The rapid progression in concrete technology and the emphasis on improving the mechanical characteristics and durability of concrete, as well as the need for skilled workers, were key factors that led to the fabrication of self-consolidating concrete (SCC). The primary advantage of SCC is the elimination of vibrations during construction. This experimental study investigates the effect of nano-silica, nano-clay, and micro-silica with ratios of 2% and 4% on the properties of SCC. To reach this aim, rheological tests (flow slump, V-shape funnel, U-shaped box, and L-shaped box tests), mechanical tests (compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength test), and durability tests (freezing, abrasion, and permeability tests) were carried out. The results demonstrated that the mechanical characteristics and durability of the concrete were enhanced by increasing the nano-silica content up to 4% of the cement weight. Also, the increase in the nano-clay content produced suitable results for SCC in terms of mechanical and durability aspects. However, as the nano-material ratio increases, the amount of superplasticizer also increased to ensure the proper workability of the SCC.

The productivity of the construction industry is about half that of the manufacturing industry, and the labor shortage in the construction industry is serious; therefore, improving productivity using information and communication technology (ICT) is an urgent issue. In addition, in civil engineering works, the number of projects that handle multiple types of soil and sand is increasing due to the recycling of construction waste soil; thus, traceability management is important to ensure quality. This paper presents a system that uses sensing on soil-transporting dump trucks and ICT to record which soil was piled up where with the aim of improving the efficiency of traceability management in earthwork construction. This system automatically creates traceability data by linking sensing data and data from the compaction management system via an application. This eliminates the need to record and manage the earthwork location, which was previously required manually to create traceability data, and reduces the labor and manpower required for traceability management. The created traceability data are automatically assigned attribute information such as the construction date and soil information; consequently, they can be used to check the construction history in the future.

The employment of automated non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for crack characterization in concrete, needs calibration and benchmarking in a controlled environment. This requires test specimen with comparable and ideally reproducible cracks. To this end, in this paper a method is presented that aims to mimic cracked concrete specimens with a high degree of control over the resulting crack parameters width, depth and length for material testing and calibration of automated (NDT) methods. The method comprises 3D-printing of formwork with integrated crack patterns. The obtained crack width accuracy is tested by comparing printed cracks and resulting cracks in the concrete with the desired width from the print file. This procedure enables the realization of crack widths ≥ 0.2 mm with a deviation in the range of 25% between desired and resulting crack width. Further, the proposed methodology is independent of intrinsic material properties which enables this accuracy.

Currently, the demand for environmental sustainability options in the construction industry is increasing, especially those related to the correct use of water. The aim of this work is to study different sustainable alternatives that minimize the use of water in cured hydraulic concrete, analyzing the effect of curing on hydration, microstructure, and compressive strength of hydraulic concrete exposed to different curing techniques: Manual Curing, Standard Curing, Vinipel, and Uncured. An experimental study was conducted using 180 cylindrical hydraulic concrete specimens, which were compression-tested at 7, 28, and 56 days. A Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer analysis was carried out to examine the microstructural and compositional changes under the different curing techniques. The results indicate that the Vinipel technique is the best alternative, showing a compressive strength of 35 MPa after 56 days of curing. In general, Vinipel > Standard Curing > Manual Curing > Uncured is the order of strength from highest to lowest. The formation of hydration products was observed in all curing techniques. The presence of ettringite, complementing by abundant portlandite in Vinipel, shows the dominance of an important product in the strength of concrete. The best strength capacity under load and the lowest percentages of vacuum are likely to be favorable for the durability of the processes.

