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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 26923

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Yeou-Fong Li

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
Interests: seismic retrofit of RC structures; fiber-reinforced polymers; fiber-reinforced concrete
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Walter Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Road, Taipei 10608, Taiwan
Interests: soil erosion; machine learning; geotechnical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Ta-Wui Cheng

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Guest Editor

Institute of Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan ROC. Add: 1, Sec. 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Interests: geopolymer; mineral processing; recycling; waste treatment; functional materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world is facing uncertain times with the current spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you are safe and well. During this difficult time, everyone is vulnerable, and one cannot help but wonder what may be coming ahead. The deadly virus not only means our personal safety is at risk but so is our species' sustainable future. Times like this remind us of what we could have done to protect the environment and our own health. Therefore, why not start by working on a Special Issue of "The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering"? In this Special Issue, we would like to solicit your innovative ideas and work on the design, analysis, retrofit, inspection, and repair of all types of infrastructures and engineering structures ranging from hospital quarantine tents to historical and heritage structures, as well as from root-reinforced soil slopes to geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures using sustainable composite materials. The composite material is not limited to a specific type such as fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and may include recyclable or natural/biological materials. In addition, your study could focus on any aspect of the sustainable composite materials in civil and architectural engineering, such as carbon emission, life-cycle analysis, cost analysis, experimental verification, reinforcement, and disaster mitigation. The submitted manuscripts will be peer reviewed, and those accepted will be published promptly in the open-access journal Sustainability.

Prof. Yeou-Fong Li
Prof. Walter Chen
Prof. Ta-Wui Cheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Biotechnical ground covers
Carbon footprint
Case studies
Circular economy
Fiber-reinforced concrete
FRP composite materials
Geopolymer composite materials
Geosynthetic-reinforced soil slopes and structures
Infrastructure
Life-cycle assessment
Recycling
Rehabiliation
Retrofit
Root-reinforced soil slopes
Soil bioengineering stabilization
Sustainability
3D-printed concrete and composite materials
Vegetated retaining structures

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 158 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering

by Yeou-Fong Li, Walter Chen and Ta-Wui Cheng

Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2134; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042134 - 13 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1895

Abstract

Sustainability is a central value in the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), which include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, and life on land [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

12 pages, 2399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Studies on Recycling Silane Controllable Recovered Carbon Fiber from Waste CFRP

by Kai-Yen Chin, Angus Shiue, Yi-Jing Wu, Shu-Mei Chang, Yeou-Fong Li, Ming-Yuan Shen and Graham Leggett

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 700; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020700 - 09 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2217

Abstract

During the production process of commercial carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs), a silane coupling agent is added to the carbon fiber at the sizing step as a binder to enhance the product’s physical properties. While improving strength, the silane coupling agent results in a silane residue on recovered carbon fibers (rCF) after recycling, which is a disadvantage when using recovered carbon fibers in the manufacture of new materials. In this study, the rCF is recovered from waste carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) from the bicycle industry by a microwave pyrolysis method, applying a short reaction time and in an air atmosphere. Moreover, the rCF are investigated for their surface morphologies and the elements present on the surface. The silicon element content changes with pyrolysis temperature were 0.4, 0.9, and 0.2%, respectively, at 450, 550, and 650 °C. Additionally, at 950 °C, silicon content can be reduced to 0.1 ± 0.05%. The uniformity of microwave pyrolysis recycle treatment was compared with traditional furnace techniques used for bulk waste treatment by applying the same temperature regime. This work provides evidence that microwave pyrolysis can be used as an alternative method for the production of rCFs for reuse applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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18 pages, 3395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Influence of the Next Generation Colored Inorganic Geopolymer Material Paint on the Insulation Measurement of Concrete Building Shell

by Yeou-Fong Li, Ya-Xuan Xie, Jin-Yuan Syu, Chih-Hong Huang, Hsin-Hua Tsai, Ta-Wui Cheng, Yen-Chun Chen and Wei-Hao Lee

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010164 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2519

