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Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 51164

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José Marcos Ortega

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Alicante, Ap. Correos 99, 03080 Alicante, Spain
Interests: concrete; durability; sustainability; microstructure; performance in aggressive environments; nondestructive techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fernando G. Branco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ISISE, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, R. Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: concrete; durability; sustainability; valorization of byproducts and industrial waste; building materials; mortar
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Viviana C. Letelier Gonzalez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencia, Universidad de La Frontera, 478000 Temuco, Chile
Interests: waste management; building materials; CO2 absorption
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global concern for climate change, global warming, and increasing pollution has made it imperative for policy makers throughout the world to devise green strategies for sustainable future. The construction industry remains a major target for environmental sustainability due to its consumption of the largest portion of materials resources, water, and energy and its contribution to landfill sites.

Within this context, construction and building materials play an important role in reaching that aim. Along this line, today, the use of green and eco-friendly materials has become a major topic of study, because they allow lessening energy consumption and minimizing waste production during the construction process, as well as reusing and recycling residues produced in other industrial processes. In addition to this, developing more durable materials also contributes to sustainability, because they will reduce the high environmental impact of maintenance, repairs, and replacement of traditional construction materials commonly used in structures, buildings, and other civil engineering and architecture works. In relation to these construction works, it is important to highlight the relatively recent use of new project management methodologies, such as building information modeling (BIM), which will also be very useful in improving sustainability aspects related to construction projects in the near future.

The present Special Issue of the journal Sustainability welcomes research papers reporting studies, strategies or practical cases related to sustainable construction and building materials for environment.

Prof. Dr. José Marcos Ortega
Prof. Dr. Fernando G. Branco
Dr. Viviana Letelier
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

  • Sustainability assessment related to civil engineering applications
  • Integration of BIM for sustainable construction
  • Sustainable construction management
  • Building and structures lifecycle analysis
  • Environmental impacts of sustainable construction
  • Real experiences of construction projects and works with a contribution to sustainability
  • Sustainability construction in marine and hydraulic structures
  • Green building project management
  • Sustainable cement-based materials
  • Eco-friendly construction and building materials
  • Supplementary cementitious materials
  • Recycled aggregates
  • Lightweight concrete and other cement-based materials
  • Geopolymer cements
  • Nondestructive characterization
  • Sustainable materials for roads, railways, and other transportation systems

Published Papers (16 papers)

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16 pages, 2438 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Fresh and Durability Properties of Different Lime Mortars for Being Used as Masonry Coatings in the Restoration of Ancient Constructions
by Fernando G. Branco, Maria de Lurdes Belgas, Cátia Mendes, Luís Pereira and José Marcos Ortega
Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4909; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13094909 - 27 Apr 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1773
Abstract
Coatings and plasters are an integral part of masonry cladding, having a fundamental protective and aesthetic function. They are exposed to numerous aggressive actions, which produce their degradation over time. The utilization of lime, as a binder in masonry lining mortars, plays an [...] Read more.
Coatings and plasters are an integral part of masonry cladding, having a fundamental protective and aesthetic function. They are exposed to numerous aggressive actions, which produce their degradation over time. The utilization of lime, as a binder in masonry lining mortars, plays an important role in their durability and conservation. The objective of this work is to analyze the fresh and durability properties of lime-based mortars for their application in the restoration of old buildings. Four different kinds of mortars were studied with similar workability, using as binders lime putty, aerial lime, and hydraulic lime. The aggregates used consisted of sand and crushed rock powder. As fresh properties, the consistency (by using the flow table) and water retentivity were determined. With respect to durability-related properties, water absorption by capillarity and by immersion, drying kinetics, and carbonation depth were studied. Bulk density and porosity of the mortars were also obtained. Mortars with lime putty showed higher global porosity and water absorption by immersion, while aerial lime mortars presented lower porosity and higher water absorption by capillarity. Finally, the durability performance of all the studied lime mortars was overall adequate for being applied as masonry coatings in the restoration of old buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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15 pages, 12794 KiB  
Article
Effects after 1500 Hardening Days on the Microstructure and Durability-Related Parameters of Mortars Produced by the Incorporation of Waste Glass Powder as a Clinker Replacement
by Rosa María Tremiño, Teresa Real-Herraiz, Viviana Letelier, Fernando G. Branco and José Marcos Ortega
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3979; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073979 - 02 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1639
Abstract
One of the ways of lessening the CO2 emissions of cement industry consists of replacing clinkers with supplementary cementitious materials. The required service life of real construction elements is long, so it is useful to characterize the performance of these materials in [...] Read more.