Topographical data are essential for hydrological analysis and can be gathered through on-site surveys, UAVs, or remote sensing methods such as Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). These tools are crucial in hydrological studies for accurately modeling basin morphology and surface stream network patterns. Two different DEMs with resolutions of 0.13 m and 5 m were used, as well as tools which carry out urban basin delineation by analyzing their morphometric parameters to process the hydrography of the study area, using three Geographic Information Systems (GIS): ArcGIS, GlobalMapper, and SAGA GIS. Each piece of software uses different algorithms for the pre-processing of DEMs in the calculation of morphometric parameters of the study area. The results showed variations in the quantity of delineated stream networks between the different GIS tools used, even when using the same DEM. Similarly, the morphometric parameters varied between GIS tools and DEMs, which tells us that the tools and topographic data used are important. The stream network generated using ArcGIS and the DEM obtained with UAV offered a more precise description of surface flow behavior in the study area. Concerning ArcGIS, it can be observed that between the resolutions of the INEGI DEM and the UAV DEM, the delimited area of micro-basin 1 presented a minimum difference of 0.03 km2. In contrast, micro-basin 2 had a more significant difference of 0.16 km2. These discrepancies in results are attributed to the different algorithms used by each piece of software and the resolution of each DEM. Although some studies claim to have obtained the same results using different software and algorithms, in this research, different results were obtained, and emphasize the importance of establishing procedural standards, as they can significantly impact the design of stormwater drainage systems. These comparisons will allow decision-makers to consider these aspects to standardize the tools and topographic data used in urban hydrological analyses.

Rib–deck (RD) welded joints in orthotropic steel bridge decks are prone to different fatigue crack mechanisms. Standard fatigue design methods are inadequate for some of these mechanisms under multiaxial non-proportional loading conditions. This study presents a framework to assess fatigue damage at RD welded joints, considering the different crack mechanisms based on the equivalent structural stress method and its extension to multiaxial non-proportional fatigue, which is the path-dependent maximum stress range (PDMR) cycle counting algorithm. The method is validated for uniaxial loading by using experimental data from the literature. Additionally, non-proportional fatigue damage at RD welded joints of a suspension bridge girder is investigated under simulated random traffic loading. The analyses reveal the limitations of the nominal stress approach to account for complex stress field variations. The PDMR method, more suited to capture the stress path dependency of non-proportional fatigue damage than the hot spot and critical plane-based methods, predicts higher fatigue damage. A comprehensive fatigue test campaign of full-scale RD welded joints is necessary to better understand their fatigue behaviour under multiaxial loading. Until more experimental data are available, the PDMR method is recommended for fatigue verifications of welded RD joints as it yields safer predictions.

Hail causes damage to property, including roofs, automobiles, and crops, with an average annual loss of USD 850 million. In residential structures in the southern U.S., tile roofing systems are common due to their resistance to the impact of hail and their long service life. Commercial low-slope roof systems are equally prone to hail-strike damages as steep residential roof systems. The objective of this paper is to present a literature review, inspection protocol, and case studies on a comparative assessment of the hail threshold for built-up roof (BUR) and tile roof (TR) systems. More than 90 published papers determining the hail impact assessment of different roofing systems from 1969 through 2024 were studied and analyzed. This study develops a comparative hail damage assessment study between BUR and TR systems and provides detailed statistical data and hail thresholds for various built-up roof composition systems. In addition, the different failure modes and their causes, the characteristics of hail impacts, and the variables influencing the impact resistance of these roofing systems were examined using field studies. To better understand the effects, it is recommended that an intelligent model be developed to predict the hail resistance threshold of various configurations of BUR and TR systems with critical variables.