Abstract

Many studies have shown that paint with reflective heat can effectively reduce the temperature of the building envelope and reduce the future energy consumption of the building. This study inspired the next-generation inorganic geopolymer material (IGM) color paint without volatile matter, which could be applied on concrete surfaces to reduce energy consumption in warm seasons. In this study, a total of five insulating IGM paints, white, red, green, blue, and yellow, were applied to a 50 cm × 50 cm × 12 cm concrete slab top surface. The highest average light reflectance of all the paints was 87.5% of white IGM paint, which was higher than plain concrete (36.4%). The heat flux and surface temperature were examined in the laboratory, and those test results were verified outdoor. The results showed that the IGM paints could effectively reduce the surface temperature and heat flux of the upper and lower surfaces of concrete slabs, and the white colored IGM paint was the best performer among all five colors, whereas the heat storage coefficient (

S_{f}

) of red, white, yellow, blue, and green IGM painted concrete slabs were 0.57, 0.53, 3.62, 2.95, and 1.91 W·m⁻²·K⁻¹, respectively, lower than plain concrete (24.40 W·m⁻²·K⁻¹). This coefficient was presented to externalize the thermal admittance. The overall measurement results showed that the concrete slab with colored IGM paints had better heat insulation ability than the plain concrete slab, especially in white IGM paint. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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17 pages, 6083 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study on Mechanical Behaviors of Carbon Fiber and Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis Recycled Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

by Yeou-Fong Li, Jie-You Li, Gobinathan Kadagathur Ramanathan, Shu-Mei Chang, Ming-Yuan Shen, Ying-Kuan Tsai and Chih-Hong Huang

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6829; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126829 - 17 Jun 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 3567

Abstract

In the last decade, waste carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) products have not been properly recycled and reused, and they sometimes cause environmental problems. In this paper, the microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) technology was utilized to remove the resin from the CFRP bicycle frame, which was recycled into carbon fiber. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and single filament tensile test were used to observe and compare the difference between recycled carbon fiber and normal carbon fiber. The mechanical performances of carbon fiber-reinforced concrete (CFRC) were investigated with static and dynamic tests under three different fiber/cement weight proportions (5‰, 10‰, and 15‰). Three different kinds of carbon fiber were used in this study, normal carbon fiber, carbon fiber without coupling agent, and recycled carbon fiber. The experimental program was tested according to ASTM C39-01, ASTM C293, and ACI 544.2R standards for compression, flexural, and impact test, respectively. From the experimental results, addition of 10‰ of carbon fiber into the concrete exhibited maximum compressive and flexural strength. The impact performance of recycled carbon fiber improved the highest impact number compared with normal carbon fiber under different impact energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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25 pages, 9875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Radiation Cooling Effect on Asphalt Concrete Pavement Using Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag to Replace Partial Aggregates

by Yeou-Fong Li, Po-An Yang, Chia-Ho Wu, Ta-Wui Cheng and Chih-Hong Huang

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3708; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073708 - 26 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1696

Abstract

In this study, aggregates in asphalt concrete were partially replaced by basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS) in proportions of 45 wt.%, 55 wt.%, and 75 wt.%. The thermal performances of the specimens are discussed based on the thermal conductivity, emissivity, and the indoor and outdoor temperature measurements. Consequently, 75 wt.% of the specimen’s aggregates were replaced by BOFS, which had a high emissivity of 0.86 across the sky window. In the indoor and outdoor tests, the temperature change was recorded to estimate the thermal performance of specimens. According to the quantitative calculation, when the substitution of BOFS was higher than 55 wt.%, the specimens had a better radiation cooling ability. Among these specimens, the specimen with the BOFS substitution of 75 wt.% absorbed the most heat inside the body, contributing to less heat remaining in the environment. Furthermore, because Newton’s cooling energy accounted for about 90% of the stored energy within 7 h, the heat dissipation after the seventh hour was primarily radiation cooling, corresponding to the emission across the urban boundary layer. As for the mechanical properties, the stability value, indirect tensile strength, and British pendulum number (BPN) were in line with the specifications under the proper BOFS substitution. In conclusion, BOFS has great applicability in pavements due to its thermal performance and mechanical properties. It not only achieves the goal of urban heat island mitigation by radiation cooling, but also reflects the concept of resource sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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19 pages, 8307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Carbonization Process on the Mechanical Properties of Nano-MgO Modified Cement Soil

by Wei Wang, Hang Zhou, Jian Li, Feifei Tao, Cuihong Li, Biao Qian and Ping Jiang

