bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Structural Potential of Nonconventional Material Alternatives in Shear Walls
Authors: Qureshi Mohammad Haseeb , Nawaz Sarosh Raja , Vakili Amirhosein , Kioumarsi Mahdi , Shafei Behrouz
Published: January 2025

Shear walls are fundamental structural elements within mid- and high-rise buildings, mitigating lateral forces such as wind and seismic forces. In recent years, numerous research endeavors have emerged, focusing on the integration of non-conventional materials such as ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) into shear wall construction, as alternatives to conventional materials. Despite the known strength-increasing benefits, there were questions regarding the design requirements, structural performance characteristics, and sustainability of this novel type of shear wall. This study aims to assess the benefits of employing UHPC, in contrast to conventional materials like normal strength concrete (NSC). The analysis consisted of a nonlinear static (pushover) analysis applied to two verified finite element models representing conventional and nonconventional materials. The results indicate that UHPC outperforms its counterpart in damage tolerance and load-bearing capacity. Additionally, an assessment was conducted to determine if increasing the thickness of the NSC shear wall could reach UHPC's performance. The results confirmed that even with enhanced thickness, NSC lagged significantly behind UHPC in performance metrics, thus offering a reliable material choice for structural applications that involve extreme loading effects.
Framework for Quality Documentation for Reusing Structural Timber Components
Authors: Janjua Hussna Satar , Al-Shorayer Amne Haura , Grimsmo Erik Løhre , Kraniotis Dimitrios , Tadayon Allen
Published: January 2025

The reuse of structural timber has emerged as a promising opportunity in Norway with significant potential to shape the future of construction projects. This sustainable initiative decreases waste and contributes to carbon sequestration, eventually reducing the environmental impact. This chapter focuses on the development of procedures for quality documentation related to the reuse of load-bearing building components and elements made of timber. Recent legislative changes have opened the door to such practices, but the challenge lies in the practical preparation of the necessary documentation to meet regulatory requirements. In this chapter, we have created a detailed flowchart to help navigate the process of reusing structural timber. The flowchart was conceptualized based on a literature study, a document study, and a series of semi-structured interviews with participants from the Norwegian construction industry. This research highlights the flowchart’s alignment with circular economy principles, leading to reductions in waste generation and energy consumption associated with timber production. These findings establish the importance of accurate documentation as an important step towards achieving the goal of reducing the construction industry’s environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Structural Analysis of Glulam Frame of a Modular Timber–Aluminium Hybrid Façade System in Nordic Climate
Authors: Ostapska Katarzyna , Brozovsky Johannes , Valiukas Domas , Tinginys Eimantas
Published: January 2025

This article presents the results of mechanical testing and structural analysis of the glulam frame supporting novel external façade envelope elements made of aluminium, glass, and insulation. The glulam frame forms the basic structural support for the new modular hybrid façade system, an industrial product designed by STATICUS company with an aim at reducing environmental impact. The ultimate and serviceability limit states are considered to assess the durability of the design in terms of possible deformations affecting air and moisture tightness as well as the level of stresses leading to potential damage accumulations and fatigue. The analysis combines the horizontal environmental loads, that is, wind loads over 4 years of real wind speed data in 2021–2023 together with the permanent self-weight loads for the representative mid-rise building in different characteristic coastal locations in Norway: Oslo, Trondheim, and Tromsø. The constructed load models are applied to the geometrically non-linear numerical mechanical model of the glulam frame. Explicit modelling of the screw connections in the frame was validated by static mechanical testing in a laboratory set-up. Continuum elements with an orthotropic material model are used for wood. The stress level in reference to the ultimate strength was established for all wind loads and characteristic failure mode was identified as local compression perpendicular to grain in the screw connection. The mechanical fatigue life of the glulam frame is estimated at a minimum of 32 years (Tromsø) and a maximum of over 100 years (Oslo, Trondheim) based on the calculated stress level and real expected number of cycles of loading over the service life.
Influence of Openings on Seismic Failure Mechanism of URM Infilled RC Hill Buildings
Authors: Naorem Z. , Haldar P.
Published: January 2025

