Editorial

The Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Structures and Buildings had another successful year in 2025. A wide range of high-quality papers was published, further strengthening the journal’s position as a key platform for disseminating research outcomes and engineering practice within the civil engineering community. Sincere thanks go to all authors and reviewers for their invaluable support and contributions, which have played a crucial role in the continued development of this journal.Looking ahead to 2026, the editorial team will continue to work diligently to support engineers and academics in advancing towards a more sustainable future for our industry.The January 2026 issue contains eight papers, covering a broad range of civil engineering problems. The papers in this issue are summarised as follows.Shahzada et al. (2026) investigated the seismic performance of damaged crumb rubber concrete (CRC) frames retrofitted with carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wrapping. They found that CFRP retrofitting effectively redistributes damage, resulting in a more uniform cracking pattern and improved energy dissipation capacity. These findings underscore the potential of CRC as a viable option for seismic applications, offering enhanced sustainability without compromising structural integrity.Chanda et al. (2026) describe a study assessing the seismic performance of a combined piled raft foundation (CPRF) to support an upcoming nuclear building in the alluvial deposit of Western India. A three-dimensional finite-difference study using Flac3D software was performed, and the effects of input motion on the responses of the CPRF were evaluated. The input bedrock-level motion was generated using deconvolution analysis in DeepSoil software. The findings from the finite-difference analysis underscore the significant impact of inertial and kinematic soil–structure interaction on the design outcomes of CPRFs.Phan-Vu et al. (2026) conducted an experimental investigation into the efficacy of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for repairing precracked concrete beams prestressed with unbonded tendons (called UPC beams). The test results indicated that the effect of the externally bonded CFRP repairing system was significant only after crack reopening. A calculation method for determining the flexural resistance of precracked UPC beams strengthened with FRP laminates is introduced in this paper.Sangeetha and Shanmugapriya (2026) conducted an experimental study on copper slag mortar under exposure to freezing–thawing and acid attack. The compressive strength of mortar with copper slag exposed to an aggressive environment was analysed using an ultrasonic pulse velocity test. Two deep learning models were used to predict the compressive strength of the copper slag mortar – an artificial neural network (ANN) and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (Anfis). Compared with the ANN model, the Anfis model shows minimal error in predictions with a high degree of accuracy when forecasting the compressive strength of the copper slag mortar.Ansari et al. (2026) developed biocomposite ceiling tiles as an alternative to gypsum ceiling tiles. Microstructural analysis was performed, followed by tests for the evaluation of flexural strength and thermal and acoustic insulation properties. This study is original in its approach and highlights the potential of pearl millet seed coverings in developing biocomposites as sustainable building materials, covering applications in ceiling tiles, partitions walls and decorative finishes across diverse geographic regions.Saribas (2026) conducted a numerical simulation and experimental study of substandard reinforced concrete (RC) columns. In total, 14 short RC columns with different confinement details were examined. The findings showed that the performance of the substandard columns was inferior to that of properly confined columns. Some recommendations for simulating columns with substandard confinement reinforcement details are also provided in this paper.Jebamaniraj and Kadarkaraithangam (2026) investigated the use of activated coconut shell charcoal powder (ACSCP) as a sustainable partial replacement for cement. ACSCP was produced by pyrolysing coconut shells and soaking the resulting charcoal in calcium chloride solution, followed by calcination at 600°C. They found that the mix with 10% ACSCP achieved optimal compressive strength and favourable thermal conductivity, demonstrating its potential as an eco-friendly alternative for sustainable construction applications.Wang et al. (2026) developed a framework that combines both mass flow rate (MFR) control and air pressure control to accurately simulate the deployment of inflatable structures (Tensairity domes). To accelerate the simulation, the computational MFR was strategically amplified. The dynamic effects resulting from this amplification were quantitatively analysed, and a decoupling strategy for adiabatic inflation and heat exchange was introduced to account for thermal effects. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve precise internal pressure control, and a computational MFR below 55 kg/s is recommended for the inflation simulation.