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Green Paths towards High-Performance Sustainable Concrete and Cement Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (6 May 2024) | Viewed by 6781

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, ISISE, ARISE, Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: concrete; concrete durability; concrete admixtures; life-cycle assessment; LCA; sustainability; cement materials

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, ISISE, ARISE, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: structural analysis safety; structural engineering; safety and reliability; predictive modeling; mechanical testing; mechanical characterization; mechanical properties; civil engineering; earthquake engineering; construction; building; construction materials; building materials; civil engineering materials; concrete technologies; nondestructive testing
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A global imperative for sustainable construction has emerged as a pressing issue, standing at a pivotal moment that calls for immediate action. Fortunately, the introduction of eco-friendly materials has simultaneously revolutionized conventional concrete and cement materials and transcended the boundaries of traditional construction practices towards a greener future. Safeguarding the delicate ecosystem and pursuing the development of high-performance concrete and cementitious materials are fundamental twofold missions that must be considered comprehensively. The current Special Issue aims to gather novel approaches towards sustainable concrete and collect assessments of their implementation level. Minimizing carbon footprints, controlling energy consumption, and reducing dependence on finite raw material resources are continuously pursued towards sustainability by reusing and recycling unconventional materials. This pursuit could entail the deliberate substitution of conventional mix design materials for green materials like non-potable water and recycled materials instead of cement and aggregates without compromising strength and durability properties. The critical importance of these eco-friendly strategies lies not only in their positive impact on the environment but also in their potential economic benefits. These green paths are capable of being environmentally and economically viable and scalable, and their considerations towards widespread adaptation and integration are requisite.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:  low-cement concrete, concrete sustainability, concrete durability, sustainability, green construction, and sustainable cement materials.

I/We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Elisabete R. Teixeira
Dr. Hélder Sousa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.longhoe.net 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
  • green construction
  • concrete properties
  • green materials
  • cement materials

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

30 pages, 2163 KiB  
Review
Geopolymer Cement in Pavement Applications: Bridging Sustainability and Performance
by Jacob O. Ikotun, Gbenga E. Aderinto, Makungu M. Madirisha and Valentine Y. Katte
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5417; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135417 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 3833
Abstract
Abstract: Sustainability and the quest for a more robust construction material cannot be divorced from each other. While Portland cement has revolutionized the construction sector, its environmental toll, particularly in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, cannot be ignored. Addressing this dilemma [...] Read more.
Abstract: Sustainability and the quest for a more robust construction material cannot be divorced from each other. While Portland cement has revolutionized the construction sector, its environmental toll, particularly in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, cannot be ignored. Addressing this dilemma requires embracing alternatives like geopolymer cement/geopolymer binder (GPC/GPB). Over the last few decades, considerable strides have been achieved in advancing GPC as a sustainable construction material, including its utilization in pavement construction. Despite these advances, gaps still exist in GPC optimal potential in pavement construction, as most studies have concentrated on specific attributes rather than on a comprehensive evaluation. To bridge this gap, this review adopts a novel, holistic approach by integrating environmental impacts with performance metrics. To set the stage, this review first delves into the geopolymer concept from a chemistry perspective, providing an essential broad overview for exploring GPC’s innovations and implications in pavement applications. The findings reveal that GPC not only significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption compared to Portland cement but also enhances pavement performance. Further, GPC concrete pavement exhibits superior mechanical, durability, and thermal properties to ensure its long-term performance in pavement applications. However, challenges to GPC utilization as a pavement material include the variability of raw materials, the need for suitable hardeners, the lack of standardized codes and procedures, cost competitiveness, and limited field data. Despite these challenges, the process of geopolymerization presents GPC as a sustainable material for pavement construction, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 9, 11, and 12. Full article
21 pages, 10167 KiB  
Review
Green Concrete with Glass Powder—A Literature Review
by Mohammad Sheikh Hassani, José C. Matos, Yixia Zhang and Elisabete R. Teixeira
Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14864; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014864 - 13 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2524
Abstract
This paper represents a literature review of the effects of partially replacing cement with glass powder in concrete production, aiming to provide an enhanced elucidation of 78 published scientific articles between 2015 and 2023. Vigorous inclusion criteria were employed to accomplish this objective, [...] Read more.
This paper represents a literature review of the effects of partially replacing cement with glass powder in concrete production, aiming to provide an enhanced elucidation of 78 published scientific articles between 2015 and 2023. Vigorous inclusion criteria were employed to accomplish this objective, such as focusing only on glass powder usage instead of cement, considering both conventional and unconventional concretes, and summarizing the physical, mechanical, durability, and morphological characteristics. It has been attempted not only to discuss the factors that contribute to similarities and differences but also to interpret associations and concerns as well as propose future research directions based on the identified gaps. The literature review reveals that using glass powder looks captivating and has higher mechanical and durability properties with environmentally friendly advantages simultaneously due to its filler and pozzolanic characteristics, especially in smaller sizes. The findings of this study are expected to promote sustainable and environmentally conscious practices beyond the current scope of research. Full article
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