Seismic risk associated with the hilly and mountainous region of the Indian Himalayas is immensely high owing to a combination of the extremely high seismicity of the region and the vulnerability of the irregular buildings constructed on sloping terrain. Scientific studies on the seismic vulnerability of such buildings are performed on either bare frame or fully infilled buildings without considering openings in the infill panels for doors and windows. However, presence of openings plays an important role in the overall seismic performance. The present study aims to understand the effects of openings on the dynamic properties of unreinforced masonry (URM) infilled RC buildings constructed on sloping terrains such as the modal properties and fundamental period of vibration. Various opening ratios are considered as per construction practices in India, and the dynamic properties are compared with those of fully infilled buildings. A comparison of dynamic properties revealed that the period of vibration increases and the modal participation ratio corresponding to the fundamental mode of vibration decreases with an increase in the opening ratio. The displacement at the roof of the buildings was also found to increase with an increase in the opening ratio and the maximum displacement was found to be 25–63% higher as compared to fully infilled buildings depending on the opening ratio. Non-linear dynamic analysis has been performed to identify and compare key structural parameters responsible for the collapse of hill buildings with varying opening ratios.
Transforming Asphalt Quality Evaluation: A Digital Twin Exploration Using Microcomputer Tomography and MATLAB Analysis
Authors: Kassem Aya , Dongmo-Engeland Berthe
Published: January 2025

This chapter explores a groundbreaking shift in the evaluation of asphalt pavements by investigating the potential of digital twin technology as an alternative to traditional laboratory tests. Focusing on two road sections, namely national road 4 at Gjøvik and E-road 6 at Tretten in Norway, both featuring the same asphalt type Stone mastic asphalt (SMA) 16 PmB, the study conducts a comparative analysis of air voids and resistance to permanent deformation. A total of 12 asphalt samples were extracted, and digital twins were generated utilizing microcomputer tomography alongside a MATLAB script for 3D visualization and analysis.

The research method involved validating the digital twin results against outcomes obtained from standardized laboratory tests. The findings suggest that the digital twin approach not only yields accurate assessments of air void quantity and distribution but also provides unique insights into the internal microstructure of asphalt. This transformative methodology presents a promising avenue for the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) to enhance efficiency and precision in asphalt quality evaluations, signaling a potential paradigm shift in pavement assessment practices.
Life Cycle Carbon Assessment Methods for Structural Materials in Bridges
Authors: Sterpellone Alessandro , Christensen Randi , Bæksted Arne Frederiksen , Lange Julie Rønholt
Published: January 2025

As an engineering consultancy company involved in large infrastructure projects globally, COWI has the responsibility of recommending the use of materials that are suitable for the projects that match the sustainability ambitions of both client and COWI and, more importantly, that contribute to shaping a sustainable and livable world. This requires us to develop a clear understanding on how to account for the carbon profile of wood as a construction material.

This study was thus conducted internally across different departments to determine what methodological choices can provide a solid comparison on the life cycle carbon performance of wood as a primary construction material in large infrastructure. Three different life cycle assessment (LCA) studies were conducted to compare a timber road bridge designed by COWI against a more traditional reinforced concrete design, and differences in the options’ climate impact across the three different methodologies were observed.
Numerical Modeling of the pH Effect on the Calcium Carbonate Precipitation by Sporosarcina pasteurii
Authors: Khoshtinat Shiva , Marano Claudia
Published: January 2025

During the past two decades, exploiting the metabolic processes (urease activity) of some microorganisms that lead to the precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a sustainable solution for producing self-healing cementitious materials in the construction industry has gained significant interest. Despite extensive efforts for experimental characterization of the effect of various influential factors such as the type of bacteria, urea and calcium concentration, temperature, and pH of the environment governing this phenomenon, the numerical modeling of this biochemical process has not advanced substantially due to its complexity and intertwined involved parameters. Among these influential parameters, pH is of considerable importance, as the initial pH level has an immediate effect on the urease activity of the bacteria, which subsequently affects the rate at which calcium carbonate precipitates. Additionally, during the CaCO3 precipitation process, pH fluctuates due to the production of by-products, such as ammonium, altering continuously the velocity of the bacteria’s urease activity.

This chapter presents a numerical modeling for the CaCO3 precipitation by urease activity of Sporosarcina pasteurii via COMSOL Multiphysics®. The model considers the influence of calcium and urea concentrations and the initial pH level along with pH variations resulting from the production of by-products throughout the process. The model’s ability to predict CaCO3 content and the final pH level is assessed by comparing the computational results with experimental data from existing literature. Finally, a parametric analysis investigating the impact of the initial pH on the anticipated ultimate pH is presented.
Exploring Urban Mobility Trends Using Cellular Network Data
Authors: Yusuf Oluwaleke , Rasheed Adil , Lindseth Frank
Published: January 2025

The growth of urban areas intensifies the need for sustainable, efficient transportation infrastructure and mobility systems, driving initiatives to enhance infrastructure and public transit while reducing traffic congestion and emissions. By utilizing real-world data, a data-driven approach can provide crucial insights for urban mobility planning and decision-making. This study explores the efficacy of leveraging telecoms data from cellular network signals for studying crowd movement patterns, focusing on Trondheim, Norway. It examines routing reports to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of various transportation routes and modes. A data preprocessing and feature engineering framework was developed to process raw routing reports for historical analysis. This enabled the examination of geospatial trends and temporal patterns, including a comparative analysis of various transportation modes, along with public transit usage. Specific routes and areas were analyzed in-depth to compare their mobility patterns with the broader city context. The study highlights the potential of cellular network data as a resource for shaping urban transportation and mobility systems. By identifying deficiencies and potential improvements, city planners and stakeholders can foster more sustainable and effective transportation and mobility solutions.
Understanding Carbon-Negative Potential of Hempcrete Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach
Authors: Shanbhag Sejal Sanjay , Dixit Manish Kumar
Published: January 2025