One of the ways of lessening the CO2 emissions of cement industry consists of replacing clinkers with supplementary cementitious materials. The required service life of real construction elements is long, so it is useful to characterize the performance of these materials in the very long term. Here, the influence of incorporating waste glass powder as a supplementary cementitious material, regarding the microstructure and durability of mortars after 1500 hardening days (approximately 4 years), compared with reference mortars without additions, was studied. The percentages of clinker replacement by glass powder were 10% and 20%. The microstructure was studied using impedance spectroscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Differential thermal and X-ray diffraction analyses were performed for assessing the pozzolanic activity of glass powder at the end of the time period studied. Water absorption after immersion, the steady-state diffusion coefficient, and length change were also determined. In view of the results obtained, the microstructure of mortars that incorporated waste glass powder was more refined compared with the reference specimens. The global solid fraction and pores volume were very similar for all of the studied series. The addition of waste glass powder reduced the chloride diffusion coefficient of the mortars, without worsening their behaviour regarding water absorption after immersion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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12 pages, 7188 KiB  
Article
Chemical and Leaching Behavior of Construction and Demolition Wastes and Recycled Aggregates
by Alessandra Diotti, Adela Perèz Galvin, Andrea Piccinali, Giovanni Plizzari and Sabrina Sorlini
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10326; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su122410326 - 10 Dec 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3077
Abstract
Construction and demolition wastes are widely recognized as the main waste stream in the EU, and their recycling and recovery is an important issue in sustainable building industry development. The composition of construction and demolition wastes is highly heterogeneous and is influenced by [...] Read more.
Construction and demolition wastes are widely recognized as the main waste stream in the EU, and their recycling and recovery is an important issue in sustainable building industry development. The composition of construction and demolition wastes is highly heterogeneous and is influenced by several factors, including the raw materials and construction products used. The environmental performance of these materials are therefore considerably variable and, in some cases, do not comply with the regulatory limits established to ensure the protection of the natural environment. In this context, this paper presents a data analysis on the environmental behavior of construction and demolition wastes and recycled aggregates in terms of both chemical composition and the release of contaminants according to a leaching test. Subsequently, the most critical parameters for recovery were identified and statistically evaluated. The leaching results showed that SO4, Cu, and COD are critical compounds for both CDWs and RAs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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47 pages, 13215 KiB  
Article
A Novel Smart Energy Management as a Service over a Cloud Computing Platform for Nanogrid Appliances
by Bilal Naji Alhasnawi, Basil H. Jasim, Maria Dolores Esteban and Josep M. Guerrero
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9686; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229686 - 20 Nov 2020
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 2957
Abstract
There will be a dearth of electrical energy in the world in the future due to exponential increase in electrical energy demand of rapidly growing world population. With the development of Internet of Things (IoT), more smart appliances will be integrated into homes [...] Read more.
