High Performance Materials for the Built Environment

The construction industry is experiencing urgent demands for smarter, more sustainable, and resilient materials that uphold both performance requirements and environmental responsibilities. This Research Topic seeks original research, reviews, and case studies focused on innovative materials and emerging technologies poised to deliver more durable, efficient, and sustainable built environments.

Meeting global performance expectations while minimizing the environmental impact of construction activities highlights the need for transformational approaches in material development and deployment. Conventional practices, highly reliant on resource-intensive cement and asphalt, remain major contributors to CO₂ emissions and resource depletion. Innovations in advanced cementitious systems, green asphalt mixtures, recycled and waste-based components, and supplementary binders are emerging as promising avenues to address these challenges.
In parallel, the adoption of nanomaterials, fibers, and smart additives is enabling breakthroughs in material durability, self-healing capabilities, and adaptive performance in both concrete and pavement systems. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is further unlocking opportunities for optimized mix design, long-term performance prediction, and comprehensive sustainability assessments.

This Research Topic aims to showcase studies that bridge scientific advancement and practical application, advancing resilient, durable, and environmentally responsible construction materials and technologies.

Scope and Key Themes
We welcome contributions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:
o Advanced Concrete and Cementitious Systems: Novel mix designs, durability enhancement, low-carbon cements, and innovative binders.
o Recycled and Waste-Based Materials: Utilization of industrial/agricultural by-products, construction and demolition waste, and circular economy strategies.
o Sustainable and Green Asphalt Technologies: Eco-friendly asphalt mixtures, performance-improving additives, and recycling strategies.
o Supplementary Cementitious Materials and Alkali-Activated Binders: Alternatives to ordinary Portland cement, including geopolymer and other sustainable binders.
o Nanomaterials, Fibers, and Smart Additives: Self-healing mechanisms, performance and durability improvements, and multifunctional enhancements in construction materials.
o AI, Machine Learning, and Modeling Approaches: Data-driven optimization, predictive analytics, and performance modeling of construction materials.
o Performance Evaluation: Studies on material/structural durability, service life prediction, and comprehensive life cycle assessments (LCA).

Article Types and Contribution
We invite Original Research Articles, Reviews, Case Studies, Data Papers, and Methods that:
o Provide scientific insights and practical solutions.
o Demonstrate innovation, scalability, and real-world impact.
o Emphasize the link between material characteristics, structural performance, and long-term environmental benefits.

Submissions are encouraged to clearly articulate contributions to sustainable development, resilience, and the broader goals of decarbonizing and optimizing the built environment.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: High Performance Materials, Sustainable construction materials, Recycled and waste-based materials, Green asphalt, Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), Artificial intelligence in material optimization, Nanomaterials, smart additives

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.