Recognizing climate change’s severity, reducing the construction industry’s greenhouse gas emissions is crucial in material science, architecture, civil engineering, and construction science. Novel bio-based materials like hempcrete are being developed to lessen the environmental impact of construction. Hempcrete, increasingly used in traditional and advanced construction like large-scale 3D printing, is considered carbon-negative due to the biogenic and sequestered carbon of its components. Given the high carbon footprint of Portland cement, hempcrete offers a sustainable alternative for emerging construction technologies. However, hempcrete’s carbon neutrality or negativity depends on the hemp and lime content in the mix. A thorough Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), therefore, becomes important to understand carbon negativity potential of this material. In this paper, we present the results of a cradle-to-gate LCA of hempcrete mixes that have been proposed and examined in empirical studies. The LCA also includes a process-based hybrid cradle-to-gate impact assessment of hemp produced in the United States. The results indicate that the total global warming potential of hemp is roughly −1.72 kgCO2e/kg, and carbon negativity can only be reached with at least 20% of hemp by weight in the hempcrete mix. Findings also show that consideration of carbon absorption of lime binder is essential to reach carbon negativity. Our results further indicate that a balance of carbon negativity and hempcrete’s compressive strength will be more desirable to address both climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Framework for Combined Life Cycle Environmental, Economic, and Social Assessment of Reclaimed Construction Products
Authors: Vandervaeren Camille , Fufa Selamawit Mamo , Elginoz Nilay
Published: January 2025

A relevant approach to limit virgin materials consumption and waste in the construction industry is to use reclaimed construction products. Their sustainability performance depends on various parameters, including the activities needed to reuse them. Currently, the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of reclaimed products is conducted following various methods and assumptions, which are not always transparently communicated. There is also limited consideration of other sustainability indicators beyond initial cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, we developed a harmonized Excel-based LCSA framework for evaluating and comparing side-by-side the life cycle environmental (LCA), economic (LCC), and social (S-LCA) impacts of reclaimed and new construction products. This chapter presents the LCSA framework and how it can be applied in practice, with the comparative evaluation of a pavement in Oslo, Norway, with new and reclaimed paving stones. The LCSA framework shows it is possible to harmonize the various assessment methods and expand the scope of product assessment from purely GHG emissions to overall sustainability. The results of the pavement assessment show that reuse can bring lower environmental and social impacts, although it currently costs more to the user. The LCSA framework can be tested by experts in one or more life cycle approaches to guide different actors in the reuse value chain (e.g., product resellers and architects).
The Renaissance of Reuse in Norway: The Future Is Back
Authors: Kallaos James , Vandervaeren Camille
Published: January 2025

Society has historically valued labor and resources, including the intermediate and end products produced through them. Discarding these artifacts was seen as squandering valuable effort and resources, and waste was historically an activity to be avoided. This tradition was rapidly lost in many western countries, replaced by a more rapid linear approach whereby materials quickly went from cradle to grave in a linear system or economy. There has been a recent revival of the idea of moving back from this modern linear model, however, with increasing pressures from environmental degradation, climate change, material scarcity, and population growth. The recent resurgence in interest in circularity in Norway is assessed with an eye toward potential pitfalls, based on the past 75 years of modern building methods. How can society expect to move away from the linear approach if the buildings themselves were created within that paradigm?
Assessing the Environmental Benefit of Circular Economy Decisions for Managing Waste in Road Construction: The Norwegian GoGreen Case Study
Authors: O’Born Reyn , Vetnes Alexander
Published: January 2025

