Sustainable Civil Engineering Research Articles

Experimental investigations on the flexural behavior of compression-cast seawater sea-sand concrete beams reinforced with CFRP bars

To address the corrosion problems, environmental concerns, and achieve green and sustainable civil engineering practices, this study designed several compression-cast seawater sea-sand concrete (SSC) beams reinforced with corrosion-resistant carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars (i.e., FRP-SSC beams) and their flexural behavior was experimentally investigated through four-point bending tests. Twelve FRP-SSC beams were designed, including three normal-cast and nine compression-cast ones. The critical parameters included the concrete casting forms, water-to-cement (w/c) ratios, and reinforcement ratios of CFRP bars (ρf). Effects of the concrete casting methods, w/c ratios, and ρf on the flexural responses of FRP-SSC beams were comprehensively studied. In addition, the flexural theorems were used to derive the prediction models of the equivalent stress block parameters (i.e., εcm, α1, and β1) and flexural strength (Mu) of compression-cast FRP-SSC beams. Moreover, based on the experimental results, effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed flexural strength design models were verified by using the existing design specifications. Finally, the results indicate that, (1) compression-cast FRP-SSC beams with the larger ρf (1.78 %) exhibited bending failure featured by compression concrete crushing, whereas that with the smaller ρf (0.75 %) shown splitting failure; (2) The cracking moments of compression-cast FRP-SSC beams increased significantly owing to the higher compressive strength and elastic modulus of compression-cast concrete (CCC); (3) Because of the pronounced brittleness of CCC, the improvement of the ultimate flexural capacity of compression-cast FRP-SSC beams was limited; (4) Under the same moment level, the maximum crack widths of compression-cast FRP-SSC beams were smaller than their normal-cast counterparts; and (5) the proposed flexural strength design models could yield more accurate, safer, and conservative predictions of flexural strength for both normal- and compression-cast FRP-SSC beams.

Six Connotations of Sustainability in Civil and Construction Engineering: A Corpus Linguistics Study

This research explores the historic use of the concept of sustainability in civil engineering academic literature and identifies its conceptual evolution and connotative treatment over the last 40 years. We find that academic research addressing sustainability is exponentially increasing and that the focus on sustainability is enlarging from a primarily environmental perspective to include more social elements. Additionally, we propose a set of six connotations of sustainability: assessment, progress, permanence, abstractness, multidimensional, and intersectional. These connotations provide conceptual clarity for academics and practitioners in better-defining sustainability objectives and measuring outcomes. These connotations also promote more efficient collaboration with other necessary disciplines in the pursuit of project and societal-level goals. The research employs a novel use of computational corpus linguistics in CCE to identify and examine patterns of collocates associated with the word sustainability in a corpus of 335,020 peer-reviewed civil and construction engineering (CCE) scholarly abstracts published between 1981 and 2021. Demonstrating this research method is a contribution to CCE researchers systematically extracting meaning from large volumes of literature.

Deflection and Elastic Modulus Assessment of Subgrade in Flexible Pavement mixed with Waste Tire Scrap Material

This study aims to assess the deflection and elastic modulus (Es) of subgrade in flexible pavements, focusing on a comparative analysis between pavements with clayey soil subgrade and subgrade modified with tire scrap. The research utilized Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) for measuring subgrade deflection, essential in evaluating pavement performance. The FWD applied a dynamic load to the pavement, with deflection measurements processed using the KGP-BACK software to calculate the Es of the pavement subgrade. This approach included assessing the Lower Layer Index (LLI) and Es of the subgrade. Findings revealed a notable reduction of 37.5% in deflection and 2.68 times increase in Es for the tire scrap modified subgrade pavement compared to the standard clayey soil subgrade pavement. These results demonstrate significant enhancements in pavement structure, underlining the potential of recycled materials in sustainable civil engineering practices.

