Although manifold empirical studies have identified the mechanical properties of crumb rubber concrete (CRC), a comparative analysis of economic and environmental benefits between CRC and ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPCC) is not explored. In this paper, a quantitative meta-analysis between CRC and OPCC is conducted to explore optimized design strength, and a comparative analysis of the economic and environmental benefits of the two materials is undertaken. Considering cost price as the economic index and CO₂ emissions per cubic meter of concrete as the environmental index in the materialization stage, CRC and OPCC were compared with different mix designs to achieve grades of similar strengths. Upon replacing less than 20% of natural fine aggregates in concrete with crumb rubber, while retaining the cement content, an increase of 6% in the cost price was achieved for CRC with 30–40 MPa strength grade. Apart from the aspect of mining and transportation of natural aggregates, the reduction of CO₂ emissions by means of CRC adoption was verified in the treatment process of waste tire incineration. The results show that CO₂ emissions from CRC decreased by 15–17% when compared with OPCC for 30~40 MPa grade concrete. The research conclusion can serve as a theoretical basis for the engineering application of CRC with the same strength, and make certain contributions to the industrial application of crumb rubber aggregates and the sustainable treatment of waste tires.

To enhance the utilization efficiency of coal gangue aggregate, coarse aggregates are chemically modified with 5% sodium silicate solution. The effects of this modification on the compressive strength and microstructural characteristics of concrete are systematically investigated through integrated macro-testing and micro-characterization. By evaluating the compressive performance of modified coal gangue concrete blocks, the optimal mix ratio of each strength grade of blocks is determined. Experimental results indicate that the apparent density, water absorption, and crushing index of the modified coal gangue coarse aggregate exhibit better mechanical properties than the control group. The modified coal gangue coarse aggregate demonstrates improved mechanical performance, with the compressive strength of 28-day concrete showing a 15.3% increase relative to the control group. Furthermore, using a sodium silicate solution effectively enhances the interface transition zone’s performance between coal gangue coarse aggregate and cement mortar, improving the compactness of this interface. The modified coal gangue concrete blocks exhibit higher compressive strength than the original material. When the substitution rate remains constant, the compressive strength of modified coal gangue concrete decreases with increasing water–cement ratio. Similarly, at a constant water–binder ratio, compressive strength decreases with higher modified gangue aggregate replacement. Finally, compressive tests are conducted on masonry constructed with hollow blocks of strength grades MU7.5, MU10, and MU15. Then, a calculation model for the average compressive strength of modified coal gangue concrete hollow block masonry is proposed, providing theoretical support for its engineering application.

Coal gangue concrete (CGC), a recycled cementitious material derived from industrial solid waste, presents both opportunities and challenges for structural applications due to its heterogeneous composition and variable mechanical behavior. This study develops an ensemble learning framework—incorporating XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost—to predict four key constitutive parameters based on experimental data. The predicted parameters are subsequently incorporated into an ABAQUS finite element model to simulate the compressive–bending response of CGC columns, with simulation results aligning well with experimental observations in terms of failure mode, load development, and deformation characteristics. To enhance model interpretability, a hybrid approach is adopted, combining permutation-based global feature importance analysis with SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations)-derived local explanations. This joint framework captures both the overall influence of each feature and its context-dependent effects, revealing a three-stage stiffness evolution pattern—brittle, quasi-ductile, and re-brittle—governed by gangue replacement levels and consistent with micromechanical mechanisms and numerical responses. Coupled feature interactions, such as between gangue content and crush index, are shown to exacerbate stiffness loss through interfacial weakening and pore development. This integrated approach delivers both predictive accuracy and mechanistic transparency, providing a reference for developing physically interpretable, data-driven constitutive models and offering guidance for tailoring CGC toward ductile, energy-absorbing structural materials in seismic and sustainability-focused engineering.

Based on the quasi-static tests of 12 corroded RC (reinforced concrete) shear walls, it was found that reinforcement corrosion has a great influence on the skeleton curve of RC shear walls. With an increase in the degree of corrosion, the bearing capacity of specimens decreases, and the deformation capacity worsens. Increasing the diameter of longitudinal reinforcements can significantly improve the bearing capacity of corroded RC shear walls, while the deformation capacity of corroded specimens can be improved by increasing the lateral distributed reinforcement or the transverse reinforcement in the embedded column. In order to accurately evaluate the seismic performance of corroded RC shear walls, we considered descent segments of four broken-line models to estimate the skeleton curve. After considering the influence of corrosion on the parameters of the characteristic point for the skeleton curve, the calculation formulas of the characteristic point parameters of the skeleton curve for the corroded RC shear wall were determined based on the test data fitting. It was proven that the formula for the characteristic point parameters for the skeleton curve of corroded RC shear walls has good applicability. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the seismic performance evaluation of an RC shear wall structure in a salt fog environment. It provides a theoretical basis for further improving the life-cycle seismic capacity evaluation system for RC structures.

Earthen materials are attractive sustainable building solutions due to their low embodied energy and ecological benefits. However, their inherent weaknesses, such as low strength and poor durability, severely restrict modern engineering applications. Traditional physical or chemical modification methods struggle to balance significant improvement in mechanical performance with the preservation of their core sustainable attributes. To overcome this long-standing challenge, this study proposes a paradigm-shifting solution: a prefabricated monolithic lattice–earth composite wall structure. This system abandons the single-material-centered modification approach. Instead, through macroscopic system-level composite design, reinforced concrete lattices and earthen blocks are prefabricated into integral wall panels in a factory. These panels then work collaboratively with the peripheral frame through reliable integral connections. Via quasi-static tests and theoretical analysis on four scaled wall specimens with different design parameters, this study systematically reveals the working mechanism and performance regulation principles of this composite system. The core findings indicate: (1) The system achieves multiple seismic defense lines and a controllable energy dissipation path through a sequential damage mechanism: “earthen material cracking and friction → lattice yielding and energy dissipation → final defense by the frame.” (2) The ratio of the equivalent lateral stiffness of the prefabricated wall panel to the stiffness of the outer frame is a key dimensionless design parameter controlling the failure mode (ductile shear or brittle bending), and the lattice configuration is an effective means to adjust this parameter. (3) Based on tests and an equivalent stiffness model, quantitative design guidelines are proposed, focusing on optimizing lattice density (recommended: 3–4 lattice columns), limiting the aspect ratio (preferably ≤1.5), and ensuring “strong connections.” This study demonstrates that the system, without sacrificing the intrinsic sustainable advantages of earthen materials, successfully endows them with high performance, meeting modern seismic code requirements and potential for prefabricated construction through system integration innovation. It provides a new path with theoretical foundation and practical feasibility to resolve the core contradiction in the modernization of traditional earthen buildings—the incompatibility between ecological attributes and engineering performance. This lays an important foundation for developing next-generation high-performance green building structural systems.