Costantino Menna , Luigi De Simone , Vittorio Capozzi
{"title":"Mechanical recycling of GFRP wind turbine blades: Evaluating the sustainability and economic potential of recycled fibers","authors":"Costantino Menna , Luigi De Simone , Vittorio Capozzi","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The significant development of wind energy over the past two decades has raised concerns regarding the End-of-Life (EoL) management of wind turbine blades, primarily composed of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP). This study investigates the mechanical recycling of GFRP from decommissioned blades and evaluates the reuse of recovered fibers in fiber-reinforced mortar and concrete. Mechanical testing showed tensile and compressive strength improvements of up to 13 % and 3 % in concrete, and up to 16 % and 17 % in mortar, with optimal performance at 2–2.5 % fiber content and 1–2 mm diameter. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) revealed that added fibers contribute less than 4 % to total environmental impact. On-site recycling exhibited lower impacts in 6 of 8 indicators analyzed, primarily due to renewable energy use. Economically, mechanical recycling can become competitive with landfilling when applied at scale under optimized conditions. Results support this method as a viable EoL strategy aligned with circular economy objectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100710"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144679964","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}
Matthias Leschok , Thomas Wuest , Valeria Piccioni , Fabio Gramazio , Matthias Kohler , Arno Schlueter , Benjamin Dillenburger
{"title":"Material characterization and structural behaviour of HC3DP elements for lightweight facades","authors":"Matthias Leschok , Thomas Wuest , Valeria Piccioni , Fabio Gramazio , Matthias Kohler , Arno Schlueter , Benjamin Dillenburger","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the structural behavior and material characteristics of Hollow-Core 3D printing (HC3DP) for large-spanning elements. The study compares HC3DP with conventional large-scale Material Extrusion (ME) methods and explores the influence of varying thermal boundary conditions on the mechanical properties of the 3D printed polymer. In total three types of experimental procedures are presented. Tensile experiments, 3 PT bending tests, and finally, 4 PT bending tests of large-scale beams are conducted. The research highlights the potential of HC3DP in architectural applications, particularly in the construction of high-performance, site-specific facades. The findings underscore the importance of planning and design for the 3D printing process, emphasizing the critical role of printing direction in determining the structural behavior and performance of 3D printed facade elements. Additionally, the paper presents a theoretical model for calculating for the maximum spanning distance of 3D printed facades, based on the results obtained from the experiments presented. The results demonstrate that HC3DP is a promising technology for facade construction, enabling the fabrication of aesthetically unique and material efficient 3DP facades with a better structural capacity then comparable conventional ME methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100703"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144604878","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}
Diana Lago , Jozef Kraxner , Dušan Galusek , Enrico Bernardo
{"title":"Development of porous membranes by alkali activation of borosilicate glass: effect of wastewater acidity on copper adsorption","authors":"Diana Lago , Jozef Kraxner , Dušan Galusek , Enrico Bernardo","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100705","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100705","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A highly porous membrane was prepared through weak alkali activation of Duran-type borosilicate glass using a 2.5 M NaOH:KOH solution. The incorporation of fine glass powder (<1 μm) significantly enhances glass network reactivity by increasing the surface area in contact with the alkaline solution. This promotes the dissolution of glass constituents, leading to their subsequent polymerization. Following this process, the material undergoes low-temperature curing at 40 °C, aiding consolidation and stabilization. The resulting porous structure shows excellent performance in copper removal from aqueous media. While adsorption of copper is strongly influenced by the pH of the solution, the adsorption capacity can be adjusted through surface treatment of the activated material. The developed borosilicate-based membranes treated in boiling water can remove between 92 % and 99 % of copper (II) at pH levels 2 and 5, respectively, whereas “raw” alkali-activated samples achieve up to 65 % copper (II) removal at pH 2. These findings underscore the need for tailored strategies to optimize membrane performance across varying pH conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100705"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557135","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":"Comparative analysis of carbon emission and energy demand of pavement recycling technologies based on primary data","authors":"Xiaohua Liu , Lu Deng , Jiangmiao Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to quantify and