Mottainai in civil engineering – A message from Japan

This article examines the impact of Japan’s mottainai concept on civil engineering practices, focusing on the waste of materials, financial resources, and harmonisation of structures with the environment. The authors highlight the global challenges of environmental and social imbalances in the context of global warming. The Japanese concept of mottainai is presented as the key to shaping the civil engineering approach. The inefficient use of raw materials was analysed in terms of material waste. A transition to a closed-loop economy is recommended, emphasising the need for resource efficiency. In the context of financial resources, the need for efficient budget allocation and project management is emphasised. The section on harmonising structures with the environment focuses on aesthetics, environment, sustainable mobility, and an integrated approach to urban planning. Civil engineering projects should combine functional efficiency with respect to the environment, and the mottainai concept can be a tool for achieving sustainability in civil engineering. Innovative solutions, such as intelligent energy management systems, are recommended to improve construction efficiency.

Structural retrofitting of RC slabs using bamboo fibre laminate: Flexural performance and crack patterns

Enhancing the durability of structural elements is a viable approach to promote sustainability in civil engineering. Research has shown that well-maintained slabs outperform degraded ones, which deteriorate rapidly due to insufficient upkeep. The occurrence of cracking and deformation in slabs subjected to sustained loads significantly impacts their functionality. However, the implementation of appropriate retrofitting techniques utilizing locally available materials can effectively minimize deflection and crack propagation while also improving flexural capacity. This particular study aimed to evaluate the flexural performance of slabs that were retrofitted using bamboo fibre laminate (BFL). Also, the study investigated two alternative replacement methods alongside the conventional mix; one involved replacing all fine aggregates with ceramic fine aggregate and the other involved a complete replacement of coarse aggregates with ceramic coarse aggregate. These mixes were represented in both the retrofitted and non-retrofitted samples. The retrofitting process included using the combined external bonding and near surface-mounted method. Twelve slab samples were made, with six being non-retrofitted and the other six retrofitted with BFL. Each of the samples had dimensions of 300 mm × 300 mm × 50 mm for reinforced concrete (RC) slabs. The slabs were tested employing the three point-bending system, and the retrofitted slabs with the conventional mix exhibited the highest ultimate failure load and flexural strength (62.1 kN), which compared to the non-retrofitted slabs of the same mix was a 60.76% increase. Additionally, the study did a thorough analysis of the presence of flexural and diagonal shear cracks, as well as the occurrence of debonding between BFL and the slabs. Non-destructive tests were also conducted on the slab samples to further confirm accurate results. These findings offer helpful insights into the development and application of a sustainable retrofitting material that can remarkably improve RC slabs.

Exploring the Applications of Digital Twin Technology in Enhancing Sustainability in Civil Engineering: A Review

Exploring the Applications of Digital Twin Technology in Enhancing Sustainability in Civil Engineering: A Review

Mechanical Properties and Water Permeability of Textile-Reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete with Lightweight Aggregate.

This paper focuses on the development of thin-walled panels with specific properties for applications such as water-tight structures. The authors propose the use of textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) as a composite material and highlight its advantages, which include high tensile strength, improved crack resistance, and design flexibility. The study presents a novel approach which combines TRC with reactive powder concrete (RPC) as a matrix and a lightweight aggregate. RPC, known for its brittle behaviour, is reinforced with glass fibres and a textile fabric to increase its flexural strength. The research includes a comprehensive analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of both the unreinforced RPC matrix and the TRC composite. In particular, the lightweight aggregate RPC matrix has a porosity of 41%, and its mechanical properties, such as flexural and compressive strength, are discussed. The TRC composites, produced in thicknesses ranging from 1 mm to 4 mm, are subjected to flexural tests to evaluate their behaviour under load. The thicker elements show typical damage phases, while the thinner elements show greater flexibility and elasticity. SEM observations confirm good adhesion between the glass fibres and the RPC matrix. Water permeability tests show that the TRC composite, despite its highly porous structure, achieves a water permeability two orders of magnitude higher than that of a reference material, highlighting the roles of both the porous aggregate and the matrix hydration. The paper concludes with a proof of concept-a canoe called the PKanoe, which is constructed from the developed TRC composite. The design of the canoe is supported by numerical analysis to ensure its optimal shape and structural integrity under load. The research contributes to the exploration of innovative materials for sustainable civil engineering applications and addresses both structural and environmental considerations.

