Can natural materials compete in the demanding world of high-performance foiling sailing? This question inspired our latest open-access publication in the Journal of Sailing Technology: “Design, Development, and Manufacturing of a Flax-Fiber Composite Main Foil for the SuMoth Challenge Moth-Class Sailing Dinghy”.
We are pleased to share that our review paper entitled “Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete” has been selected as an Editor’s Choice Article by the journal Buildings (MDPI).
A new research article has been published in Resilience and Reuse in the Built Environment, focusing on the physical, mechanical, and thermal performance of cement-stabilised unfired earth bricks. The study aims to identify low-impact construction materials capable of combining sustainability with reliable engineering performance.
A new study has been published focusing on the development of sustainable biochar-based phase change material (PCM) composites for thermal energy storage applications.
New study on natural jute and flax TRM for sustainable masonry strengthening
New publication on sustainable cementitious materials: biochar, nanomaterials, and recycled aggregates Our latest review paper has been published in the journal Infrastructures: “Biochar, Nanomaterials and Recycled Aggregates—Towards Future Sustainable Concrete and Alkali-Activated Materials”
We are pleased to share our recent publication in Construction and Building Materials, focusing on the long-term creep behaviour of laminated bamboo–timber structural systems.
Masonry buildings represent a large portion of the existing built environment worldwide, particularly in countries such as Italy, where many structures were constructed before modern seismic design provisions were introduced. In this context, identifying effective and sustainable strengthening solutions has become a major priority. Our recent study published in Structures addresses this challenge by introducing an innovative strengthening system based on Natural Fiber Textile Reinforced Mortar (NFTRM) using jute fibers for masonry wall retrofitting.
Sustainable strengthening of masonry structures is currently one of the most critical challenges in structural engineering, particularly in the context of upgrading the existing built environment. In this framework, Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) systems with natural fibers are emerging as a promising solution, combining mechanical performance with reduced environmental impact.
The construction industry is at a critical crossroads. As one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions and natural resource depletion, the sector is under immense pressure to adopt circular economy principles. A primary challenge has been the management of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW). While recycling these materials is environmentally desirable, structural engineers have long been cautious about the performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC) in load-bearing applications.
University of Cagliari
