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3D-Printed Concrete (3DPC) can reduce the consumption of materials, construction costs, and implementation time, as well as increase sustainability. Seismic safety is one of the necessities of any structure in a high earthquake hazard zone. The lack of scientific and engineering studies in this area would highlight the importance of studying seismic safety in 3DPC building structures. This paper is focused on the basic specifications of 3DPC buildings under earthquake excitations. The authors conducted a thorough theoretical study due to the pilot nature of the research. A prescriptive evaluation was conducted based on the existing seismic regulations for similar structures. The main goal of the research was to create the necessary platform for applied studies, which was achieved through theoretical investigations and prescriptive evaluations. For this purpose, the finite element modeling of a 3DPC building with an arch roofing system was implemented and analyzed using ABAQUS software. Based on the main results, the most remarkable weakness of such a structure was the material's poor tension behavior. The arrangement of the internal partitions (infill walls), the shear performance of the walls, and the relative displacement of the components were other effective factors of the 3DPC building under seismic loads. The results showed that the truss-like performance of the arch roof in the considered 3DPC building probably caused the undesirable structural responses under the seismic loads.

Earthquakes threaten humanity globally in complex ways that mainly include various socioeconomic consequences of life and property losses. Resilience against seismic risks is of high importance in the modern world and needs to be sustainable. Sustainable earthquake resilience (SER) from the perspective of structural engineering means equipping the built environment with appropriate aseismic systems. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a class of advanced materials well suited for fulfilling the SER demand of the built environment. This article explores how this capability can be realized by the innovative SMA-based superelasticity-assisted slider (SSS), recently proposed for next-generation seismic protection of structures. The versatility of SSS is first discussed as a critical advantage for an effective SER. Alternative configurations and implementation styles of the system are presented, and other advantageous features of this high-tech isolation system (IS) are studied. Results of shaking table experiments, focused on investigating the expected usefulness of SSS for seismic protection in hospitals and conducted at the structural earthquake engineering laboratory of the University of Bonab, are then reported. SSS is compared with currently used ISs, and it is shown that SSS provides the required SER for the built environments and outperforms other ISs by benefitting from the pioneered utilization of SMAs in a novel approach.

Over the last decade, many major cities have experienced a housing crisis to keep pace with patterns of urban population growth. Housing continues to face many challenges such as land use, regulatory issues, and environmental issues. In recent years, new housing research has also revealed that prefabricated housing could indirectly be a solution to environmental issues, as the housing sector has observed an increase in demand for eco-friendly housing solutions. However, while prefabricated housing can be a solution to issues of environmental concerns, it still needs more research to explore its influence on social sustainability. Therefore, this opinion paper investigates how socially sustainable communities could be feasible and practicable through prefabricated housing. In this opinion paper, the social sustainability principles in relation to prefabricated housing was analysed to show situations that can be complex with the benefits and challenges as well. The main objective of this study was to find the potential of prefabricated housing to promote social sustainability, with proper analysis of this housing influence on the key elements of community, diversity as well as adaptability. A survey based on the aspect of social sustainability of prefabricated housing was conducted to collect various perspectives that may influence the future trend in the housing sector, hence making necessary steps towards socially sustainable prefabricated housing solutions. The survey findings highlight the social element of prefabricated households, which refers to how accessible as well as adaptable the prefabricated homes are in terms of targets, build and social group, encouraging dwellers' interaction and participation, which facilitates the implementation of a sense of belonging and social cohesion among societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the use of natural additives (biopolymers) resistant to scouring. To this end, three natural substances, Kathira, sodium alginate, and guar gum, have been utilized as additives resistant to scouring, and we examine their mechanical performance, resistance to scouring, and the properties of fresh concrete including slump test, setting time, and ultimately shrinkage test. For this purpose, a total of 12 cylindrical specimens with dimensions of 15 by 30 cm were prepared for 28-day compressive strength test, and 12 cylindrical specimens with dimensions of 15 by 30 cm were prepared for 28-day indirect tensile strength test. Additionally, 12 concrete beams with dimensions of 10 by 10 by 35 cm were fabricated for a 28-day flexural strength test. All laboratory specimens were submerged in lime-saturated water for hydration for a period of 28 days for maintenance and preservation. The results indicate that all three biopolymers improve resistance to scouring, and, two substances enhance compressive, tensile, and flexural strength. Furthermore, all of them lead to a reduction in concrete shrinkage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]