Circular construction is a branch of circular economy (CE) that seeks to reduce the environmental impacts in the built environment through intelligent, sustainable, and circular practices. Examples such as design for reuse, use of recycled materials, and regenerative infrastructure are nascent concepts within the construction industry, as most focus is directed towards buildings with less focus given to other forms of infrastructure, especially roads. A pilot project, known as GoGreen, has been developed for a Norwegian highway project, where materials from demolition are recovered and sorted on the construction site and sent for recycling. While construction projects typically recover less than 40% of waste, GoGreen uses careful planning and implementation to recover nearly 100% of waste materials for recycling. In this chapter, we investigate the circular concepts implemented in the Betna-Hesnes highway project to understand if the choices made lead to lower emissions and to help understand the scale and relevance of these actions as part of larger infrastructure projects. Through the use of life cycle assessment (LCA), we have analysed the processes for collecting, sorting, and recycling materials on the Betna-Hesnes project to understand the overall environmental footprint and attempt to quantify the impact of circular activities. The overall environmental benefit from the GoGreen tent was approximately 89 tons of CO2-equivalents saved. The results of this study will be useful for policymakers and actors within the construction industry to give greater insight into what actions can lead to the best environmental outcome and to push the road construction industry towards greater circularity.
Three-Dimensional Printing of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Materials
Authors: Alam Shaurav , Gordon Stephen , Bassett Blake , Cobb Kevin , Jefferson Brandon , Nwoha Nnamdi , Manzur Tanvir , Crittenden Kelly , Matthews John
Published: January 2025

This research aims to design and develop a proof-of-concept system for three-dimensional (3D) printing of fly ash-based geopolymer materials. The primary focus of this research was designing and creating a 3D printer capable of printing straight multi-layered geopolymer walls. The geopolymer mixture consists of fly ash, an industrial waste by-product, sand, sodium silicate, sodium hydroxide, and water. Through the controlled application of AC voltage, the natural resistance of the geopolymer causes heat generation through a phenomenon known as ohmic heating. This heating method rapidly cures the geopolymer in as little as five (5) minutes based on volume. Several off-the-shelf 3D printer designs were studied to understand the working principle, and ultimately, the final design was developed based on the necessary design criteria. This design allowed the printer to extrude geopolymer through a rotating auger assembly. Parallel copper electrodes mounted at the end of the extruder allow AC voltage to apply through the uncured geopolymer and heat it as it is extruded. Following many trials, the developed printer provided proof of concept for a viable electrically heated rapid-setting geopolymer 3D-printed wall. This design effectively demonstrates that with further development, the 3D printing of geopolymer can potentially serve as an eco-friendly alternative to 3D-printed concrete.
Compressive Characteristics of Perforated Re-entrant Auxetic Steel Honeycomb–Mortar Composite
Authors: Momoh Emmanuel Owoichoechi , Hajsadeghi Mohammad , Jayasinghe Amila , Vinai Raffaele , Kripakaran Prakash , Orr John , Evans Ken E.
Published: January 2025

The possibility of achieving auxetic behaviour in conventional materials is currently attracting significant research interests in the form of auxetically enhanced cementitious composites and, especially, in re-entrant honeycomb structures. Most studies on the behaviour of re-entrant steel honeycomb auxetic reinforcement for concrete focus on achieving uniplanar auxetic behaviour perpendicular to the direction of loading. This study focuses on investigating multi-planar auxetic behaviour throughout the composite. The auxetic behaviour was achieved by perforating the steel sheets before making the re-entrant honeycomb structures. The re-entrant honeycomb was fabricated by folding mild steel strips 70 mm wide into a re-entrant profile and welding the strips onto one another. Three types of perforations were investigated, representing three categories of samples: circular perforation, orthogonal elliptic perforations and orthogonal peanut perforations. The perforated samples were compared to the non-perforated re-entrant honeycomb (control) through compression strength tests of the composites. Direct tension tests were also carried out on each steel strip in order to understand their respective stress–strain behaviour. The study demonstrates that perforating the re-entrant honeycomb walls could be a simple method for achieving multi-planar auxetic behaviour in re-entrant steel honeycomb-reinforced cementitious composites.
Scaling Effect on Mechanical Property of Calcium Silicate Hydrate in Cement Using Reactive Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Cao Jie , Wang Chao , Gonzalez-Libreros Jaime , Tu Yongming , Elfgren Lennart , Sas Gabriel
Published: January 2025

Molecular dynamics simulations have been increasingly employed to investigate the mechanical properties of cement hydrates at the nanoscale. This technique deepens the understanding of cement-based materials, yet correlating these nanoscale findings with larger scale experiments remains a challenge, particularly due to scaling effects. This study focuses on the scaling impact on calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). Two types of C-S-H models were constructed: one with defective silicate chains and the other without. Each model includes three sub-models of varying sizes. Under uniaxial tension along silicon chain direction, the stress and strain responses were recorded. The results show that at the nanoscale, model correction such as silicon chain breakage has a greater impact on the elastic modulus and tensile strength than model size. Additionally, the stress–strain curve obtained during the tension process needs to be corrected before comparison with stress–strain on other scales. The findings provide crucial insights into the mechanical behavior of C-S-H at the nanoscale and offer a theoretical basis for bridging the gap between nanoscale simulations and larger scale experimental results.
Exploring the Impact of Silica-Rich Calcined Clay as Portland Cement Additive to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Authors: Meddah Mohammed Seddik , Najjar Ola
Published: January 2025

Local clay, characterized, ground, and burnt, was used to partially substitute ordinary Portland cement (OPC) for mortar production. The raw clay burning was optimized to guarantee the lowest possible environmental effect with the highest possible reactivity of the calcined clay Fanja (CCF). The obtained clay pozzolana was used in mortar at (0–30%) proportions to partially replace OPC. The blended mortar was evaluated at fresh and hardened states, including the flow, compressive strength, and durability properties.

