The use of vegetable fibres as a sustainable alternative to non-natural sources of fibres applied for concrete reinforcement has been studied for over three decades. The main issues about plant-based fibres pointed out by other authors are the variability in their properties and concerns about potential high biodegradability in the alkaline pH of the concrete matrix. Aiming to minimise the variability of flax and hemp fibres, this research compares a range of chemical surface treatments, analysing their effects on the behaviour of the fibres and the effects of their addition to concrete. Corroborating what has been found by other authors, the treatment using NaOH 10% for 24 h was able to enhance the properties of hemp fibre-reinforced concrete and reduce the degradability in alkaline solution. For flax fibres, a novel alternative stood out: treatment using 1% of stearic acid in ethanol for 4 h. Treatment using this solution increased the tensile by 101%, causing a minor effect on the elastic modulus. Concrete mixes reinforced with the treated flax fibres presented reduced thermal conductivity and elastic modulus and increased residual tensile strength and fracture energy.

The purpose of this research is to examine current alignment of tourism, hospitality, culinary, events, and sports management curriculum with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) across two departments in Higher Education Institutions in Ireland. To do this, a quantitative approach was adopted utilising a content analysis of programme learning outcomes and surveys with programme specific educators. This permitted an evaluation on the current status of incorporation of SDG’s within existing curricula and an insight into the motivations and challenges of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) integration from the perspective of educators. Findings revealed weak levels of current alignment of learning outcomes to SDG’s for tourism, hospitality, culinary, events, and sports management curriculum across two sampled departments while educators emphasised a need to upskill on the subject matter in an effort to ensure more comprehensive ESD integration across modules and programmes. The Results overall highlighted the need to ensure future curriculum review and development takes appropriate cognisance of ESD and through communities of Practice within Higher Education Institutions, educators can better embed and advance ESD within third level curricula. The findings presented in this study may have lessons to be learned for other Higher Education Institutions across Ireland and internationally.

The transverse isotropy of rock masses formed by sedimentation is a common stratum environment in engineering, and the physical–mechanical properties can degrade due to water–rock interaction (WRI) and natural weathering, which potentially lead to the instability or collapse of tunneling, slopes and mining. Taking the carbonaceous slate of the Muzhailing tunnel as the research object, two types of specimens, which include oven-drying (instant drying in oven after fabrication) and natural air-drying (static weathering for 60 days after fabrication) were prepared, respectively, after which Brazilian tests were carried out and the tensile properties were analyzed under the two conditions. The experimental results showed that the two kinds of carbonaceous slate all show brittle failure, but the mechanical response such as failure displacement and peak load is obviously different. The tensile strength of the specimens is significantly all affected by the bedding, while the cleavage failure patterns of the two kinds are affected to different degrees. The softening coefficient of the natural air-drying specimen is 0.11–0.13, which implies that WRI and natural weathering play a vital role in the course of rock failure but have little influence on the transverse isotropy tensile property of bedding. Moreover, the mechanisms of specimen failure subject to WRI and 60 days’ weathering were explained by the SEM technique, which analyzed the micro-components and observes the process of specimen deterioration due to physicochemical reaction, the gradual development of cracks and erosion by weathering.

The viability of incorporating agricultural by-products, such as oat husks, not yet explored in limestone-based composites, as more sustainable alternatives for use as novel aggregates may be improved through the adoption of well-known valorisation strategies applied to other plant-based resources. In this context, this work innovates by assessing how treatments on oat husk surfaces and the choice of limestone-based binders impact the mechanical performance of composites. The strategy adopted to achieve these objectives, in addition to carrying out the physical and geometric characterisation of the husks, consists of treating the husks’ surface using washing cycles in water, cement/pozzolan binder, and linseed oil. Furthermore, matrices combining cement, calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)₂, and microsilica (SiO₂) were used. In conclusion, even though the effects of different binder combinations are inconsistent, coating oat husks—especially with linseed oil—works well in delaying particle degradation and improving mechanical strength compared to untreated particles. Furthermore, when aggregates are substituted with the longer and lamellar particles of oat husk, the impact of the water/cement ratio on mechanical performance and composite workability significantly decreases.

In recent years several theories have been put forward in relation to lateral forces imparted on bridges from crowd movements. It is now widely accepted that the interaction between the crowd and the structure, particularly when the crowd pacing freq