There will be a dearth of electrical energy in the world in the future due to exponential increase in electrical energy demand of rapidly growing world population. With the development of Internet of Things (IoT), more smart appliances will be integrated into homes in smart cities that actively participate in the electricity market by demand response programs to efficiently manage energy in order to meet this increasing energy demand. Thus, with this incitement, the energy management strategy using a price-based demand response program is developed for IoT-enabled residential buildings. We propose a new EMS for smart homes for IoT-enabled residential building smart devices by scheduling to minimize cost of electricity, alleviate peak-to-average ratio, correct power factor, automatic protective appliances, and maximize user comfort. In this method, every home appliance is interfaced with an IoT entity (a data acquisition module) with a specific IP address, which results in a wide wireless system of devices. There are two components of the proposed system: software and hardware. The hardware is composed of a base station unit (BSU) and many terminal units (TUs). The software comprises Wi-Fi network programming as well as system protocol. In this study, a message queue telemetry transportation (MQTT) broker was installed on the boards of BSU and TU. In this paper, we present a low-cost platform for the monitoring and helping decision making about different areas in a neighboring community for efficient management and maintenance, using information and communication technologies. The findings of the experiments demonstrated the feasibility and viability of the proposed method for energy management in various modes. The proposed method increases effective energy utilization, which in turn increases the sustainability of IoT-enabled homes in smart cities. The proposed strategy automatically responds to power factor correction, to protective home appliances, and to price-based demand response programs to combat the major problem of the demand response programs, which is the limitation of consumer’s knowledge to respond upon receiving demand response signals. The schedule controller proposed in this paper achieved an energy saving of 6.347 kWh real power per day, this paper achieved saving 7.282 kWh apparent power per day, and the proposed algorithm in our paper saved $2.3228388 per day. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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12 pages, 22598 KiB  
Article
Variability of Seismic Loading over the Surface of a Concrete Slab in Interaction with the Subsoil
by Martin Stolarik, Miroslav Pinka, Jan Nedoma and Michael Fridrich
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9530; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229530 - 16 Nov 2020
Viewed by 1233
Abstract
This article is aimed at the analysis of the behavior of a fiber-reinforced concrete slab in contact with subsoil during dynamic loading in close proximity. The properties of such slabs are important for evaluating their dynamic response, though the properties of the subsoil [...] Read more.
This article is aimed at the analysis of the behavior of a fiber-reinforced concrete slab in contact with subsoil during dynamic loading in close proximity. The properties of such slabs are important for evaluating their dynamic response, though the properties of the subsoil environment through which the vibrations propagate must also be taken into account. The analysis itself was performed on the basis of the results obtained from experimental measurements during seismic excitation with a calibrated impact. There were three concrete slabs tested, with varying amounts of fiber. The standard Vistec seismic instrumentation was used for measuring the dynamic response. The results of the experiment were processed in both the amplitude and frequency domains, and a graphic comparison in the waveform and frequency fields was made. The results acquired from this experimental research may support a more objective approach during the evaluation of dynamic impacts ranging from anthropogenic impacts to building structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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24 pages, 851 KiB  
Article
Integrated Evaluation of the Impediments to the Adoption of Coconut Palm Wood as a Sustainable Material for Building Construction
by Mahmoud Sodangi and Zaheer Abbas Kazmi
Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7676; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12187676 - 17 Sep 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3274
Abstract
Coconut palm wood is commonly regarded as a sustainable building material. Nonetheless, its adoption as a green building material by the construction industry is limited, particularly in West Africa. This paper analyses the impediments to the effective adoption of coconut palm wood in [...] Read more.
Coconut palm wood is commonly regarded as a sustainable building material. Nonetheless, its adoption as a green building material by the construction industry is limited, particularly in West Africa. This paper analyses the impediments to the effective adoption of coconut palm wood in residential building construction. The research data was collected from literature reviews, expert-based surveys, and semi-structured interviews with specialists from the construction sector, African Timber Organization, governmental institutions related to forestry and construction, university professors, and researchers in the areas of sustainable building materials and construction. Thirteen crucial impediments were identified and an integrated evaluation of the impediments was conducted using the Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) technique to examine the hierarchical structure of the relations between the impediments. A further technique, Cross-impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification (MICMAC), was used to categorize the impediments from a driving to driven perspective. This categorization provides a unique profile for the impediments, which is different from that of conventional evaluation techniques for evaluating impediments. The findings of this paper offer useful guide to practitioners and policy makers in formulating effective policies, regulations, and standards that will promote the development and wide adoption of coconut palm wood in the construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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16 pages, 2172 KiB  
Article
Practical Analysis of BIM Tasks for Modular Construction Projects in South Korea
by Myungdo Lee, Dongmin Lee, Taehoon Kim and Ung-Kyun Lee
Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6900; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12176900 - 25 Aug 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3856
Abstract
Building information modeling (BIM) and modular construction are important technologies for construction industry sustainability. This study proposes a relational matrix of key activities and BIM tasks of modular construction projects to analyze practical BIM tasks in Korea. To achieve this objective, 11 key [...] Read more.