The findings show a decrease in the mortar’s flow, while the various CCF contents enhanced the compressive strength. Meanwhile, the mortar’s porosity and permeability decreased. The blended CCF mortars showed an impressive resistance to chloride compared to the plain mortar. Apart from its noteworthy mortar’s mechanical and durability performance improvements, the developed cementitious system is more cost-effective and environment-friendly compared to the control. This research advocates for using locally sourced, eco-friendly construction materials, as they enhance building performance and longevity and have minimal adverse effects on the environment and ecosystem.
Performance Evaluation of the Quantification of Cement Microphases Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy Imaging
Authors: Silva Anuradha , Baduge Shanaka , Mendis Priyan
Published: January 2025

Cement manufacturing is one of the widest industries in the world and yet largely contributes to the global CO2 emissions. As a result, introducing low carbon sustainable concrete designs without compromising performance has become one of the greatest challenges over the last few decades. This complexity was majorly caused by heterogeneity of concrete due to the existence of cementitious particles, fibers, or fine filler materials. Further, this multi-scale material heterogeneity of concrete influences the performance of concrete at macro levels and makes it more complicated to understand the hydration behaviors. Macroscale trial and error-based mechanical property testing might not always be the feasible way to find the optimum mix designs, because those techniques cannot quantify the root cause relationship to the microstructure. Therefore, microscale quantitative chemical and mechanical characterizations pave the way for cement to upscale strength from microlevel to structural level using strength homogenization, revealing the compositional characteristics which contributed to the strength variation in any novel cement mix. Since microphase identification is crucial to achieve that task, in this study, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) together with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to quantify the hydration of an ultra-high-performance cement paste at microlevel. The image analysis is carried out using the mapping data collected from four different locations of the same cement batch, and the accuracy of the hydration quantification is compared with an independent analytical hydration simulation software, Virtual Cement and Concrete Testing Laboratory (VCCTL) by NIST.
Effect of Discarded Rubber Tire Crumbs and Tile Ceramic Waste Powder on Workability and Strength Properties of Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Faridmehr Iman , Huseien Ghasan Fahim , Baghban Mohammad Hajmohammadian , Lund Håvard
Published: January 2025

Currently, geopolymers are introduced as sustainable construction materials with high durability performance and lower carbon dioxide emission. This experimental work prepared geopolymer concrete specimens with 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70% of tile ceramic waste powder (TCWPs) as ground blast furnace slag (GBFS) replacement. Then, the natural coarse and fine aggregates, including crushed stone and river sand, were replaced by 10, 20, and 30 vol% of discarded rubber tire crumbs (DRTCs). The effect of TCWPs and DRTCs inclusion on the geopolymer matrix workability, compressive strength, and splitting tensile and flexural strengths are assessed. From the results obtained, it was found that the content of TCWPs and DRTCs significantly influences the proposed geopolymer’s workability. The results show the increasing content of TCWPs as GBFS replacement led to improved concrete workability. However, the utilization of DRTCs as natural aggregate replacements negatively affects slump value and workability, with a trend to decrease with increasing replacement levels. Moreover, the results show an inverse relationship between TCWPs and DRTCs content and strength development of proposed concrete. The loss in strength was found to increase with increasing content of both TCWPs and DRTCs. However, the investigated geopolymer concrete achieved acceptable compressive strength (more than 25 MPa), which can be considered for many applications in construction sectors. It is shown that using TCWPs and DRTCs in geopolymer production can help produce construction materials with reduced environmental impacts, including carbon emissions and landfill problems.
Effects of Low-Carbon Binders on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Biobased Insulation Materials
Authors: Affan Houssam , El Haddaji Badreddine , Khadraoui Fouzia
Published: January 2025

