Xiang Chen , Hongzhou Zhu , Xinqiang Zhang , Dan Yang , Zhenzhen Wang , Jian Zhang , Jian Zhang
{"title":"Synergistic modification of bamboo aggregates by sodium alginate-CaCl2: optimization and performance evaluation of sustainable lightweight concrete","authors":"Xiang Chen , Hongzhou Zhu , Xinqiang Zhang , Dan Yang , Zhenzhen Wang , Jian Zhang , Jian Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of global climate change, the demand for green building materials has grown increasingly urgent. This study has made significant advancements in sustainable construction materials by developing all-bamboo aggregate concrete (BAC) enhanced with a sodium alginate-CaCl<sub>2</sub> synergy through an environmentally friendly process. Using response surface methodology optimization, the 28-day compressive strength was increased to 8.10 MPa. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis indicates that the alginate gel forms a cross-linked network within bamboo micro-cracks, substantially improving interfacial bonding. A novel bamboo aggregate mass index (BAMI) has been introduced to quantify particle shape, allowing precise control over aggregate quality, thus offering a new solution for lightweight pavement materials. While fly ash reduces short-term strength, its low alkalinity and secondary hydration effects positively influence long-term durability. This research provides a scientific basis for utilizing BAC in pedestrian pavements and advancing sustainable construction materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100670"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143878832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elnaz Khankhaje, Hyounseung Jang, Jimin Kim, Mahdi Rafieizonooz
{"title":"Utilizing rice husk ash as cement replacement in pervious concrete: A review","authors":"Elnaz Khankhaje, Hyounseung Jang, Jimin Kim, Mahdi Rafieizonooz","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The disposal of rice husk ash (RHA) presents environmental challenges, yet its high silica content makes it a promising partial cement replacement in pervious concrete. While previous studies have explored RHA's role in conventional concrete, comprehensive research on its effects in pervious concrete remains limited. This review systematically analyzes more than 100 peer-reviewed studies published in the last two decades, using predefined screening criteria focused on RHA dosage, processing methods, and mix design strategies. The findings indicate that incorporating 5–10 % RHA enhances compressive strength by up to 29 % and improves abrasion resistance while maintaining permeability. However, excessive replacement levels (above 15 %) reduce porosity and compromise drainage capacity. By identifying research gaps in mix optimization and long-term durability assessment, this study provides valuable insights for advancing sustainable and high-performance pervious concrete.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100675"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144089859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Garcia-Castillo , I. Paya-Zaforteza , T. Gernay
{"title":"Probabilistic risk assessment of historic timber flooring systems subjected to fire","authors":"E. Garcia-Castillo , I. Paya-Zaforteza , T. Gernay","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Structural fire analyses of historic buildings face significant uncertainties due to their age and the scarcity of specific fire safety guidelines in modern codes. Typical prescriptive approaches often result in interventions that compromise the aesthetic and cultural value of these structures. In contrast, probabilistic performance-based approaches address uncertainties and offer flexibility to achieve compliance with fire safety requirements while preserving built heritage.</div><div>This study introduces a novel probabilistic methodology to assess the fire resistance of timber structures, demonstrated on historic timber jack arch flooring systems. Extensive numerical simulations were conducted to develop fire fragility functions and obtain reliability indices, incorporating variability in timber density, mechanical properties, strength reduction with temperature, and applied loads. Results indicate that many of the historic systems studied possess adequate fire safety. Applicable to any timber structure, this methodology allows case-specific analyses, promoting the rational conservation and design of heritage and contemporary timber systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100659"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kareem Abushama, Will Hawkins, Loizos Pelecanos, Tim Ibell
{"title":"Optimisation of embodied carbon and construction cost of concrete, steel and timber piles","authors":"Kareem Abushama, Will Hawkins, Loizos Pelecanos, Tim Ibell","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The construction sector accounts for a considerable share of the carbon emissions globally. While extensive research has examined the embodied carbon and cost optimisation of superstructures, comparatively little attention has been given to optimising deep foundations with respect to these criteria. This study employs a hybrid genetic algorithm to optimise the embodied carbon and construction cost of six pile types across various soil conditions and load capacities. The results indicate that timber piles have the lowest embodied carbon, with reductions of approximately 70 % and 60 % compared to solid concrete piles in clayey and sandy soils, respectively. Hollow concrete piles exhibit lower emissions than solid alternatives, particularly at higher capacities. Steel piles, while structurally efficient, generally have higher embodied carbon than its other counterparts. Conversely, cost optimisation results show that solid and hollow concrete piles are the most economical, whereas timber piles are the most expensive due to their limited load capacity. A case study of a high-rise building in London's undrained clay demonstrated that carbon-optimised pile designs could achieve the same load capacity while reducing embodied carbon by 45 %–69 % and lowering construction costs compared to the as-built design. These findings highlight the potential for significant reductions in the embodied carbon of deep foundations through optimisation, without requiring changes to materials, design methods, or construction practices. The study underscores the call for industry-wide adoption of computational optimisation techniques to support sustainable foundation design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100656"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143847507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Strengthening and impact performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams using various high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs)","authors":"Booki Chun, Seung Won Lee, Doo-Yeol Yoo","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the strengthening effect of various high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) on the impact resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Four different HPFRCCs—ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), high-performance strain-hardening cementitious composite (HPSHCC), engineered cementitious composite (ECC), and ultra-rapid-hardening strain-hardening cementitious composite (URSHCC)—were evaluated alongside a normal-strength concrete (NSC) as a control. The results showed that RC beams strengthened with UHPC and HPSHCC achieved the highest flexural load capacities, approximately 8 % greater than the plain RC beam. While UHPC reduced flexural ductility due to its lower tensile strain capacity, HPSHCC enhanced ductility. Strengthening with HPFRCCs also led to a reduction in maximum deflection under impact, with the S-UHPC beam showing the lowest deflection. Despite impact damage, RC beams retained residual flexural strength similar to undamaged beams but exhibited reduced flexural stiffness and ultimate deflection. However, UHPC and URSHCC experienced decreased load capacity after impact due to deformation beyond their tensile strain limits. These findings highlight the effectiveness of HPFRCCs, particularly HPSHCC, in improving the impact resistance and post-damage performance of RC beams.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100650"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seyedmilad Komarizadehasl , Zhouhui Shen , Ye Xia , Mingming Song , Jose Turmo
