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Sustainable Concrete Masonry: AAC and LWAC
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Sustainable Concrete Masonry: AAC and LWAC

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 12520

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elena Michelini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parma, 43124, Italy
Interests: NLFE modelling; RC, FRC and precast concrete structures; tunnel linings; fire action on RC structures; sustainable concrete masonry; sustainable and innovative materials; FRCM composites; vulnerability assessment of existing structures
Prof. Dr. Daniele Ferretti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Parma, 43124, Italy
Interests: Structural behavior of historical constructions; bond effects in beams strengthened by FRP external plates; fracture in brittle and quasi brittle materials; RC structures; sustainable concrete masonry; sustainable and innovative materials; FRCM composites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As Guest Editors, we are launching a Special Issue of the international, peer-reviewed, open access journal Sustainability focused on “Sustainable Concrete Masonry: AAC and LWAC”.

Innovative concrete masonry units (CMUs), based on autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) with waste materials are experiencing an increasing spread in the construction market to meet sustainability objectives. These innovative CMUS are adopted for the construction and retrofit of both load-bearing walls in masonry buildings, and cladding, infill, and partition walls in framed structures.

This Special Issue will collect the latest research on innovative concrete masonry components and assemblages. Contributions are welcomed on the following topics: experimental and theoretical research on innovative masonry components (blocks and/or mortars) with reduced environmental impact; experimental, theoretical, and numerical research focused on static and seismic performances of innovative masonry assemblages; experimental, theoretical, and numerical research focused on the behavior of innovative masonry assemblages under accidental loads (fire, impact, explosion, etc.); experimental, theoretical, and numerical research focused on environmental performances of innovative masonry assemblages (energy efficiency, building comfort, or other sustainability indices); evaluation of the environmental performance of innovative concrete masonry through LCA analyses; parametric studies for the optimization of products and systems, from both structural safety and sustainability standpoints; case studies.

Dr. Elena Michelini
Prof. Dr. Daniele Ferretti
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.

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5281 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Density on the Delicate Balance between Structural Requirements and Environmental Issues for AAC Blocks: An Experimental Investigation
by Daniele Ferretti and Elena Michelini
Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13186; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313186 - 28 Nov 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2731
Abstract
Among other construction materials, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) offers several advantages to face the pressing need to build more sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. From the building side, the low thermal conductivity of AAC allows the realization of energy-efficient building envelopes, with interesting savings [...] Read more.
Among other construction materials, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) offers several advantages to face the pressing need to build more sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. From the building side, the low thermal conductivity of AAC allows the realization of energy-efficient building envelopes, with interesting savings in terms of heating and cooling processes. The equilibrium between structural performances (related to safety issues) and energy efficiency requirements is, however, very delicate since it is strictly related to the search for an “optimum” material density. Within this context, this work discusses the results of wide experimental research, showing the dependency of the most important mechanical properties (compressive strength, elastic modulus, flexural strength and fracture energy) from density, as well as the corresponding variation in thermal conductivity. In order to identify the better compromise solution, a sort of eco-mechanical index is also defined. The big challenge for future researches will be the improvement of this eco-mechanical index by working on pore structure and pore distribution within the material without significantly reducing the density and/or by improving the strength of the skeleton material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concrete Masonry: AAC and LWAC)
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13 pages, 15399 KiB  
Article
Experimental Characterization of the Initial Shear Strength of Composite Masonry including AAC Blocks and DPC Layers
by Martijn Vanheukelom, Rajarshi Das, Hervé Degée and Bram Vandoren
Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12749; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212749 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1879
Abstract
Modern masonry structures, apart from having a load-bearing function, are more and more subjected to additional non-structural requirements related to, e.g., thermal insulation and moisture control. This has respectively led to the introduction of thermal break layers, in practice often executed using autoclaved [...] Read more.
Modern masonry structures, apart from having a load-bearing function, are more and more subjected to additional non-structural requirements related to, e.g., thermal insulation and moisture control. This has respectively led to the introduction of thermal break layers, in practice often executed using autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks, and damp proof courses (DPC) in masonry walls. These modifications have an impact on the mechanical characteristics of the masonry, such as the shear strength. In this paper, an extensive experimental campaign is therefore conducted on masonry triplets to investigate the initial shear strength of concrete block and clay brick masonry, including AAC blocks. The impact of the the presence of a polyethylene DPC layer is also studied. Moreover, the position of the DPC membrane is varied, i.e., directly on top of the brick (which is generally not recommended yet common in construction practice) and in the middle of the mortar joint. In total, 138 shear tests were performed according to the EN 1052-3 standard, with low to moderate precompression levels. The test results focus on the differences in friction angle, shear modulus, and friction coefficient. It is concluded that the presence of an AAC block decreases the initial shear strength to a value which is lower than the one assumed by Eurocode 6. Moreover, when adding a DPC membrane, the shear strength is reduced even further to almost zero, in particular when the membrane is not put in the middle of the mortar joint. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concrete Masonry: AAC and LWAC)
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24 pages, 7016 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of the Structural Resistance and Stability of Masonry Walls with an AAC Thermal Break Layer
by Mohammed Deyazada, Hervé Degée and Bram Vandoren
Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11647; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111647 - 21 Oct 2021
Viewed by 2678
Abstract
Since energy efficiency has become the main priority in the design of buildings, load-bearing walls in modern masonry constructions nowadays include thermal break elements at the floor–wall junction to mitigate thermal bridges. The structural stability of these bearing walls is consequently affected. In [...] Read more.
Since energy efficiency has become the main priority in the design of buildings, load-bearing walls in modern masonry constructions nowadays include thermal break elements at the floor–wall junction to mitigate thermal bridges. The structural stability of these bearing walls is consequently affected. In the present paper, a numerical study of the resistance and stability of such composite masonry walls, including AAC thermal break layers, is presented. A finite element mesoscopic model is successfully calibrated with respect to recent experimental results at small and medium scale, in terms of resistance and stiffness under vertical load with or without eccentricity. The model is then used to extend the numerical models to larger-scale masonry walls made of composite masonry, with the aim of investigating the consequences of thermal elements on global resistance and stability. The results confirm that the resistance of composite walls is governed by the masonry layer with the lowest resistance value, except for walls with very large slenderness and loaded eccentrically: composite walls with low slenderness or loaded by a vertical load with limited eccentricities are failing due to the crushing of the AAC layer, while the walls characterized by large slenderness ratios and loaded eccentrically tend to experience buckling failure in the main clay masonry layer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concrete Masonry: AAC and LWAC)
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Review

