This paper presents the results of an investigation aimed at developing reinforced concrete beams consisting of precast permanent U-shaped reinforced mortar forms filled with different types of core materials to be used as a viable alternative to the conventional reinforced concrete beam. To accomplish this objective, an experimental program was conducted and theoretical model was adopted. The experimental program comprised casting and testing of thirty beams of total dimensions 300 × 150 × 2,000 mm consisting of permanent precast U-shaped reinforced mortar forms of thickness 25 mm filled with the core material. Three additional typical reinforced concrete beams of the same total dimensions were also cast to serve as control specimens. Two types of single-layer and double-layers steel meshes were used to reinforce the permanent U-shaped forms; namely welded wire mesh and X8 expanded steel mesh. Three types of core materials were investigated: conventional concrete, autoclaved aerated lightweight concrete brick, and recycled concrete. Two types of shear connections between the precast permanent reinforced mortar form and the core material were investigated namely; adhesive bonding layer between the two surfaces, and mechanical shear connectors. The test specimens were tested as simple beams under three-point loadings on a span of 1,800 mm. The behavior of the beams incorporating the permanent forms was compared to that of the control beams. The experimental results showed that better crack resistance, high serviceability and ultimate loads, and good energy absorption could be achieved by using the proposed beams which verifies the validity of using the proposed system. The theoretical results compared well with the experimental ones.

Recent global strategies highlight the urgency of addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly CO₂ from energy-intensive industries such as cement production. Studies show that the cement industry contributes around 8% of the global CO₂ emissions, emphasizing the need for innovative and structural mitigation strategies. While advancements in carbon capture technologies, LC3 cement, alternative raw materials, and renewable energy integration are critical for achieving the net zero emissions (NZEs) goal, the challenge lies in having a structured and comprehensive approach for systematically categorizing, prioritizing, and assessing various CO₂ improvement measures within cement plants. To address this gap, this study introduces a structured assessment model designed to evaluate and rate proposed CO₂ improvement measures based on their alignment with the global NZE targets and plant-specific milestones, providing an overall cement plant performance score. The assessment tool developed in this study provides a quantitative scoring system for assessing the implementation level and impact of various CO₂ improvement measures within cement plants. The framework integrates the cleaner production concept and the 5Cs approach to the decarbonization of the cement industry, offering a systematic yet flexible method for cement industry decarbonization. To validate the assessment tool, two cement plants with different production scales and located at different geographical locations were analyzed. Plant A achieved an overall performance score of 3.315, while plant B scored 3.68. The assessment identified a potential CO₂ reduction of 20–30% through targeted improvements, highlighting that even well-established cement plants have opportunities for emissions reduction and efficiency enhancement. This study advances existing assessment methodologies by providing an adaptable, data-driven, systematic, and scalable tool that enhances decision-making, strategic modifications, and resource allocation for achieving NZE targets. Additionally, this assessment tool bridges the gap between global targets and plant-level implementation, ensuring effective transition towards sustainability in the cement industry.

The construction industry is exploring alternatives to traditional steel reinforcement in concrete due to steel’s corrosion vulnerability. Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP), known for their high tensile strength and corrosion resistance, are viable options. This study evaluates the flexural performance of concrete beams reinforced with GFRP, BFRP, and hybrid systems combining these materials with steel, following ACI 440.1R-15 guidelines. Twelve beams were assessed under three-point bending to compare their flexural strength, ductility, and failure modes against steel reinforcement. The results indicate that GFRP and BFRP beams achieve 8% and 12% higher ultimate load capacities but 38% and 58% lower deflections at failure than steel, respectively. Hybrid reinforcements enhance both load capacity and deflection performance (7% to 17% higher load with 11% to 58% lower deflection). However, GFRP and BFRP beams show reduced energy absorption, suggesting that hybrid systems could better support critical applications like seismic and impact-prone structures by improving ductility and load handling. In addition, BFRP beams predominantly failed due to debonding and concrete crushing, while GFRP beams failed due to bar rupture, reflecting key differences in their flexural failure mechanisms.

Climate change is a significant challenge in today’s world. The construction industry is one of the most energy-intensive and raw material-depleting sectors worldwide. Legal regulations, such as laws, building codes, and alternative governance, are effective ways to help mitigate climate change risks. Most of the research focuses on either one country’s policies in the construction industry towards climate change or one type of regulation across various countries. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore and compare various kinds of regulations, namely policies and laws, green codes, and green building rating systems, in three countries: Egypt, the UAE, and the United States, representing different country profiles from different continents. Sources from credible journal papers, conference proceedings, and theses dissertations were used to explore the most recent practices in these countries. It was found that Egypt is the least effective country in enforcing actions towards the climate crisis. There is a gap between the UAE’s actions and the nationally determined contribution target. Federal setbacks hinders the widespread adoption of green practices in the United States. Therefore, the key to effective approaches to combating climate change is enforcing inclusive laws, including all sustainability pillars, and having inclusive nationwide emissions targets in all sectors.

This study underscores the importance of sustainable practices by exploring the utilization of recycled plastic within the global construction industry. Plastic recycling has emerged as a crucial strategy that aligns with environmental, social, and economic sustainability indicators. Currently, substantial volumes of plastic waste are either deposited in landfills or incinerated, neglecting the potential to harness its embodied energy and the energy consumed for producing virgin materials. A key advantage of plastic lies in its promising mechanical properties. Concrete mix design is fundamental to a wide range of construction applications, including brick walls, reinforced concrete slabs, and concrete pavements. Despite the adoption of recycled plastic in construction materials in various countries, its widespread implementation remains limited. This is primarily due to the scarcity of experimental research in this area and the absence of a robust waste management system. This research specifically investigates the reuse of two common types of plastic waste: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to mitigate plastic waste accumulation in landfills and enhance the performance of construction materials. The study investigates the use of recycled HDPE and PET as a replacement for coarse aggregates in concrete pavement mixtures. While recycled PET is more prevalent in concrete applications, recycled HDPE has demonstrated exceptional efficiency and durability. The recycling method used in this research is the mechanical recycling method due to its superior effectiveness in comparison with other methodologies. This research assesses the performance of recycled PET and HDPE in concrete pavement, aiming to diminish non-renewable energy consumption by 15–20%, curtail the carbon footprint by 15–30%, and decrease plastic waste in landfills by 20–30% compared to conventional concrete.

The construction field is one of the largest sectors and industries worldwide. This industry is the main industry accused of contributing to greenhouse gases and increasing the effects of climate change. However, the construction industry is indispensable, accordingly in an attempt to decrease the greenhouse gas effects of construction this research presents the manuscript for building a one-story building with all components including waste products. The building model used a strip foundation with a concrete mix design incorporating recycled concrete as a partial replacement for aggregates, cement hollow blocks containing granite waste instead of conventional cement blocks, and sandwiched insulated panels made of wood-plastic composites for the roof. The structural soundness of the system was tested by loading it with a load surpassing its design load in addition to measuring the deflection and checking its abidance to the code limitations. The thermal efficiency was tested by measuring the temperatures in comparison with the outside of the building for a span of 7 days with data recorded every 1 h. Analysis of both the short-term and long-term costs and carbon emissions was performed by acquiring the carbon emissions per unit of material from literature and multiplying it by the quantities of the materials used within the different building alternatives. That study showed that the roofs made of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) using Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) facings when used with hollow-block cement block walls have shown enduring cost efficiency and improved thermal insulation, leading to diminished energy usage, life-cycle expenses, and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the proposed system is more environmentally friendly than conventional reinforced concrete technologies due to their lower costs and emissions in addition to improving sustainability through utilizing recycled materials.