{"title":"An innovative drive-through approach for structural testing and experimental insights from two cable stayed bridges","authors":"Seyedmilad Komarizadehasl , Zhouhui Shen , Ye Xia , Mingming Song , Jose Turmo","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective monitoring of bridge infrastructure is essential for ensuring safety, reliability, and longevity. Traditional Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) methods have been challenged by installation complexity, maintenance demands, and high costs, particularly in large-scale or long-span bridges. In response, a novel, non-intrusive drive-through method for extracting bridge eigenfrequencies has been developed using vehicle-multi-mounted Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors. A passing vehicle is thereby converted into a mobile sensing platform, and bridge dynamic properties are captured under normal traffic conditions. Experimental validation was conducted on Shanghai's Yangpu and Nanpu cable-stayed bridges, and eigenfrequency extraction from a single crossing was demonstrated, significantly reducing the need for multiple passes. The signal-to-noise ratio was improved by the fusion of data from multiple sensors, and frequency identification was achieved. A practical and cost-effective solution for large-scale bridge monitoring is thus offered, and further work is planned to extend the methodology to additional structural parameters and enhanced robustness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100653"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143824692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Li Jiang, Marc van den Berg, Hans Voordijk, Arjen Adriaanse
{"title":"Circularity assessment across construction project phases with Building Information Modelling","authors":"Li Jiang, Marc van den Berg, Hans Voordijk, Arjen Adriaanse","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To facilitate circular design and construction practices, project stakeholders need insights into circularity across different project phases. Building information modelling (BIM) technologies provide new opportunities for developing methods to assess the circularity performance of buildings. However, most existing BIM-based circularity methods are not well-suited to handle different amounts of available information or varying Levels of Development (LOD) across project phases. This study, therefore, used a Design Science Research Methodology to develop a prototypical BIM-based circularity assessment tool. This standalone tool integrated three calculation models with a user interface to offer circularity insights based on BIM models with different LOD, covering initiative, design and construction phases. The tool's potential was validated through twelve user-based evaluation sessions and its implementation in a renovation project in the Netherlands. This study contributes to the field by introducing an innovative approach that takes information availability into account and showcases BIM's capabilities to support circularity assessments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100663"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexandra Weniger, Arij Mohamad Radwan Omar Chabrawi, Marzia Traverso
{"title":"Method to develop social impact pathways: A case on carbon- and steel reinforced concrete","authors":"Alexandra Weniger, Arij Mohamad Radwan Omar Chabrawi, Marzia Traverso","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research aims present a new approach to perform type II Social Life Cycle Assessments (S-LCAs), impact pathways (IP), applied to Carbon- and Steel Reinforced Concrete. The application of IP requires determining causal relations and characterization factors. However, the literature indicates to persistent deficiencies in identifying empirical cause-effect relations and scientific development of characterization factors. To advance IP application, a new approach by using structural equation modeling (SEM) to develop IP is presented in this research. Primary data was collected by questioning workers based on 8 inventory indicators for 3 social subcategories. The results showed where the causal relations could be empirically proven or not, indicating that is suitable for creating social IPs based on real cause-effect chain. For future research, it is recommended to apply the developed model on a larger sample to verify the proposed method and discuss the extent to which complex social issues can be generalized.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100665"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143864996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Compression performance and microscopic mechanism of cemented high-sulfide tail fills under varying pH levels: The role of alkaline agents","authors":"Qianru He , Shuai Cao , Erol Yilmaz","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sulfur-rich tailings are highly susceptible to acid generation during the filling process, which can adversely affect the pH and compressive properties of cementitious backfill. Hence, this study conducted an exploratory test to better investigate the changes in the compressive behavior and micro-mechanism of cementitious high sulfur tailings backfill material (CHSTB) under different pH conditions by adding alkaline substances. Samples were prepared using varying doses of fly ash (FA), sodium bicarbonate (SB), and calcium oxide (CaO) as alkaline agents. The strength and microscopic features of CHSTB were examined by UCS, pH, and SEM. Lab verdicts released that FA-coated CHSTB's strength outperformed the other materials, with the 3 % FA-doped CHSTB achieving the highest UCS of 1.34 MPa. In terms of pH, all CHSTBs were strongly alkaline (pH ≥ 10.8). However, the pH changes of CHSTB with FA and SB were minimal and dose-independent, while the addition of CaO significantly increased the pH (up to 12.5). SEM analysis revealed that CHSTB with 3 % FA and SB exhibited a denser microstructure. In conclusion, FA and SB proved to be more effective, with significant research and application potential. This study also provides the optimal concentration range for various alkaline agents, offering an important reference for enhancing CHSTB and improving filling technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100669"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143869396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}