Building information modeling (BIM) and modular construction are important technologies for construction industry sustainability. This study proposes a relational matrix of key activities and BIM tasks of modular construction projects to analyze practical BIM tasks in Korea. To achieve this objective, 11 key activities and eight BIM tasks are identified through a comprehensive literature review and expert interviews. Then, the relational matrix of key activities and BIM tasks is proposed, and the BIM tasks in the matrix are analyzed in terms of necessity and efficiency using 5-point Likert scales. Finally, the matrix with the BIM utilization index is suggested. As a result, the average BIM utilization index is 0.80 in the off-site phase, and the index results show that 3D shop drawings have the highest index. In the on-site phase, the average BIM UI is 0.73 and the integration of a 4D model with quantity take-off is the most efficient at 0.85. Additionally, from the decision-maker’s perspective, the priority through the index presented helps in making decisions and in practical BIM execution planning. The proposed matrix is a practical reference for decision-makers considering the application of BIM in modular projects, and it contributes to a sustainable construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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16 pages, 4094 KiB  
Article
Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag and Coal Fly Ash Ternary Portland Cements Optimization
by Rosa Abnelia Rivera, Miguel Ángel Sanjuán and Domingo Alfonso Martín
Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5783; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12145783 - 17 Jul 2020
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 2840
Abstract
Granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) and coal fly ash (CFA) are two well-known constituents in Portland cements. Ternary Portland cements (GBFS-CFA-K) provide environmental advantages by reducing Portland cement clinker (K) production and, therefore, promote lower CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, both of them cause a [...] Read more.
Granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) and coal fly ash (CFA) are two well-known constituents in Portland cements. Ternary Portland cements (GBFS-CFA-K) provide environmental advantages by reducing Portland cement clinker (K) production and, therefore, promote lower CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, both of them cause a delay in the compressive strength gain. Given that, the early compressive strength for both constituents is low, but they improve the compressive strength at medium and later ages as consequence of the pozzolanic reaction. In this paper, a full factorial design with two levels was developed for the mortar compressive strength estimation at 2, 7 and 28 days. Mortar prisms made with 25% and 40% of granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) and/or coal fly ash (CFA) were tested. The effects of the interaction between GBFS and CFA on the compressive strength development of ternary Portland cement mortars were reported. Results show that the contribution of both cement constituents to the ternary mortar mix reduces the compressive strength for all the tested ages. Nevertheless, the finer the GBFS, the better ternary cement performance was achieved, showing that the synergistic effect is more effective when the finer GBFS is used, probably due to a more adequate particle size distribution. Finally, a relationship between compressive strength, fineness, GBFS content and CFA content was found for each age. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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16 pages, 10410 KiB  
Article
Combining Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) from Cuba to Obtain a Coarse Aggregate Fraction
by Jessika Morales Fournier, Debora Acosta Álvarez, Anadelys Alonso Aenlle, Antonio José Tenza-Abril and Salvador Ivorra
Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5356; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12135356 - 02 Jul 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3220
Abstract
In Cuba, tons of construction and demolition waste (CDW) are generated during urban construction and reconstruction activities every year. The use of CDW, such as recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), in pavement construction is a viable solution to preserve [...] Read more.