probabilistically assess the environmental advantages of hot in-place recycling (HIPR) and hot in-plant recycling (HIR) technologies over traditional milling and filling (M&F) in the context of asphalt pavement recycling with the collected primary data. The study's primary dataset served as the foundation for modeling the life cycle inventory (LCI) across various stages of pavement recycling, which is collected in the geographical context of China in 2024. Subsequently, an uncertainty analysis was conducted to evaluate the data quality of each inventory phase. The comparative analysis of environmental impacts, focusing on carbon emissions and energy demand, revealed that HIPR and HIR technologies offer substantial environmental benefits. Notably, M&F technology exhibited a wider uncertainty range, which is attributed to its greater reliance on secondary data sourced from public databases. In contrast, the HIR technology demonstrated the lowest uncertainty, suggesting a more reliable environmental impact assessment. The findings underscore the importance of considering uncertainty in LCA studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100706"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144572689","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}
Viktor La Torre Rapp , Jörgen Wallin , Jesper Knutsson
{"title":"Energy and water saving potential with rainwater-based evaporative cooling and toilet flushing","authors":"Viktor La Torre Rapp , Jörgen Wallin , Jesper Knutsson","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Addressing the limited research on integrated rainwater utilization for cooling, this study assesses a dual-purpose rainwater harvesting system for indirect evaporative cooling and toilet flushing in three cities in Sweden during 2015–2023. Using climate data and a validated model, water and energy savings in residential and commercial buildings were evaluated. Simulation was conducted to reach 90 % of evaporative cooling water demand, redirecting water to toilet flushing during low cooling periods. Annual water demand ranged from 7 to 22 m<sup>3</sup>/(m<sup>3</sup>/s), covering 28–58 % of cooling demand. Energy savings reached 34 % with water savings between 13 and 28 %. Suggested system size yielded energy savings of 1–28 % and water savings of 8–28 %. The seasonal coefficient of performance varied strongly with operational time and cooling demand. This study provides crucial data on the synergetic benefit of such a system, bridging the knowledge gaps on their practical performance and potential on enhancing building resource efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100702"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144550003","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}
Alireza Komaei, Aneseh Mosaddegh, Mahdi Hemmati, Ahmad Fahimifar
{"title":"Stabilization of rammed earth with waste materials for sustainable construction under rainfall Conditions: With consideration of life cycle assessment (LCA)","authors":"Alireza Komaei, Aneseh Mosaddegh, Mahdi Hemmati, Ahmad Fahimifar","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes a stabilization strategy for rammed earth, addressing the critical need to enhance its resilience against extreme weather, particularly heavy rainfall. By incorporating recycled carpet waste fibers and alkali-activated materials (AAMs), the research shows a threefold increase in unconfined compressive strength compared to compacted unstabilized soil. The use of AAMs as a low-carbon alternative to cement reduces environmental impact, while carpet waste fibers contribute to a circular economy by repurposing textile waste. Durability tests under severe rainfall revealed that the stabilized material retained 99 % of its compressive strength, while unstabilized rammed earth lost 28 %. Additionally, the stabilized material exhibited a fourfold increase in tensile strength. This method also significantly improved toughness and brittleness index, maintaining performance under harsh rainfall conditions. Microstructural analysis revealed improved bonding and densification, enhancing long-term durability. This research advances sustainable construction by integrating waste valorization and low-carbon technologies to create resilient, eco-friendly earthen structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100701"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144501995","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}
Xiaoye Dong , Di Wu , Xiaochun Xiao , Haiting Lu , Xin Ding
{"title":"A study on the influence of aggregate shape on the aggregate void ratio and stress-strain performance of pervious concrete (PC)","authors":"Xiaoye Dong , Di Wu , Xiaochun Xiao , Haiting Lu , Xin Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aggregate morphology is essential for studying the mechanical properties of PC. This study captures the true morphology of aggregates and classifies them using shape indices such as the Flatness Index (<em>FI</em>) and Elongation Index (<em>EI</em>). The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is utilized to investigate the impact of aggregate morphological parameters on void ratio and pore space distribution. Uniaxial compression DEM numerical simulations are used to evaluate the macroscopic mechanical responses and stress-strain relationships of PCs with various aggregate shapes. The results indicate that regular aggregate shapes can