This research is an experimental study on the fresh-state properties as well as the mechanical behavior of structural lightweight concrete (SLWCs) that made from recycled low-strength clay bricks (RLSCB). The test program includes testing ten mixtures of SLWCs with a target compressive strength of (35 – 40 MPa) and a target air density less than 1900 kg/m3 in addition, three mixtures of normal weight concrete (NWCs) of target compressive strength equal to 37.5 MPa were used for comparison purposes. For each mix of the fresh-status measurements, including slump, density, the air content and the temperature, a number were carried out. Furthermore, the mechanical performance for both SLWCs and NWCs under compressive, flexural and tensile stresses were conducted. The results show that structural lightweight concrete could be produced using recycled low-strength bricks as coarse aggregates with a reduction in dry density equal to 22%. Moreover, the reported results indicate that the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of rupture and elastic modulus of elasticity of SLWCs were lower those for NWCs by about 5%, 14.5%, 16.5% and 17.4%, respectively. Finally, correlations between compressive behavior and flexural behavior; compressive behavior and tensile performance; flexural behavior and tensile performance for SLWCs are proposed in this study.

This research provides informationabout the finite element analysis of the structural behavior of an innovative new type of two-wayhollow reinforced concrete (RC) slabs of two-way plastic piping system under the effects of concentratedpunching repeated loads. This new type of two-way hollow slab could be constructedbyreplacing part of the concrete volume by a continuous network of two-way plastic piping systemsto cutportion of the dead loads by reducing the self-weight of the createdslabsas well as offering networks of voids inside the RC slab which could be valuable for passing utility lines. The reliability of elements forms, material characteristics, types of constantsand the convergence study of the proposed finite element model of the new type of two-way hollow RC slabswas confirmed by the outcomes of the numerical study and the experimental results using five different parametric studies. The proposed FE modeshowed satisfactoryaccuracy with a maximum varianceratio of about 0.11in comparison with the ultimate loading capacity of the experimental behavior. The results weredemonstratingthe efficiency of the new methodology of producing two-way hollow RC slabs using the two-way piping system by reducing the self-weight by about 24% with maintaining about 79% of the total strength. Moreover, the reduction in the strength could be eliminated by locating the networks of plastic pipes out of the locations of the maximum stresses, adding micro steel fiber, using high strength concrete or increasing the reinforcement ratio.

The category of setting and infrastructure indicator (SI) is chosen in this comparative study referring to the fact file scores obtained by the University of Babylon during the last four participations into the UI Green Metric Rankings. In general, the scores indicated an escalation in the university performance of the whole six sub-indicators of the setting and infrastructure criterion (SI) from 2017-2020. These results confirmed that the university; by its leadership, staff and students, focused on upgrading and developing its infrastructure for setting a green and safe educational environment for most employees and students. That is to achieve a green campus contributing in the global efforts for achieving the UN agenda of SDGs 2015-2030. Furthermore, all practices of university performance coped with its vision, mission, and objective goals of university strategic plan from 2018-2022, which contained the commitments to set up with most of SDGs, especially related to sustainable cities or campuses. The results also showed an ascending and remarkable progress from 2017 to 2020 with an unexpected regression in 2019, which required the development of an improvement plan to address weaknesses, maintain and enhance strengths, to get good results for university in the 2020 edition of UI GreenMetric Ranking. Keyword: Green university, practices, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SI, setting and infrastructure indicator, University of Babylon.