The impact of climate change has prompted government authorities to implement regulations aimed at reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The construction industry holds a prominent position among the major greenhouse gas emitters, contributing a large amount of global energy consumption. A significant portion of these emissions is attributed to heating. In response to these challenges, the use of biobased materials emerges as a solution. In this context, this study aims to assess the impact of low-carbon binders on the mechanical and thermal properties of biobased insulation materials. Binders such as natural prompt cement and natural air lime CAEB CL 90-S are considered sustainable, low-carbon alternatives. The results highlight that hempcrete (cement/hemp) exhibits enhanced mechanical strength with a 0.80 MPa at 28 days and low thermal conductivity with a value of 0.12 W/(m·k). In comparison, hempcrete with lime exhibits lower mechanical strength (0.4 MPa) and thermal conductivity (0.20 W/(m·k)) at 28 days and flax shives with both binders. In a parallel manner, it is observed that the compressive strength of flax shives, when combined with both binders, is inferior to that of cement/hemp. Simultaneously, the thermal conductivity of flax shives with both binders surpasses that of cement/hemp.
Increasing the Incorporation of CO2-Sequestering Materials in Concrete
Authors: Mezhov Alexander , Asante Bright , Schmidt Wolfram
Published: January 2025

There are different ways to reduce the CO2 amounts emitted from concrete production, e.g., carbon capture during the cement production, application of low-clinker binders, or changing the structural design strategies to decrease the total consumption of overall materials. Another vital approach is to foster the application of locally available resources, which does not require a significant amount of energy for the production and transport, and which could be used as cementitious materials without compromising the properties of the concrete. Biochar, produced by pyrolysis, is a potentially promising material for improving the sustainability of cementitious materials as it can sequester CO2 and can be made widely available. However, its use in concrete is limited due to negative effects on concrete properties at dosages that can have a significant effect on the carbon footprint. These effects depend on the source of raw biomass and pyrolysis conditions. Biochar’s high porosity leads to the absorption of mixing water, altering the water to cement ratio and rheology. Superplasticizers can help adjust this, but at the cost of longer setting times. High levels of biochar also reduce the mechanical properties of cement-based materials. Currently, the maximum replacement of cement with biochar without compromising mechanical properties is 5–10%. However, to increase the CO2 reduction potential, the content of biochar in cement-based materials must be increased. The current paper suggests possible strategies to promote the use of biochar in cementitious materials to increase its CO2 reduction potential and pave the way to net-zero concrete technologies.
Optimization of Nativo Wood Fibre Insulation Board Through LCA Analysis
Authors: La Rosa Angela Daniela , Thomassen Gaute , Erlandsen Petter
Published: January 2025

A previous LCA study on the insulation products has led to some uncertainty on the resulting Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification obtained by Hunton Fiber AS in Norway. There are certain themes included in the existing LCA which contain larger uncertainties than others. The bulk of uncertainties are related to allocation of impacts stemming from the phase of extraction and production of raw materials (A1), impacts from the transportation of raw materials (A2) and impacts of different scenarios of waste processing (C3). Goal of this study is to address these uncertainties by investigating (i) different scenarios for allocation of impacts from raw materials (wood chips), (ii) the impact of different modes of transportation of raw materials and (iii) different waste treatment scenarios. A comparative analysis of different LCA scenarios was assessed focused on the product’s impact on climate change and results are taken by the company as useful suggestions for future decisions.
Dynamic Characterization of Indian Pond Ash Through Cyclic Simple Shear Tests
Authors: Sireesha Ghanta Naga , Raychowdhury Prishati
Published: January 2025

India depends heavily on coal-based thermal power plants for its energy requirements, with as much as 75% of all installed power production capacity sourced from coal-based plants. Although the country is gradually moving towards non-conventional and renewable energy sources, still the dependency on coal-based energy is significant to date. Some recent studies have indicated that by 2030, the country will be in need of more than 1340 MT coal for power generation annually. The average ash production is 33% of coal consumed, which in turn implies that nearly 437 MT of annual ash production. To reduce this disposal problem and the construction cost of engineering structures, pond ash is nowadays encouraged to be widely used as a geotechnical fill material in various infrastructure, in particular highway construction. However, there is significant research gap regarding understanding the behaviour of pond ash, particularly under repetitive cyclic loading, vehicle-induced vibratory loading, and earthquake-induced high-intensity and high-frequency transient loadings. The present study focuses on experimentally investigating the cyclic behaviour of pond ash samples under various confining pressures and strain levels and relative densities. The pond ash sample was collected from the nearby Parichha Thermal Power Plant located in Jhansi town in Uttar Pradesh, India. A series of element-level strain-controlled cyclic simple shear tests have been conducted for this purpose, apart from physical characteristic tests, compaction test, permeability tests, and direct shear tests on pond ash. The dynamic shear modulus was observed to be highly sensitive to the change in confining pressure, showing an increase of about 34% when the confining pressure was increased from 100 kPa to 200 kPa. For subjected to higher strain amplitude, the ash material showed softer behaviour with faster degradation in strength and stiffness and increased vulnerability for liquefaction related failure.
Analysis of the Mechanical Behavior of Rammed Earth Mixes Using Soft Computing Methods with an Emphasis on Sustainability
Authors: Baibordy Aryan , Yekrangnia Mohammad , Khodabakhshian Fatemeh
Published: January 2025