A systematic review of the role of 4D printing in sustainable civil engineering solutions

This systematic review, not financially supported by any funding body, aims to synthesize the current knowledge on the applications, potential benefits, and challenges of 4D printing in civil engineering, with a focus on its role in sustainable solutions. Comprehensive searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using related keywords. Articles that discussed 4D printing within civil engineering and construction contexts, encompassing both conceptual and empirical studies, were included. The findings suggest that 4D printing, with its time-responsive transformation feature, can enhance design freedom, improve structural performance, and increase environmental efficiency in construction. However, challenges persist in material performance, scalability, and cost. Despite these, ongoing advancements signal potential future developments that could widen the opportunities for large-scale applications of 4D printing in civil engineering. The potential use of renewable, bio-based materials could also lead to more sustainable construction practices. This review highlights the transformative potential of 4D printing, underlining the need for further research to fully leverage its capabilities and address current limitations. 4D printing emerges as a promising avenue for sustainable civil engineering solutions, offering a transformative approach that calls for continued exploration and development.

Preface

International Conference on Sustainable Practices in Engineering & Technology (IC-SPET’23) is the AICTE sponsored first international Conference organised by Department of Civil Engineering of Sree Buddha College of Engineering, Pattoor, from 14th to 16th June, 2023 with a focal theme on Sustainability in Civil Engineering. The sub themes were Structural Engineering & Sustainable Construction Technology, Water Resource & Environmental Engineering, & Transportation Engineering, Modelling & Computational Techniques in Civil Engineering and GIS application in Civil Engineering. The conference is planned and organized with an objective of providing a platform and conducive environment for the participants to share innovations in Engineering and Technology and to form international relationships among the researchers involved in Engineering and Technology.The three-day international conference was conducted from 14th June, 2023 to 16th June, 2023 in hybrid mode. The conference was inaugurated by the chief guest Dr. N.P. Rajamane, Professor, Scientist, Founder & Former Head (a) Centre for Advanced Concrete Research (CACR), SRM IST (b) Advanced Materials Lab (AML), CSIR-SERC. Renowned national and international speakers such as Dr. N. P. Rajamane (Scientist, Founder & Former Head - (a)CACR, SRM IST (b) AML, CSIR-SERC), Dr. Kamal Laksiri (Governor, Region 10, ASCE), Dr. Sumi Siddiqua (Associate Professor, The University of British Columbia, Canada), Dr. Tanmay Basak (Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Madras) and Dr. Vinu Unnikrishnan (Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, West Texas, USA) has delivered keynote address on sustainable practices in diverse fields of engineering.To IC-SPET’23, 103 technical papers from various institutions within and outside the state were submitted, out of which 65 papers accepted for presentation. And 17 papers were selected to include in this proceeding of conference through meticulous review process performed by experts in the field.We would like to greatly acknowledge the active contribution of keynote speakers, session chairs, reviewers, authors and participants towards the success of the conference. We express our indebted gratitude to Prof. K. Sasikumar, Hon'ble Chairman of the Sree Buddha Group of Institutions, Prof. V. Prasad (Secretary) and Sri. A. Sunil Kumar (Treasurer) of the Sree Buddha Educational Society, Dr. K. Krishnakumar, the Principal of Sree Buddha College of Engineering and all members of Sree Buddha Educational Society for their invaluable guidance and support for the successful coordination of the event. We appreciate the efforts of the faculty members, staff, and student volunteers of the Department of Civil Engineering, who worked as a team and shared responsibilities for the successful coordination.We would like to acknowledge the financial assistance received from AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) for organizing the conference. We express our sincere gratitude to all the associating organisations and institutions such as ASCE, IEI Kollam local center, ICI Kochi center, Habilete learning solutions, Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction, Qcrete and T. R. Associates for their timely assistance. Finally, we express our sincere thanks to the team of IOP Conference series lead by Cat Leyland and Rachelle Morris for bringing out this proceedings.

