The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in retrofitting and strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) slabs has gained substantial attention due to their durability, high strength-to-weight ratio, and ease of application. The objective of this study was to theoretically investigate the flexural behavior of RC slabs strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates applied in different percentages and patterns using finite element methods (FEMs) in comparison with the experiment outcomes available in the literature using the ABAQUS software (version 2020). This study focused on understanding the influence of the CFRP configuration on the structural behavior, including the load-carrying capacity, flexural performance, crack patterns, and failure modes, under static loading on seventeen RC slabs of 1800 × 1800 mm and 150 mm thickness. A comprehensive program was adopted, where RC slabs were strengthened using CFRP plates with different coverage percentages (0.044, 0.088, 0.133, 0.178, and 0.223) and arrangements (unidirectional, cross-hatched, and grid patterns) to evaluate the slabs’ performance under realistic service conditions. After comparison, the results validate that the percentage and pattern of CFRP plates influence the performance of RC slabs. Higher CFRP plate percentages yielded greater strength enhancement, while optimized patterns guaranteed a uniform stress distribution and delayed crack initiation. This study hypothesizes that the flexural strength, stiffness, and failure behavior of RC slabs are significantly affected by the percentage and arrangement of CFRP strengthening, with certain configurations providing superior structural performance. The use of CFRP cross-hatched plates improved the load–deflection behavior, increasing the ultimate loads by 35% (452 kN) while reducing ultimate deflection, with the cross-hatched CFRP specimen showing the highest deflection among all the CFRP specimens. This study provides engineers and practitioners with valuable information on choosing appropriate strengthening plans for RC slabs using CFRP plates, leading to more cost-effective and ecologically friendly structural rehabilitation methods.

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has greater strength and durability compared to traditional concrete. While these benefits are well established, there are differences in UHPC based on the constituent materials in the mixture. These variations impact the mixtures’ CO₂ emissions, efficiency, and cost. Given the contribution of concrete to overall greenhouse gas emissions, it is important to understand the potential impact of UHPC from an environmental standpoint. This study addresses the environmental and economic impact of UHPC by examining five proprietary and five non-proprietary mixtures. The investigation is guided by three research questions, as follows: (1) How do energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and cost compare between proprietary and non-proprietary UHPC mixtures? (2) Which materials are the most influential drivers of these sustainability metrics? (3) Can non-proprietary mixtures provide comparable or better performance in terms of sustainability? Using secondary data from the literature, we calculate and analyze the energy, emissions, and cost of each UHPC constituent. The results indicate that steel fibers account for 53% of the total energy of UHPC. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is responsible for 73% of total CO₂ emissions. Aggregates, admixtures, and SCMs have a minimal impact on the energy and emissions of the selected mixtures. However, they can affect the cost significantly. To highlight the key findings, non-proprietary mixtures showed substantial sustainability advantages. For example, UHPC-1 achieved up to 65% lower energy consumption, 49% lower CO₂ emissions, and 80% lower cost compared to proprietary mixtures. These results highlight the potential of non-proprietary UHPC to serve as an ecologically friendly and cost-effective substitute for infrastructure applications.

The increasing global awareness of the Earth's deteriorating condition and the unpredictable effects of climate change has given rise to worldwide phenomena that impact several elements like the economy, agricultural security, water availability, and energy supplies. Buildings contribute significantly to the generation of greenhouse gases, as well as the disposal of pollutants and energy consumption. Therefore, they play a crucial role in addressing environmental issues. Although sustainable buildings are widely acknowledged as a potential advancement, professionals in the property market still believe that the upfront costs of creating sustainable buildings are significantly higher than those of conventional buildings. This view serves as a hindrance, obstructing the widespread use of sustainable building principles. The objective of this research is to investigate the possible economic benefits and obstacles that come with the construction of ecologically friendly buildings. The aim is to determine whether these advantages can play a crucial role in the decision-making process when it comes to participating in sustainable buildings. This statement affirms the idea that in order to fully assess the total costs of constructing sustainable buildings compared to conventional ones, it is necessary to take into account the entire lifespan of the project.

With the rising in reinforced concrete (RC) bridges that suffer from deterioration due to structural or maintenance reasons, the rehabilitation of these types o With the rising in reinforced concrete (RC) bridges that suffer from deterioration due to structural or maintenance reasons, the rehabilitation of these types o