The construction sector is one of the largest producers of waste, contributing significantly to global environmental challenges. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on sustainable practices, particularly in the reuse and recycling of construction and demolition waste, municipal solid waste, and industrial waste. Addressing the environmental impact of this waste is critical for sustainable development. This collection explores innovative strategies, technologies, and policies aimed at minimizing waste, promoting resource efficiency, aiming to reduce landfill dependency, and advancing sustainable building practices within the construction industry.

This collection invites comprehensive research and practical insights into various aspects of waste management in the construction sector, including:

1. Construction and Demolition Waste: Innovative methods for recycling and reusing concrete, asphalt, metals, wood, and other materials from construction and demolition sites.

2. Municipal Solid Waste: Strategies for integrating recycled municipal solid waste materials, such as glass, plastics, and organic matter, into construction projects.

3. Industrial Waste: Techniques for repurposing industrial by-products and waste materials in construction, including slag, fly ash, and manufacturing residues.

4. Policy and Regulation: Examination of governmental policies, regulations, and incentives that facilitate the reuse and recycling of various waste types in construction.

5. Sustainable Construction Practices: Implementation of circular economy principles in construction, including design for disassembly, modular construction, and sustainable material sourcing.

6. Environmental and Economic Impacts: Evaluation of the environmental benefits and economic feasibility of recycling and reusing different types of waste in the construction sector, including life cycle and cost-benefit analyses.

7. Technological Advances: Development and application of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, to optimize waste management and recycling processes in construction.

8. Material Innovation: Research new materials and products derived from recycled waste, assessing their performance, durability, and potential applications in construction.

9. Case Studies and Best Practices: Documentation of successful projects and initiatives that highlight effective reuse and recycling strategies in the construction industry.

By bringing together cutting-edge research and practical insights, this collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of waste reuse and recycling in the construction sector. Contributions from academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders are encouraged to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue and drive meaningful change in the industry.

Keywords: Construction Waste Management; Recycling Techniques; Reuse Strategies; Sustainable Construction; Municipal Solid Waste; Environmental Impact; Circular Economy; Industrial Waste Recycling

In materials science and engineering, the pursuit of robust and resilient materials capable of withstanding extreme loading conditions and demanding service environments is more pressing than ever. The field of structural engineering and related materials and computational engineering disciplines, at the forefront of this endeavor, faces constant challenges posed by natural hazards, complex service environments, and high-temperature exposure. The ability of structural systems and materials to endure such events depends crucially on their properties and performance. Discover Materials, as part of the Discover journal series committed to advancing materials research, provides an ideal platform for addressing these challenges and accelerating innovation across the full spectrum of materials design, modelling, processing, and application.

The Collection, titled “Materials in Structural Engineering: Challenges and Innovations under Extreme Loading Conditions,” aims to delve deeply into the intersection of materials science and structural resilience across experimental, numerical, and applied perspectives. This collection is driven by the urgent need to develop advanced materials, structural systems, and engineering methodologies that can withstand diverse forms of extreme loading, including blast and impact forces, as well as thermal, durability-related, and environmental effects, while ensuring reliable performance across experimental, computational, and real-world engineering applications.

This Collection will encompass a diverse array of topics essential to advancing our understanding and capabilities in structural, materials, and interdisciplinary engineering systems. Key themes include but are not limited to:

(1) Experimental studies on the behavior of structural materials subjected to blast and impact forces, high temperatures, and other severe service conditions, aiming to uncover fundamental mechanisms and develop protective measures;

(2) Analytical modeling approaches to simulate and predict the response of structures under extreme loading conditions, including coupled mechanical and thermal effects, facilitating the design of resilient systems;

(3) Numerical simulations that leverage advanced computational methods to model complex interactions between materials and dynamic forces, including finite element and related numerical techniques;

(4) Application of machine learning techniques to analyze vast datasets and extract actionable insights for enhancing structural resilience and performance prediction.

Additionally, the scope of this collection is broadened to include studies on multifunctional and advanced engineering materials, materials processing, manufacturing processes, and optimization techniques, as well as data-driven and artificial intelligence-based engineering systems, relevant to structural, mechanical, civil infrastructure systems, and multidisciplinary engineering systems.

At its core, this topic collection aligns with Discover Materials’ mission to catalyze innovation in materials research across diverse applications. By publishing pioneering research in structural engineering and related advanced and functional material systems, the collection aims to not only expand our fundamental understanding of materials behavior but also to accelerate the development of materials with enhanced properties for a safer and more sustainable built environment including conventional, advanced, and emerging material systems.

Authors are invited to submit original research articles, reviews, and case studies that contribute to the understanding of structural and functional materials, their processing and performance behavior, and related computational, experimental, and data-driven approaches under extreme loading and engineering service conditions. Submissions should emphasize practical applications and theoretical advancements relevant to the fields of structural engineering, materials science, and allied engineering domains.

This Collection will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers involved in the design, analysis, and implementation of advanced materials and engineering systems, spanning experimental studies, numerical modeling, data-driven approaches, and real-world applications. It aims to foster collaboration and innovation in addressing challenges in structural, mechanical, and materials engineering through cutting-edge research in extreme loading conditions, materials processing, and performance optimization.

Feature Conferences:

(1) 2025 International Conference on Materials, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering Technologies (MMCET 2025), to be held in Tokyo, Japan, from December 17th to 19th, 2025.

(2) 2025 2nd International Symposium on Civil Engineering and Smart Structure Technology (CESST 2025), to be held in Zhengzhou, China, from December 5th to 7th, 2025.

(3) The 4th International Conference on Civil Engineering and Intelligent Construction, to be held in China, on September 23, 2026.

High-quality papers presented at the conference, as well as directly submitted manuscripts, will be considered for inclusion in this Collection, subject to a rigorous peer-review process in accordance with Springer Nature policies. We welcome innovative research that advances knowledge and practice in this critical field.

“This Collection continues to advance experimental, computational, and data-driven innovations toward resilient, sustainable, and high-performance structural systems under extreme engineering demands.” — Guest Editor

Keywords:

Structural Engineering; Extreme Loading Conditions; Blast and Impact Forces; Resilient Infrastructure; Material Performance; Simulations; Finite Element Modeling; High-Temperature Effects; Durability; Composite Materials; Numerical Methods; Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; Neural Networks; Optimization Techniques; Civil Infrastructure Systems; Structural Health and Performance Assessment; Materials Processing; Functional and Structural Materials