In recent years, several strategies have been investigated to improve concrete environmental and eco-nomic sustainability. This, because of the huge emissions and large costs associated with its production, use and dismission stages. Among these solutions, the possibility to self-heal the cracks by means of autonomous or autogenous Self-Healing mechanisms, aroused great interest. Thus, some studies al-ready focused their attention on the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost assess-ment (LCC) methodologies. The aim was to prove and to compare the sustainability of such materials with reference to conventional solutions. In this framework, this research provides an overview of how the advantages of Self-Healing concrete, due to its enhanced durability and the consequent reduced maintenance activities, have been revealed thanks to the use of LCA and LCC methodologies. The outcomes of recent investigations referred to concrete with Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) and Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) are also addressed. The reported results highlight, for the case of UHPC, reductions higher than 30% for the overall costs and greater than 40% for some environmental impact indicators (Ozone Layer Depletion and Terrestrial ecotoxicity). Limits and challenges that might be faced by the upcoming studies in this field are also presented. Additionally, this work also highlights the importance to spread among designers, researchers and contractors the use of such methodologies to achieve a good practice where more sustainable concrete technologies will be widespread.

How to account for benefits of Self-Healing concrete in design? A LCA/LCC perspective

D. di Summa;L. Ferrara;
2022-01-01

Abstract

In recent years, several strategies have been investigated to improve concrete environmental and eco-nomic sustainability. This, because of the huge emissions and large costs associated with its production, use and dismission stages. Among these solutions, the possibility to self-heal the cracks by means of autonomous or autogenous Self-Healing mechanisms, aroused great interest. Thus, some studies al-ready focused their attention on the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost assess-ment (LCC) methodologies. The aim was to prove and to compare the sustainability of such materials with reference to conventional solutions. In this framework, this research provides an overview of how the advantages of Self-Healing concrete, due to its enhanced durability and the consequent reduced maintenance activities, have been revealed thanks to the use of LCA and LCC methodologies. The outcomes of recent investigations referred to concrete with Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) and Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) are also addressed. The reported results highlight, for the case of UHPC, reductions higher than 30% for the overall costs and greater than 40% for some environmental impact indicators (Ozone Layer Depletion and Terrestrial ecotoxicity). Limits and challenges that might be faced by the upcoming studies in this field are also presented. Additionally, this work also highlights the importance to spread among designers, researchers and contractors the use of such methodologies to achieve a good practice where more sustainable concrete technologies will be widespread.
2022
Proceedings of the 14th fib PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering
9782940643172
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1220520
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