Effect of microcapsules on the self-repairing ability of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) mortar at different temperatures

The fundamental principle of sustainable civil engineering revolves around minimizing energy and resource consumption throughout the entire life cycle of a structure, including raw material production, construction, and maintenance. To achieve this, efficient utilization of raw materials is crucial. LC3, a novel low carbon cementitious material, offers sustainability advantages. In this paper, LC3 mortar was prepared by incorporating limestone, calcined clay and gypsum as supplementary cementitious materials, thereby replacing 50% of ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Additionally, microcapsules, comprising 4% of the total mass of cementitious materials, were introduced. This reduction in OPC content not only decreases energy consumption and CO2 emissions during cement preparation but also capitalizes on the self-repairing ability of microcapsules to mend microcracks that occur within the cement-based material during its service life. Consequently, the durability of cement-based materials is enhanced. To evaluate the effects of self-repairing on mechanical properties, permeability, and maximum amplitude at different temperatures, a comparison was made between OPC mortars and LC3 mortars. Furthermore, the self-repairing ability of surface cracks in microencapsulated mortar was assessed. The findings demonstrate that the mechanical and permeability properties of LC3 mortar (designated as CA2) exhibit no significant deviation from those of OPC mortar (designated as CA0). Moreover, under the same conditions, LC3 mortar containing microcapsules (designated as CA3) displays superior self-repairing ability compared to OPC mortar containing microcapsules (designated as CA1). Additionally, the self-repairing characteristics of microcapsules in LC3 mortar improve with increasing temperature. The self-repair process involving epoxy resin (repairing agent) and 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole (curing agent) follows a quasi-second-order reaction kinetic model. Surface cracks with an initial width exceeding 0.4 mm in CA3 were entirely repaired within a 72-hour period.

Sustainability in Civil Engineering (Infrastructure)

Sustainability in Civil Engineering (Infrastructure)

Investigation of boron waste usage in civil engineering applications

Nowadays, limited natural resources and huge consumption leads to increase in production costs and energy usage. Increasing energy consumption causes environmental damages, which yield climate change. This situation increases the interest in sustainability along with the recycling of waste material in different areas. While sustainability awareness of society is tried to be created in different countries, research and development studies are also carried out on the other hand. Studies regarding sustainability in civil engineering include recycling and reuse of various wastes. Turkey has 73% of the boron reserves, and provides 50% of boron need in the world. The boron mine can be used in a wide variety of applications such as aerospace and aircraft industries and even in disinfectant production due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, boron waste is expected to increase with the increase in production potential. The objective of this study is to introduce the potential of using boron wastes in civil engineering. Applications of boron waste in civil engineering have been researched in the literature and evaluated in detail. As a result of the study, possible boron waste assessment suggestions have been presented for Turkey.

International Conference on Innovative and Sustainable Technologies in Civil Engineering (ISTCE-2021)

Preface About: The International Conference on Innovative and Sustainable Technologies in Civil Engineering (ISTCE-2021) was successfully held on September 24th and 25th 2021. The ISTCE-2021 was organized by Department of Civil Engineering, Bapatla Engineering College, Bapatla, India. Unfortunately, since July 2021 the 2nd outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused social distancing regulations and travelling restrictions across India. Therefore, the conference committees decided to change the meeting to virtual format.Innovative and sustainable development is one of the leading civilization ideas in the field of Civil Engineering that has gained importance among the researchers in the recent past. The primary objective of the ISTCE-2021 is to bring academicians, technocrats, engineers, researchers and students to a common platform to share their experience and research results on all the aspects of sustainable Civil Engineering. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered, and their solutions adopted in the fields of Sustainable Civil Engineering. The conference focuses on latest research in different areas of civil engineering with special emphasis on sustainable construction practices.List Of Committes, Patrons, Conveners, Co-Conveners, Web & Publicity Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, Organizing Committee, Editorial Committee, Conference Photos these are available in this pdf.