The construction industry is expected to be transformed due to its significant contribution to the consumption of natural resources, emissions, and solid waste. Despite its slow progression in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), in recent years, engineers have been adopting several techniques to address sustainability issues. Among the available sustainable construction techniques, the utilization of earthen materials, particularly rammed earth, which has been adapted from historical practices, has attracted significant attention from the public. Notwithstanding being recognized as a sustainable technique, its compressive strength is not on par with certain applicable construction materials, especially concrete. Therefore, its compressive strength remains a controversial issue. In the first place, this study performs a sentiment analysis using an NLP-based tool to assess the public’s comments and sentiments toward implementing sustainable techniques in the construction industry. In the second place, through a bibliometric study, the trends and gaps in rammed earth research are studied. In the third place, this research article employs soft computing methods such as ANN and DT and data science principles so as to predict and analyze the mechanical behavior, particularly compressive strength, of both unstabilized- and stabilized-rammed earth materials. Finally, the results are compared and critically discussed with an emphasis on sustainability. Overall, this article offers valuable insights into gauging public perception of sustainable construction methods such as rammed earth and exploring the practicality of computer-aided modeling for predicting the mechanical behavior of rammed earth mixtures.
Environmental Impact of Timber Concrete Composites: An Overview
Authors: Dalbiso Alemayehu Darge , Baghban Mohammad Haj Mohammadian
Published: January 2025

Increased attention toward a sustainable built environment has driven the construction industry to utilize new materials such as bio-based materials and composites as an alternative to conventional materials. Timber concrete composite (TCC) structural members address performance challenges of timber construction, offering improved stiffness, sound insulation, fire resistance, and reduced deflection and floor vibration compared to timber elements. Moreover, TCC structures are lighter and have a lower carbon footprint than conventional reinforced concrete elements. Extensive research has been conducted to identify the structural and economic viabilities of TCC. Nevertheless, there is a demand for comprehensive understanding of the environmental impacts of TCC. LCA method is currently being used as an effective tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of alternative building materials. In this study, a systematic investigation on peer-reviewed studies on LCA of TCC elements is performed. It is found that a holistic LCA or life cycle inventory (LCI) study of TCC is not available yet and the studies vary in scope, system boundaries, data sources and indicators in the LCA. The system boundary was set as cradle-to-gate in most studies due to a lack of sufficient data regarding the end-of-life phase. Particularly, there is limited information on the material disposal impacts that will occur some decades later, and the carbon storage potential of timber is often overlooked. In the future, additional studies need to be conducted to comprehensively assess the entire cradle-to-grave cycle to understand the potential environmental impacts of using TCC.
Reducing the Carbon Footprint of New Reinforced Concrete Structures in Aggressive Environments: From Real Experience to Future Applications
Authors: Hernandez Juan Daniel Cassiani , Keßler Sylvia
Published: January 2025

The carbon emissions of future reinforced concrete structures need to be considered throughout their entire life cycle to meet CO2 reduction targets. This is critical for structures exposed to aggressive environments, such as chloride, due to the increased risk of reinforcement corrosion. Premature degradation caused by steel corrosion leads to significant repairs, increasing both the CO2 footprint and also the costs of the structure over its service life. This work proposes a design framework that integrates the laboratory performance concept consigned in the new Eurocode 2 and Sustainability Assessment. The framework’s applicability is demonstrated through a case study inspired by an existing structure. By employing a multi-criteria decision-making method, the proposed framework concurrently considers environmental impact and cost, facilitating the selection of the most balanced alternative in terms of environmental reduction objectives and budget constraints. The results show that appropriately selecting the Exposure Resistance Class leads to more cost-effective and environmentally friendly structures.
Reducing the CO2 Footprint of UHPC Through Portland Cement Substitution
Authors: Lande Ingrid , Sørensen Andrej A. , Hagen Martin , Thorstensen Rein Terje
Published: January 2025

This study focuses on reducing the CO2-eq footprint of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) by substituting Portland cement with alternative binders. Three types of cement types which are pre-accepted in the standard EN 197 were used: CEM I with >95% ordinary Portland cement (OPC), CEM II with 30% ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and CEM II with 70% GGBS. Fresh state consistency, compressive strength, and flexural tensile strength were evaluated, in addition to a comparison of CO2-eq footprints. Results showed that while the compressive strength was brought to the same level for all three mixes when curing at elevated temperatures for a short period, significant reductions in CO2-eq emissions were achieved: up to 60% for UHPC excluding steel fibers and 40% when including 2 vol.% micro steel fibers. The study also highlighted the potential for further improving strength properties by reducing water content in mixes with higher GGBS content. Overall, this research underscores the potential to reduce the environmental impact of UHPC through incorporating alternative materials in UHPC production that are already pre-accepted for industrial use.
The Use of Electrodeposition Technology to Promote Self-Repairing of Cracks in Concrete: A Mini Review
Authors: Alzard Mohammed H. , El-Hassan Hilal
Published: January 2025