In Cuba, tons of construction and demolition waste (CDW) are generated during urban construction and reconstruction activities every year. The use of CDW, such as recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), in pavement construction is a viable solution to preserve the consumption of natural aggregates (NA), and to minimize the impact of landfill. The main objective of this work is to obtain a 5–10 mm aggregate fraction of RCA and RAP, to obtain an appropriate recycled coarse aggregate for manufacturing hot mix asphalt (HMA). Each source of RCA, RAP and NA, and the combinations RCA/RAP (0/100, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 100/0) were characterized (moisture, asphalt content of RAP, specific gravity, water absorption, and flakiness index) for determining a better combination. The results showed that the combination (RCA/RAP) that best meets the NA aggregates specifications used for hot mix asphalt were RCA/RAP: 25/75 and 50/50. The results show the possibility of combining both wastes to obtain a coarse aggregate fraction with a high environmental benefit, by reducing the use of natural resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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14 pages, 695 KiB  
Article
A Three Methods Proactive Improvement Model for Buildings Construction Processes
by Abdul-Aziz Banawi, Alia Besné, David Fonseca and Jose Ferrandiz
Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4335; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12104335 - 25 May 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3208
Abstract
This paper proposes a proactive model to improve the overall performance of construction processes. The main advantage is that potential waste and associate impacts could be identified in the early stages of a project before the construction phase. To accomplish that, the model [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a proactive model to improve the overall performance of construction processes. The main advantage is that potential waste and associate impacts could be identified in the early stages of a project before the construction phase. To accomplish that, the model combines three methods; Lean-to identify waste, Green to assess environmental impact, and Six-Sigma to measure and improve process performance (LG6). The LG6 model helps in evaluating processes one step at a time, identifying consumed resources, analyzing the environmental performance of all steps as well as highlighting generated impacts, applying improving alternatives if needed, and measuring process performance for evaluation. The functionality of LG6 is illustrated through a case study of woodpiles installation. In this case study, the LG6 model identified four steps out of eight that are considered potential waste or (non-value-added steps) according to the Lean principles. As a result, the LG6 model helped in reducing impact by 9% and expenses by 1%. The LG6 model can help to improve the performance of construction processes and reduces unnecessary waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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18 pages, 13839 KiB  
Article
Predicting Unconfined Compressive Strength Decrease of Carbonate Building Materials against Frost Attack Using Nondestructive Physical Tests
by Marzouk Mohamed Aly Abdelhamid, Dong Li and Gaofeng Ren
Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1379; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12041379 - 13 Feb 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
Carbonate building materials and engineering constructions are exposed to severe seasonal environmental fluctuations and result in a full or partial disintegration, especially in cold regions, and employment of nondestructive methods for evaluating the durability of building materials subject to frost weathering is gaining [...] Read more.
Carbonate building materials and engineering constructions are exposed to severe seasonal environmental fluctuations and result in a full or partial disintegration, especially in cold regions, and employment of nondestructive methods for evaluating the durability of building materials subject to frost weathering is gaining great significance. This research aims to obtain reliable relationships between unconfined compressive strength decrease and nondestructive parameters variations of limestone types under frost conditions and provide useful information regarding their durability in order to ensure the long-term viability or sustainability of these materials used for constructions against frost conditions. In this study, five important types of Chinese limestone used as construction materials were subjected to 50 frost cycles. Unconfined compressive strength, compressional wave velocity and spatial attenuation, and porosity were obtained at the end of every 10 cycles. As a result of progression in frost cycles, the increase and decrease rates were determined at the end of every 10 cycles, and the relationships between them were obtained to predict the loss ratios of unconfined compressive strength (RDσc). Results indicated that at the end of 40th cycles, there was a high correlation between RDσc and spatial attenuation loss with an R2 of 0.8584. Furthermore, there was also a strong relationship between RDσc and compressional wave velocity decrease after the end of 20th and 50th cycles with an R2 of 0.9089 and 0.9025, respectively. Therefore, these relations are reliable to provide useful information for durability and viability of studied samples under frost conditions and support the use of the ultrasonic measurements. It can also be successfully used for pre-estimation of unconfined compressive strength loss of studied limestone types against frost weathering without any tests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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13 pages, 6969 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study to Design Warm Mix Asphalts and Recycled Warm Mix Asphalts Using Natural Zeolite as Additive for Sustainable Pavements
by Elsa Sanchez-Alonso, Gonzalo Valdes-Vidal and Alejandra Calabi-Floody
Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 980; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12030980 - 29 Jan 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2245
Abstract
There are currently various technologies for the manufacture of warm mix asphalts (WMA). This paper presents the possibility of using a natural zeolite to manufacture WMA as an alternative to existing synthetic products for the manufacture of this type of mixture. Moreover, the [...] Read more.
