METHODS FOR GREEN CONCRETE DESIGN

Author(s): David García, Jorge S. Dolado and José-Tomás San-José
Book Title: RILEM International Symposium on Concrete Modelling - CONMOD 2014
Editor: Kefei Li, Peiyu Yan and Rongwei Yang
ISBN: 978-2-35158-139-1
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-140-7
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2015
Pages: 281-289
Total Pages: 9
Language: English

Abstract: Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world and causes a substantial environmental impact, mainly during cement manufacture. Portland cement contributes greenhouse gases both directly through the production of carbon dioxide when calcium carbonate is thermally decomposed, producing lime and carbon dioxide, and also through the use of energy, particularly from the combustion of fossil fuels. The use of superplasticizers and blended cements as well as optimization of particle-size distribution and reduction in water content allows a significant reduction in Portland cement clinker in the concrete.

As the demand for eco-friendly construction spreads over developed countries, it is necessary to increase and quantify the contribution of concrete to the environmental sustainability.

Accordingly, several methods for environmental sustainable assessment are presented and discussed in this paper. A lack of consensus about the most adequate impact criteria to be considered is observed. Simplified indexes combined with public life-cycle inventories require a minimum effort and can be useful as a first evaluation of concrete formulations or OCP replacement by supplementary cementitious materials. However accurate comparisons and new low-energy embodied cements evaluations can only be performed through a detailed review of all the materials and processes involved in the life cycle of the concrete.

Online publication: 2015
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00