CREATIVE TRANS-BORDER COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

The paper presents an overview of the history and achievements of trans-border cooperation in the Lithuania-Germany-Poland triangle in planning instruments in Construction Management, decision-making theory, application of Operational Research, and Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods in Civil Engineering and sustainable development. The cooperation and results of the Colloquiums with 35 years of tradition, their multidimensional nature is underlined. The research instruments, methods, studied phenomena are reviewed and characteristic applications in engineering and economics are presented. The knowledge and combined efforts of three academic centers have created a synergy which set in motion many original methods and spectacular implementations. The Colloquium calendar and the evolution of organizational forms are presented along with the inclusion of the informal EURO Working Group on Operations Research in Sustainable Development and Civil Engineering.

Editorial: Composite Use of High Strength Steel and Concrete Materials for Sustainable Civil Engineering

The need for sustainable construction has been hastened world-widely aiming to reduce the use of construction materials and labor costs. To do so, high strength materials will be one option.The higher the strength, the smaller the member size is required. This will free up more usable floor area and require fewer materials and construction work. The composite use of them makes the aim easier to be achieved. To bridge the gap between theoretical development and practical application, a special issue with the research topic of "Composite Use of High Strength Steel and Concrete Materials for Sustainable Civil Engineering" has been organized by the Guest Surely the high temperature and cooling deteriorated the bond strength, and this would have an adverse influence on the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the composite members.The diverse nature of contributions in this collection is a testament to the cross-disciplinary research activities about the composite use of high strength materials. Nevertheless, there is a common thread running through all contributions where high strength, when properly achieved, can be the source of great creativity in achieving more sustainable construction.

Sustainable Civil Engineering: Incorporating Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education Curricula

In the current climate emergency context, many national and international organizations have adopted measures to integrate sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all their fields of action. Within education, steps have been taken to incorporate the perspective of sustainability at all levels. This process has also started at the university since it plays a fundamental role in the strategy for the implementation of specific policies to promote sustainability. However, sometimes it is difficult to include this type of knowledge in the curriculum, due to the lack of flexibility of the university structure or the lack of time to cover the syllabus. In this scenario, civil engineering plays a main role as a fundamental activity in the creation of services and infrastructures with a high environmental impact. The objective of this study is to show a multidisciplinary approach to working on sustainability in a transversal way in the civil engineering degree and to analyze the impact that this type of initiative can have from the learning point of view. The study shows a curricular trajectory supported by problem-based learning and project-based learning designed to promote sustainability in the practice of civil engineering. The good results obtained in the evaluation of the project and the growing incorporation of the SDGs in the final degree projects suggest that this methodology can be implemented by other university degrees.

Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting from Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Alkali-Activated Nanocomposites Produced from Industrial Waste Materials.

A waste-originated one-part alkali-activated nanocomposite is introduced herein as a novel thermoelectric material. For this purpose, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were utilized as nanoinclusions to create an electrically conductive network within the investigated alkali-activated construction material. Thermoelectric and microstructure characteristics of SWCNT-alkali-activated nanocomposites were assessed after 28 days. Nanocomposites with 1.0 wt.% SWCNTs exhibited a multifunctional behavior, a combination of structural load-bearing, electrical conductivity, and thermoelectric response. These nanocomposites (1.0 wt.%) achieved the highest thermoelectric performance in terms of power factor (PF), compared to the lower SWCNTs’ incorporations, namely 0.1 and 0.5 wt.%. The measured electrical conductivity (σ) and Seebeck coefficient (S) were 1660 S·m−1 and 15.8 µV·K−1, respectively, which led to a power factor of 0.414 μW·m−1·K−2. Consequently, they have been utilized as the building block of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) device, which demonstrated a maximum power output (Pout) of 0.695 µW, with a power density (PD) of 372 nW·m−2, upon exposure to a temperature gradient of 60 K. The presented SWCNT-alkali-activated nanocomposites could establish the pathway towards waste thermal energy harvesting and future sustainable civil engineering structures.