reduce void ratio and enhance load-bearing capacity. While the effect of aggregate shape on the ascending branch of the normalized stress-strain curve is limited, increased aggregate shape irregularity results in a steeper descending branch. Based on this, a stress-strain relationship evaluation equation for PCs with different aggregate shapes has been established, providing a reliable method for predicting their mechanical properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100704"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144514123","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":"Future-proofing energy infrastructure resilience with distributed energy resources","authors":"Muneer Qudaisat, Alice Alipour","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, increasing stress on power infrastructure through more frequent outages, higher maintenance costs, and elevated safety risks. Simultaneously, continued dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity generation contributes to emissions that further accelerate climate impacts. This study assesses the economic, environmental, and resilience benefits of Distributed Energy Resources, focusing on solar photovoltaic systems paired with battery energy storage systems. Two deployment strategies are evaluated: a targeted approach for outage-prone areas and a wide-scale community adoption model. Latin Hypercube Sampling was used to simulate scenarios based on power demand, daylight, battery capacity, and PV size. Results show that 40 %–60 % DER adoption yields the highest net benefits, reducing outage durations and emissions. A 7–10 kW PV system with a 20–40 kWh battery typically ensures 24 h of backup power. The findings underscore the value of strategic DER planning for a resilient, low-carbon energy future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100696"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144654442","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}
Homa Bahmani , Yibin Ao , Dujuan Yang , Qiang Xu , Jianjun Zhao
{"title":"Towards safer educational Facilities: Computational and observational analysis of evacuation processes in primary schools","authors":"Homa Bahmani , Yibin Ao , Dujuan Yang , Qiang Xu , Jianjun Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100698","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100698","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Unlike adult or mixed-age studies, this research examines how young children's limited spatial awareness, evolving risk perception, and reliance on adults influence their evacuation choices and timing under varied signage, guidance, layouts, and visibility. Combining RReliefF feature selection with two machine learning frameworks and inferential tests, we used a unique CCTV-based dataset of 742 six-to-seven-year-olds from ten real-world drills to determine the most important predictors. The study reveals that school corridors are the most critical place affecting the children's evacuation process. Teacher presence in both classrooms and corridors significantly accelerates response times, while seating location affects students' exit choices from the classroom, and visibility is crucial in corridor evacuation time and exit selection. By providing practical suggestions, customised training, design modifications, and staff drills to enhance school evacuation safety, the study fills a vital gap in emergency-response literature and lays the groundwork for future research to refine these strategies further.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100698"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557134","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}
Xuhui Liang , Hua Dong , Zhenming Li , Chen Liu , Shizhe Zhang , Guang Ye
{"title":"Characterization, pretreatment, and valorization of wood biomass fly ash in a binary cement-free binder","authors":"Xuhui Liang , Hua Dong , Zhenming Li , Chen Liu , Shizhe Zhang , Guang Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dibe.2025.100700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research investigated the use of wood biomass fly ash (WBFA) as a key component in developing low-carbon cementitious materials. WBFA was first subjected to water pretreatment and grinding to remove metallic aluminum and free lime, reducing expansion and cracking risks. Characterization of WBFA showed its high calcium and alkali-bearing phases but limited aluminosilicates. Dissolution test showed WBFA had strong alkalinity, suggesting its role as an activator for aluminosilicate-bearing minerals. A novel cement- and chemical-free binary binder was developed using 50 % treated WBFA and 50 % blast furnace slag (BFS). Paste with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.4 achieved 40 MPa compressive strength at 60 days. The use of superplasticizer significantly improved flowability, allowing the water-to-binder ratio to be reduced to 0.25, which resulted in compressive strength up to 58 MPa at 60 days. Calcium aluminate silicate hydrates (C-A-S-H) gels and ettringite were identified as the main reaction products in the pastes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34137,"journal":{"name":"Developments in the Built Environment","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100700"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144524170","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}