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21 pages, 5410 KiB  
Review
Industrial Wastes-Cum-Strength Enhancing Additives Incorporated Lightweight Aggregate Concrete (LWAC) for Energy Efficient Building: A Comprehensive Review
by Rajesh Kumar, Abhishek Srivastava and Rajni Lakhani
Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010331 - 29 Dec 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4124
Abstract
Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) exhibits the advantages of thermal insulation, reduces energy consumption building costs, improves building efficiency and easy construction. Furthermore, the utilization of industrial wastes in concrete is advantageous in terms of environmental sustainability. In order to explore this, several researchers [...] Read more.
Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) exhibits the advantages of thermal insulation, reduces energy consumption building costs, improves building efficiency and easy construction. Furthermore, the utilization of industrial wastes in concrete is advantageous in terms of environmental sustainability. In order to explore this, several researchers investigated the idea of integrating industrial wastes in LWAC. However, the lack of knowledge regarding the performance of industrial waste-based lightweight aggregate concrete hinders the adaptation of this concept and application of LWAC in the construction sector. Therefore, this paper summarizes the research in relation to the sustainable LWACs containing oil palm shell (OPS), lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA), vermiculite, perlite, pumice and sintered fly ash as lightweight aggregate, along with industrial wastes and strength-enhancing additives (viz. fibers, polymers, etc.). Firstly, desirable physical, chemical, morphological and mineralogical characterization of different lightweight aggregates are presented, and then a comprehensive overview on fresh, hardened, durability and thermal properties of LWAC incorporating industrial wastes are discussed in comparison with normal weight concrete. The review also highlights the current challenges and suggests the research gaps for further development of eco-friendly LWAC. It is concluded that vermiculite, perlite, pumice, OPS, sintered fly ash and LECA with some suitable industrial waste materials have the potential to be used in the construction sector. Moreover, LWAC with industrial waste has 50–65% lower carbon emission (kg CO2 eq/m3) in the environment. The scientific contribution of this paper provides insights into different LWACs and the knowledge base for future research and paradigm shift of using LWACs as more common alternative building materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Concrete Masonry: AAC and LWAC)
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