There are currently various technologies for the manufacture of warm mix asphalts (WMA). This paper presents the possibility of using a natural zeolite to manufacture WMA as an alternative to existing synthetic products for the manufacture of this type of mixture. Moreover, the possibility of manufacturing WMA with the addition of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) using natural zeolite as the basis of a warm mix technology was evaluated. Firstly, asphalt mixtures were manufactured at three different temperatures (145 °C, 135 °C, and 125 °C) with different percentages of natural zeolite to determine the temperature and the optimum content for the manufacture of WMA. Then, the zeolite moisture content and its release over time were determined at different temperatures, and its distribution in the binder was checked at different concentrations by scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence. Next, with the optimum zeolite content, the addition of RAP between 10–30% in the WMA at the same three manufacturing temperatures was evaluated. Two types of compaction were used: the impact and gyratory compactions. The Marshall parameters were evaluated for all the designed mixtures. The results indicated that the manufacture of WMA with the addition of natural zeolite is feasible, and depending on the required mixing temperature, recycled WMA with different percentages of RAP can be obtained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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16 pages, 6861 KiB  
Article
Influence of Partial Coarse Fraction Substitution of Natural Aggregate by Recycled Concrete Aggregate in Hot Asphalt Mixtures
by Debora Acosta Álvarez, Anadelys Alonso Aenlle, Antonio José Tenza-Abril and Salvador Ivorra
Sustainability 2020, 12(1), 250; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12010250 - 27 Dec 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 2856
Abstract
The main objective of this work is to evaluate the properties of hot asphalt mixtures that have been manufactured with different recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) percentages (0%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the fraction 5–13 mm) and asphalt (4%, 4.5% and 5%). [...] Read more.
The main objective of this work is to evaluate the properties of hot asphalt mixtures that have been manufactured with different recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) percentages (0%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of the fraction 5–13 mm) and asphalt (4%, 4.5% and 5%). Dense asphalt mixtures were made; partially replacing the natural aggregate (NA) fraction between 5 and 13 mm. Marshall specimens were manufactured to determine the main properties of the asphalt concrete (AC) in terms of density, voids, stability and deformation. Additionally, the optimal asphalt content (OAC) was determined, and measured the water sensibility, the stiffness modulus and the permanent deformation. The results corroborate the potential for using these sources of construction and demolition waste (CDW) as a RCA in asphalt concrete and show that the hot asphalt mixtures with up to 40% substitution of natural aggregate by recycled aggregate in the fraction 5–13 mm present good behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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15 pages, 5974 KiB  
Article
Sensitivity of Radiative and Thermal Properties of Building Material in the Urban Atmosphere
by Marcos Vinicius Bueno de Morais, Viviana Vanesa Urbina Guerrero, Edmilson Dias de Freitas, Edson R. Marciotto, Hugo Valdés, Christian Correa, Roberto Agredano and Ismael Vera-Puerto
Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6865; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su11236865 - 03 Dec 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3194
Abstract
In the context of the impact of urbanization on climate change, this work aims to evaluate the sensitivity of the thermal and radiative properties of building surfaces in urban areas to the urban heat island intensity, a local scale meteorological phenomenon. For this, [...] Read more.
