Challenges in the design of concrete structures with reclaimed elements
conference paper
The European Green Deal published by the European Commission in December
2019 has set the target of 50% reduction of CO2 emissions and primary material consumption
by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels. The construction sector is one of the key sectors where
significant improvements are necessary for reaching the European targets. Among the
measures aiming to reduce the environmental impact of constructions, the reuse of existing
structural elements has proven to be both technically feasible and sustainable, as shown in
several research investigations published in the last decade. However, the implementation of
this design solution poses practical challenges due to the lack of a dedicated normative
framework for the design of new structures with reclaimed elements. The challenges are
varied, ranging from the definition of the target safety levels for new structures with reclaimed
elements to the treatment of uncertainties of the parameters governing structural reliability and
use of data about the quality of reclaimed materials in the verification of structural performance
and durability. Because of the lack of normative frameworks, these challenges must be tackled
now by asset owners, contractors and designers leading to potential non-optimal utilisation of
the available resources.
2019 has set the target of 50% reduction of CO2 emissions and primary material consumption
by 2030 compared to the 1990 levels. The construction sector is one of the key sectors where
significant improvements are necessary for reaching the European targets. Among the
measures aiming to reduce the environmental impact of constructions, the reuse of existing
structural elements has proven to be both technically feasible and sustainable, as shown in
several research investigations published in the last decade. However, the implementation of
this design solution poses practical challenges due to the lack of a dedicated normative
framework for the design of new structures with reclaimed elements. The challenges are
varied, ranging from the definition of the target safety levels for new structures with reclaimed
elements to the treatment of uncertainties of the parameters governing structural reliability and
use of data about the quality of reclaimed materials in the verification of structural performance
and durability. Because of the lack of normative frameworks, these challenges must be tackled
now by asset owners, contractors and designers leading to potential non-optimal utilisation of
the available resources.
Topics
SustainabilityCircularityReuseReclaimed materialsSafety philosophyDesignService lifeLoad bearing capacityAccident preventionBearing capacityConcretesConstruction industryEnvironmental impactLoad testingLoads (forces)Safety testingService lifeStructural analysis% reductionsCircularityCO 2 emissionEmission materialsEuropean CommissionLoad-bearing capacityReclaimed materialsReuseSafety philosophyUncertaintySustainable development
TNO Identifier
979952
ISSN
26174820
ISBN
9782940643158
Publisher
fib. The International Federation for Structural Concrete
Source title
Annual fib Conferrence Oslo
Editor(s)
Stokkeland S.Braarud H.C.
Pages
1917-1925
Files
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