Building information modelling (BIM) is an emerging technology in the building sector. As with any emerging technology, the identification of critical success factors (CSFs) for BIM is essential. On the other hand, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) consistently play a vital role in the construction industry. Therefore, it is essential to determine the critical success elements for the effective implementation of BIM in these companies. Hence, this study aims to determine the CSFs for implementing BIM in SMEs in the developing country of Iran. To accomplish this, three rounds of the Delphi technique were carried out with the participation of fifteen BIM professionals from SMEs based in Iran. According to the Delphi survey findings, a total of 27 CSFs were identified for the effective utilisation of BIM in SMEs. Subsequently, to assess the CSFs, a questionnaire utilising a five-point Likert scale measurement was designed. Then, it was distributed among specialists in construction SMEs in Iran. The questionnaire included twenty-seven factors categorised into four primary groups: technical, managerial, financial, and legal. A total of 56 questionnaires were gathered and examined. The findings indicate that the CSFs highlighted for implementing BIM in SMEs are above the average level. Furthermore, the CSFs with a high impact on successful BIM implementation in construction SMEs in Iran were determined. Four high-impact CSFs are (1) the employer’s demand; (2) understanding the advantages and practicality of implementing BIM; (3) awareness of and ensuring a return on investment; and (4) efficient and suitable legislation. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable resource for stakeholders, providing them with a useful tool to enhance decision-making about the implementation of BIM in SMEs, especially in developing countries.

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) are recognized for their effectiveness in enhancing skid resistance and reducing road accidents. While Epoxy-based HFSTs are widely applied, they present limitations such as compatibility issues with existing pavements, high installation and removal costs, and durability concerns tied to substrate quality. As an alternative to traditional Epoxy-based HFSTs, this study investigated the effects of aggregate gradation as designated by agencies on the performance of asphalt-based HFST. Various aggregate types were assessed to evaluate friction performance and the impact of polishing cycles on non-Epoxy HFST. It was found that adjustments in aggregate size and gradation may be necessary when transitioning to asphalt-based HFSTs, given the different nature of asphalt as more temperature susceptible compared to Epoxy. Various asphalt binder grades were considered in this study. A series of tests, including the British Pendulum Test (BPT), Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT), Circular Track Meter (CTM), Micro-Deval (MD), and Aggregate Imaging Measurement System (AIMS), were conducted to measure Coefficient of Friction (COF), Mean Profile Depth (MPD), texture, and angularity before and after polishing cycles. The results showed that the COF in asphalt-based slabs decreased more significantly than in Epoxy-based slabs as polishing cycles increased for HFST and medium gradations. However, in coarse gradation, the COF of slabs using asphalt-based binder matched or even surpassed that of Epoxy after polishing. Notably, the PG88-16 binder for Calcined Bauxite (CB) had the smallest reduction in COF after 140K polishing cycles, with only a 19% decrease compared to a 23% reduction for Epoxy.

Given that numerous countries are located near active fault zones, this review paper assesses the seismic structural functionality of buildings subjected to dynamic loads. Earthquake-prone countries have implemented structural health monitoring (SHM) systems on base-isolated structures, focusing on modal parameters such as frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios related to isolation systems. However, many studies have investigated the dissipating energy capacity of isolation systems, particularly rubber bearings with different damping ratios, and demonstrated that changes in these parameters affect the seismic performance of structures. The main objective of this review is to evaluate the performance of damage detection computational tools and examine the impact of damage on structural functionality. This literature review’s strength lies in its comprehensive coverage of prominent studies on SHM and model updating for structures equipped with dampers. This is crucial for enhancing the safety and resilience of structures, particularly in mitigating dynamic loads like seismic forces. By consolidating key research findings, this review identifies technological advancements, best practices, and gaps in knowledge, enabling future innovation in structural health monitoring and design optimization. Various identification techniques, including modal analysis, model updating, non-destructive testing (NDT), and SHM, have been employed to extract modal parameters. The review highlights the most operational methods, such as Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD) and Stochastic Subspace Identification (SSI). The review also summarizes damage identification methodologies for base-isolated systems, providing useful insights into the development of robust, trustworthy, and effective techniques for both researchers and engineers. Additionally, the review highlights the evolution of SHM and model updating techniques, distinguishing groundbreaking advancements from established methods. This distinction clarifies the trajectory of innovation while addressing the limitations of traditional techniques. Ultimately, the review promotes innovative solutions that enhance accuracy, reliability, and adaptability in modern engineering practices.