Concrete, hailed for its widespread utility in construction, faces intrinsic challenges, primarily its vulnerability to cracking and subsequent degradation. This chapter reviews the evolving landscape of self-healing concrete strategies, spotlighting autogenous, and autonomous healing methodologies while focusing on the emerging electrodeposition technology. The exploration distinguishes autogenous self-repair, which relies on natural processes like continuous hydration and calcium carbonate formation, from autonomous approaches, which employ engineered additives for immediate crack intervention. Detailed insights into autogenous healing mechanisms unravel the role of continuous hydration and calcium carbonate formation in sealing microcracks, albeit with inconsistent outcomes. Limitations in achieving consistent autogenous healing have propelled research into autonomous methods. Notably, electrodeposition technology emerges as a frontrunner, utilizing controlled currents and engineered compounds to fill cracks and shield the concrete from deterioration. This chapter emphasizes electrodeposition’s efficacy, showcasing studies demonstrating its ability to seal cracks of varying widths by depositing compounds like ZnO, Mg(OH)2, and CaCO3. Parameters like current density and immersion solutions significantly influence its efficiency. While promising, the universal application of electrodeposition remains under research, urging further exploration to refine parameters, broaden applicability, and bolster reinforced concrete’s durability. This review encapsulates critical facets of self-healing concrete, particularly highlighting electrodeposition’s potential and ongoing challenges. It aims to pave the way for enhanced concrete resilience and sustainability in construction practices.
Predicting Dry Shrinkage Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Khodabandeh Peyman , Azarhomayun Fazel , Shekarchi Mohammad , Kioumarsi Mahdi
Published: January 2025

Modeling drying shrinkage presents significant challenges due to the complexity and multitude of contributing parameters. This study provides detailed insights into the input requirements and predictive capabilities of established models by leveraging various datasets from the NU-ITI database. Initially, the performance of a shrinkage model was evaluated. The data for a machine learning random forest model included eight variables, interpreted through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), which elucidates the most influential inputs. However, the partial dependency graphs yielded minimal information on their relative impacts. This research demonstrates that enhancements in the random forest model’s predictive accuracy improved shrinkage predictions by 25%. This advancement significantly mitigates potential deviations in anticipated strains and stresses. The findings from this comprehensive analysis facilitate the selection and prediction of drying shrinkage, focusing on the most critical factors to ensure the highest accuracy.
Upcycling of Single-Use Pallet Wood to Cross-Laminated Timber
Authors: Vonk Niels H. , Niederwestberg Jan , Oorschot Ron W. A. , de Jong Jan
Published: January 2025

To reduce the emission of greenhouse gases within the building industry, effort must be put into reducing waste and converting reclaimed materials towards reuse. Within the Netherlands, discarded wood is incinerated for energy generation, releasing the carbon that has been captured during growth. To extend the lifetime and the carbon storage duration and, consequently, improve the environmental performance of “wood waste,” re-use is desired. Hence, the production and structural performance of cross-laminated timber (CLT) made of current wood waste were explored in this study. Single-use pallets were collected and manually disassembled with all fasteners removed. The wood was then finger-jointed, edge-glued, planed, and fabricated into 1.2 × 3 m CLT. In total eight CLT panels were made with different layups, of which three were used in this work. Mechanical testing indicated the potential of the created elements, showing similar performances to new CLT. While the bending tests suffered due to some manufacturing problems, planar shear tests showed good performances, similar to new CLT.
Evaluation of the Compressive Strength of Fly Ash- Based Geopolymer Concrete Using Machine Learning
Authors: Bypour Maryam , Yekrangnia Mohammad , Kioumarsi Mahdi
Published: January 2025

The advancement of geopolymer concrete technology presents a sustainable solution to address the challenges associated with the significant carbon footprint of the construction industry. This research uses machine learning methods to predict the compressive strength of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete using a wide range of experimental results. Furthermore, the effect of different features, including the components of fly ash-based geopolymer concrete, alkaline activator, and other additives, was investigated utilizing Shapley values technique. The results show that both XGBoost and linear regression models can predict the compressive strength of the studied dataset with acceptable accuracy. In XGBoost approach, R2 values for the train and test data were obtained 0.98 and 0.86, respectively, which leads to more accurate results than linear regression method. Additionally, based on the results, MgO is regarded as the most influential factor in compressive strength compared to other investigated features. Furthermore, the concentration of the alkaline activator, NaOH, positively impacts the target value.