In the context of the impact of urbanization on climate change, this work aims to evaluate the sensitivity of the thermal and radiative properties of building surfaces in urban areas to the urban heat island intensity, a local scale meteorological phenomenon. For this, variations of albedo values, emissivity, thermal conductivity and heat capacity of roofs, streets and walls were simulated through an urban scheme coupled with the BRAMS mesoscale atmospheric model for the metropolitan area of São Paulo, considering two main urban types. The simulations show that, in general, looking for cold surface situations, the change of building material can contribute to a reduction of up to 3 °C for São Paulo. In addition, the role of orientation and the typological characteristics of constructions should be taken into account. In this sense, it is expected that this work guides civil engineers and builders to search for new materials in order to reduce the effects of urbanization on the local climate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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Review

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22 pages, 1105 KiB  
Review
Utilization of Industrial By-Products/Waste to Manufacture Geopolymer Cement/Concrete
by Numanuddin M. Azad and S.M. Samindi M.K. Samarakoon
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 873; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13020873 - 16 Jan 2021
Cited by 51 | Viewed by 6733
Abstract
There has been a significant movement in the past decades to develop alternative sustainable building material such as geopolymer cement/concrete to control CO2 emission. Industrial waste contains pozzolanic minerals that fulfil requirements to develop the sustainable material such as alumino-silicate based geopolymer. [...] Read more.
There has been a significant movement in the past decades to develop alternative sustainable building material such as geopolymer cement/concrete to control CO2 emission. Industrial waste contains pozzolanic minerals that fulfil requirements to develop the sustainable material such as alumino-silicate based geopolymer. For example, industrial waste such as red mud, fly ash, GBFS/GGBS (granulated blast furnace slag/ground granulated blast furnace slag), rice husk ash (RHA), and bagasse ash consist of minerals that contribute to the manufacturing of geopolymer cement/concrete. A literature review was carried out to study the different industrial waste/by-products and their chemical composition, which is vital for producing geopolymer cement, and to discuss the mechanical properties of geopolymer cement/concrete manufactured using different industrial waste/by-products. The durability, financial benefits and sustainability aspects of geopolymer cement/concrete have been highlighted. As per the experimental results from the literature, the cited industrial waste has been successfully utilized for the synthesis of dry or wet geopolymers. The review revealed that that the use of fly ash, GBFS/GGBS and RHA in geopolymer concrete resulted high compressive strength (i.e., 50 MPa–70 MPa). For high strength (>70 MPa) achievement, most of the slag and ash-based geopolymer cement/concrete in synergy with nano processed waste have shown good mechanical properties and environmental resistant. The alkali-activated geopolymer slag, red mud and fly ash based geopolymer binders give a better durability performance compared with other industrial waste. Based on the sustainability indicators, most of the geopolymers developed using the industrial waste have a positive impact on the environment, society and economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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Review
Mechanical Properties and Durability of Polypropylene and Steel Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Aggregates Concrete (FRRAC): A Review
by Peng Zhang, Yonghui Yang, Juan Wang, Shaowei Hu, Meiju Jiao and Yifeng Ling
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9509; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229509 - 15 Nov 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3653
Abstract
With the development of concrete engineering, a large amount of construction, demolition, excavation waste (CDEW) has been produced. The treated CDEW can be used as recycled aggregate to replace natural aggregate, which can not only reduce environmental pollution and construction-related resource waste caused [...] Read more.
With the development of concrete engineering, a large amount of construction, demolition, excavation waste (CDEW) has been produced. The treated CDEW can be used as recycled aggregate to replace natural aggregate, which can not only reduce environmental pollution and construction-related resource waste caused by CDEW, but also save natural resources. However, the mechanical properties and durability of Recycled Aggregates Concrete (RAC) are generally worse than that of ordinary concrete. Various fiber or mineral materials are usually used in RAC to improve the mechanical properties and durability of the matrix. In RAC, polypropylene (PP) fiber and steel fiber (SF) are two kinds most commonly used fiber materials, which can enhance the strength and toughness of RAC and compensate the defects of RAC to some extent. In this paper, the literature on PP fiber- and SF-reinforced RAC (FRRAC) is reviewed, with a focus on the consistence, mechanical performance (compressive strength, tensile strength, stress–strain relationship, elastic modulus, and shear strength), durability (water absorption, chloride permeability, carbonation, freeze–thaw cycling, and shrinkage), and microstructure. The research findings regarding FRRAC were analyzed and compared. The results showed that adding mineral additives and fiber in RAC had a good synergistic effect, which made FRRAC have good mechanical properties, high durability and high temperature resistance, and several application prospects. The information and summary presented in this paper exhibit new knowledge and information on the application of FRRAC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Construction and Building Materials for Environment)
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