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063558 - 23 Mar 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1849

Abstract

In order to explore the modification effect of carbonization time on nano-MgO-modified cement soil, unconfined compressive strength tests of nano-MgO-modified cement soil with carbonization times of 0 h, 6 h, 1 d, 2 d and 4 d were carried out. A method for normalizing the stress–strain curve was proposed, and the influence of nano-MgO content and carbonization time was investigated from the three aspects of compressive strength, peak strain and energy dissipation. The test results show the following: (1) The compressive strength of the modified cement soil can be significantly improved by adding 1.0% nano-MgO and after 1 d carbonization. (2) Under the same nano-MgO content, the peak strain of the modified cement soil after 2 d carbonization reaches the maximum, which can significantly increase its ductility. However, the nano-MgO content has little influence on the peak strain of the modified cement soil. (3) Under the same nano-MgO content, the energy dissipation rate of the modified cement soil after 1 d carbonization reaches the maximum, which can better resist the damage of external load. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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18 pages, 8591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Graphene Nanoplatelets-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites: Comparison of Different Dispersal Mechanisms

by Ming-Yuan Shen, Wen-Yuan Liao, Tan-Qi Wang and Wei-Min Lai

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1788; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041788 - 07 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2919

Abstract

The preparation of polymer-based nanocomposites requires considerable time (i.e., the dispersal of nanomaterials into a polymer matrix), resulting in difficulties associated with their commercial use. In this study, two simple and efficient dispersion methods, namely planetary centrifugal mixing and three-roll milling, were used to enable the graphene nanoplatelets to disperse uniformly throughout an epoxy solution (i.e., 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 wt.%) and allow the subsequent preparation of graphene nanoplatelets/epoxy nanocomposites. Measurements of mechanical properties of these nanocomposites, including ultimate tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus, were used to evaluate these dispersal methods. Dispersing graphene nanoplatelets into the epoxy resin by planetary centrifugal mixing not only required a shorter process time but also resulted in a more uniform dispersion of graphene nanoplatelets than that by three-roll milling. In addition, compared with traditional dispersal methods, planetary centrifugal mixing was a more efficient dispersal method for the preparation of epoxy-based nanocomposites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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14 pages, 7799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flame Retardance and Char Analysis of an Eco-Friendly Polyurethane Hyperbranched Hybrid Using the Sol–Gel Method

by Ming-Yuan Shen, Chen-Feng Kuan, Hsu-Chiang Kuan, Cing-Yu Ke and Chin-Lung Chiang

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020486 - 06 Jan 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1760

Abstract

This study used the sol–gel method to synthesize a non-halogenated, hyperbranched flame retardant containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon (HBNPSi), which was then added to a polyurethane (PU) matrix to form an organic–inorganic hybrid material. Using ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of P- and Si-mapping, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, this study determined the organic and inorganic dispersity, morphology, and flame retardance mechanism of the hybrid material. The condensation density of the hybrid material PU/HBNPSi was found to be 74.4%. High condensation density indicates a dense network structure of the material. The P- and Si-mapping showed that adding inorganic additives in quantities of either 20% or 40% results in homogeneous dispersion of the inorganic fillers in the polymer matrix without agglomeration, indicating that the organic and inorganic phases had excellent compatibility. In the burning test, adding HBNPSi to PU made the material pass the UL-94 test at the V2 level, unlike the pristine PU, which did not meet the standard. The results demonstrate that after non-halogenated flame retardant was added to PU, the material’s flammability and dripping were lower, thereby proving that flame retardants containing elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon exert an excellent flame-retardant synergistic effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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16 pages, 3036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization of Silicon Carbide Sludge as Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Materials

by Kae-Long Lin, Kang-Wei Lo, Ta-Wui Cheng, Wei-Ting Lin and Ya-Wen Lin

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7333; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187333 - 07 Sep 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1886

