This paper investigates nine PVA fiber-reinforced cementitious composites with varying fiber content (1–2.5%) and types (oil-coated and non-coated). The experimental compositions utilize locally available cement, high volumes of fly ash, silica fume, PVA fibers, and a superplasticizer, entirely omitting natural aggregates. Key parameters evaluated include bulk density, compressive strength, secant modulus of elasticity, flexural tensile strength, fracture energy, and structural design applicability. The results show that FRCs without natural aggregates achieves significantly lower densities (1500–1720 kg/m³). Compressive strength is influenced by matrix density, with the highest value recorded at 30.98 MPa. The high fly ash content reduces the secant modulus of elasticity, while flexural tensile strength follows a similar pattern to compressive strength. Oil-coated fibers generally lower fracture energy, except for the 1.5% PVA content, where the 2.5% composition performs best. All specimens exhibit tension softening rather than the strain-hardening behavior of ECCs. Structural design equations were developed, though experimental validation is necessary. The 2.5% PVA composition increases the compression zone height by 7% while requiring 2% more reinforcement. As a sustainable alternative to conventional concrete, the composites offer promising mechanical properties and structural viability for construction applications.

This paper presents a combined theoretical and experimental investigation of an innovative building material known as PVA Fiber Reinforced Composite - an advanced class of cement-based materials renowned for their exceptional flexibility and superior crack control, overcoming the limitations of traditional concrete. The study aimed to develop new compositions and conduct a comparative performance analysis. The proposed composites utilize locally available cement at conventional dosage levels, incorporating high volumes of fly ash, silica fume, PVA fibers, and a superplasticizer, while entirely omitting stone and sand aggregates. A total of nine compositions were designed and tested: four with uncoated PVA fibers at 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%, four with oil-coated PVA fibers in the same proportions, one control mix containing sand aggregates. The research evaluated key experimental and design parameters, including bulk density, compressive strength and strain, secant modulus of elasticity, flexural tensile strength and deflection, fracture energy, and structural design applicability. As a novel building material aimed at enhancing both environmental sustainability and structural performance, the studied fiber-reinforced composites exhibit promising characteristics, positioning them as viable alternatives for practical construction applications.

This study examines the use of electronic waste (e-waste) as an alternative material in concrete for sustainability and natural resource conservation. Various e-wastes, such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP), Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP), cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), polyethylene (PE), electronic cable waste (ECW), Waste Electrical Cable Rubber (WECR), copper fiber (Cu Fib.), aluminum Fibers (Al fib.), steel fibers, basalt fibers, glass fibers, aramid−carbon fibers, Kevlar fibers, jute fibers, and optical fibers, were tested for influence on compressive, flexural, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and water absorption. Outcomes show that fine particle waste at low levels (0.2–1.5%) can improve mechanical performance, while higher levels of replacement or coarse particles generally reduce performance. Mechanical and physical properties are highly sensitive to material type, particle size, and dose. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and predictive modeling are recommended as validation for sustainability benefits.

3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is increasingly used for both on-site building fabrication and off-site production of structural components in controlled environments. The differences between these application contexts pose distinct requirements and constraints for the robotic systems used for material deposition. Selecting an appropriate robotic architecture, therefore, represents a critical design decision that directly influences printing quality and system performance. To address this challenge, this study proposes a multi-criteria decision-making framework for optimal selection of the robotic architecture for a 3DCP system, in accordance with its application requirements and constraints. For this, the method integrates AHP and TOPSIS, and takes into consideration factors such as technical characteristics, operational requirements, and economic costs. To demonstrate the applicability of the method, a case study was conducted to identify the most suitable robotic architecture for a laboratory-scale façade printing 3DCP system. Three robotic configurations were analyzed: a gantry system, an articulated robotic arm, and a parallel delta robot. The results showed that the articulated robotic arm achieves the highest TOPSIS closeness coefficient (CCᵢ = 0.681), outperforming the other two configurations. These findings align with existing façade-oriented 3DCP studies and indicate that articulated robotic arms are well-suited for the fabrication of geometrically complex components with higher surface quality and dimensional accuracy. The results show that the proposed framework enables transparent, application-driven decisions during early-stage robotic system design for 3DCP.