira
Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13120; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313120 - 26 Nov 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2852
Abstract
The adverse consequences of producing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) on the environment have introduced cement production as the fourth largest source of anthropogenic carbon emissions after petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Managing and reducing the environmental concerns regarding the impacts of cement production [...] Read more.
The adverse consequences of producing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) on the environment have introduced cement production as the fourth largest source of anthropogenic carbon emissions after petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Managing and reducing the environmental concerns regarding the impacts of cement production on the environment, namely the depletion of non-renewable fuel resources, consumption of natural raw materials, and releasing huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere should be, therefore, one of the key priorities of the cement industry. Application of locally available minerals and wastes that can be blended with OPC as a substitute could considerably reduce the environmental impact. The present study evaluates the potentiality of waste seashell to be used as an additive in the production of blended cement through a modified life cycle approach integrating environmental and mechanical performances. In this regard, 34 cements consisting of different blends of OPC, seashell powder (within the range of 4–30% by OPC mass), and natural pozzolan (up to 30% by OPC mass) were tested to identify the optimal dosage of OPC substitution. Environmental impacts of the cements were assessed through life-cycle analysis. The possibility of mitigating the carbon dioxide emissions in the production of cements, with similar mechanical performance compared to that of OPC, was evaluated by considering both the mechanical and environmental results. The outcome of this study introduced more environment-friendly and sustainable options for future cements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches for Developing Concrete and Mortar)
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