Abstract

The recycling of SiC sludge material is crucial for resource reutilization and environmental protection. In the current study, the effect of the mass ratio between the Na₂SiO₃ and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions (NS/SS ratio) and the effect of SiC sludge on metakaolin geopolymers was comprehensively investigated to determine the underlying performance of the geopolymerization system. During thermal evolution, the second exothermic peak of 1.6NS10SCS (NS/SS ratio: 1.6, 10% SiC sludge) showed a heat evolution value of 990.6 W/g, which was the highest among other geopolymers. Additionally, the 1.6NS10SCS sample after 28 days of curing showed the highest flexural strength (6.42 MPa), compared to that of the others, and the DTA/TG (differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry) results showed that the weight loss percentage increased to 14.62% from 400 to 750 °C. For the ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance deconvolution, 1.6NS10SCS exhibited high fractions of Q⁴(3Al) (33.63%), Q⁴(2Al) (23.92%), and Q⁴(1Al) (9.70%). Thus, the geopolymer with the optimal SiC-sludge replacement level and NS/SS ratio contained more macropores and geopolymer gels, which benefit structural development. The experimental results indicated that SiC-sludge can potentially serve as a partial replacement for metakaolin and exhibited favorable mechanic characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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12 pages, 3612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness and Conductivity of PTFE/Ag/MWCNT Conductive Fabrics Using the Screen Printing Method

by Hung-Chuan Cheng, Chong-Rong Chen, Shan-hui Hsu and Kuo-Bing Cheng

Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 5899; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155899 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2593

Abstract

The management of the electromagnetic interference (EMI) of thin, light, and inexpensive materials is important for consumer electronics and human health. This paper describes the development of conductive films that contain a silver (Ag) flake powder and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hybrid grid on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film for applications that require electromagnetic shielding (EMS) and a conductive film. The Ag and MWCNT hybrid grid was constructed with a wire diameter and spacing of 0.5 mm. The results indicated that the proposed conductive films with 0.4 wt% MWCNTs had higher electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) and electrical conductivity than those with other MWCNT loading amounts. The results also showed that the film with 0.4 wt% MWCNT loading had a high 62.4 dB EMSE in the 1800 MHz frequency and 1.81 × 10⁴ S/cm electrical conductivity. This combination improved stretchability, with 10% elongation at a 29% resistivity change rate. Conductive films with Ag/MWCNT electronic printing or lamination technologies could be used for EMI shielding and electrically conductive applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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15 pages, 8940 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geopolymer Technologies for Stabilization of Basic Oxygen Furnace Slags and Sustainable Application as Construction Materials

by Wei-Hao Lee, Ta-Wui Cheng, Kuan-Yu Lin, Kae-Long Lin, Chia-Cheng Wu and Chih-Ta Tsai

Sustainability 2020, 12(12), 5002; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125002 - 18 Jun 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2532

Abstract

The basic oxygen furnace slag is a major waste by-product generated from steel-producing plants. It possesses excellent characteristics and can be used as a natural aggregate. Chemically, the basic oxygen furnace slag encloses free CaO and free MgO, which is the main reason for the expansion crisis since these free oxides of alkaline earth metals react with water to form their hydroxide yields. The objective of the present research study is to stabilize the basic oxygen furnace slag by using innovative geopolymer technology, as their matrix contains a vast quantity of free silicon, which can react with free CaO and free MgO to form stable silicate compounds resulting in the prevention of the basic oxygen furnace slag expansion predicament. Lab-scale and ready-mixed plant pilot-scale experimental findings revealed that the compressive strength of fine basic oxygen furnace slag-based geopolymer mortar can achieve a compressive strength of 30–40 MPa after 28 days, and increased compressive strength, as well as the expansion, can be controlled less than 0.5% after ASTM C151 autoclave testing. Several pilot-scale cubic meters basic oxygen furnace slag-based geopolymer concrete blocks were developed in a ready-mixed plant. The compressive strength and autoclave expansion test results demonstrated that geopolymer technology does not merely stabilize the basic oxygen furnace slag production issue totally, but also turns the slags into value-added products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Sustainable Composite Materials in Civil and Architectural Engineering)

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