Recent Advancements in Non-Destructive Testing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an important aspect of the assessment of various structures and infrastructure, which involves inspection, monitoring, and maintenance to support economics, quality of life and sustainability in civil engineering. Currently, research has been conducted in order to develop non-destructive techniques for SHM to extend the lifespan of monitored structures. This paper will review and summarize the recent advancements in non-destructive testing techniques, namely, sweep frequency approach, ground penetrating radar, infrared technique, fiber optics sensors, camera-based methods, laser scanner techniques, acoustic emission and ultrasonic techniques. Although some of the techniques are widely and successfully utilized in civil engineering, there are still challenges that researchers are addressing. One of the common challenges within the techniques is interpretation, analysis and automation of obtained data, which requires highly skilled and specialized experts. Therefore, researchers are investigating and applying artificial intelligence, namely machine learning algorithms to address the challenges. In addition, researchers have combined multiple techniques in order to improve accuracy and acquire additional parameters to enhance the measurement processes. This study mainly focuses on the scope and recent advancements of the Non-destructive Testing (NDT) application for SHM of concrete, masonry, timber and steel structures.

Preface

Preface Icsss’19 Proceedings of International Conference on SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES 15-16, November 2019 (Sponsored by AICTE, New Delhi) INTRODUCTION It gives me immense pleasure in writing the preface for the proceedings of The International Conference on Sustainable Systems and Structures (ICSSS’19) that was organised during November 15-16, 2019 by the Department of Civil Engineering, MVGR College of Engineering (Autonomous), Vizianagaram, 535005, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. A proposal for GOC (Grant for Organising Conference) was submitted by myself Dr P Markandeya Raju, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, MVGR in 2017. A matching grant of Rs. 5 Lakhs was sanctioned by AICTE, New Delhi (F. No. 67-20/RIFD/GOC/Policy-1/2017 dated 28-02-2019) . The Conference was scheduled to be held in person and organised during November 15th - 16th 2019. The program included Five keynote lectures given by experts in various fields and 37 oral presentations given by renowned Professors, practising engineers and research scholars working in various areas of Sustainable Civil Engineering. All the five invited speakers delivered keynote lectures on topics of their expertise related to recent trends in sustainable Civil Engineering followed by brief interaction. Four technical sessions were organised during which authors made oral presentations followed by question and answer. One best paper was chosen from among the papers presented on each day based on the novelty, presentation and response to questions and the Best paper award were presented. The conference was held in the A/C Auditorium of MVGR. This preface presents an overview of this conference, details of Organising committee members, themes and sub-themes of the conference, review process adopted and schedule of the conference including the details of keynote lectures. An Annexure with details of the Management, College and the Department has been included at the end followed by Photo gallery of the conference.List of About the Conference, Advisory Committee, Chief Patrons,Patron, Members, Technical Advisory Board, International, National, Organizing Committee, Chairman, Organizing Secretary, Coordinators, Members, Conference Themes And Sub-Themes, Review Process, Program Schedule, Annexure and Photos are available in this pdf.

A review of sustainability in civil engineering: why much more commitment is needed

This paper reviews the civil engineering profession’s progress towards sustainability over the past dec-ade in eight key areas. It finds there have been significant steps forward in assessment methods, sys-tems thinking, multi-functional infrastructure, flexible and adaptive design, and adoption of a circular economy in construction. However, it also finds the sustainability challenge is accelerating and much more needs to be done to go beyond business as usual. In particular, civil engineers need to be more vocal in calling out projects and practices that go counter to the planet’s and society’s needs.