Tailored Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
Cement production is an environmentally intensive process and responsible for 5-7% of man-made CO2 emissions. A promising strategy to mitigate this impact is to derive more value from the cement we produce and thereby reduce the volumes required. This allows society to benefit from the advantages of concrete as a building material while ensuring cement is utilised more efficiently.
This project proposes a radical rethink about how we design and construct reinforced concrete through the development of tailored concrete infrastructure systems. This approach has the potential to reduce cement consumption leading to significant CO2 savings. The research will include detailed investigations of the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete and the material properties of concrete in the context of resilience and resistance to mechanical and environmental loadings. A range of structural and material systems will be explored and the most promising avenues will be the focus of detailed experimental studies. The development of predictive tools based on closed form and/or finite element solutions, strategies to address manufacturing challenges, and methods to beneficially exploit emerging technologies are also envisaged.
This project proposes a radical rethink about how we design and construct reinforced concrete through the development of tailored concrete infrastructure systems. This approach has the potential to reduce cement consumption leading to significant CO2 savings. The research will include detailed investigations of the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete and the material properties of concrete in the context of resilience and resistance to mechanical and environmental loadings. A range of structural and material systems will be explored and the most promising avenues will be the focus of detailed experimental studies. The development of predictive tools based on closed form and/or finite element solutions, strategies to address manufacturing challenges, and methods to beneficially exploit emerging technologies are also envisaged.
Organisations
Publications
Forsdyke J
(2023)
Model fitting to concrete carbonation data with non-zero initial carbonation depth
in Materials and Structures
| Description | This award has been used to carry out multiple experiments and in-depth analysis to improve understanding of the behaviour of carbonation of functionally graded concrete elements. Carbonation is the process of environmental CO2 reacting with concrete, and functionally graded elements can be used to minimise embodied carbon through improved efficiency of cement allocation. Thereby, improved understanding of this behaviour has significant potential impact for carbon savings. Work from these experiments has been published in conference proceedings, with further conference and journal paper outputs forthcoming. |
| Exploitation Route | The hope is that these findings will be used to change the construction industry for concrete structures, such that better allocation of concrete mixes is employed, and carbonation of concrete can be used beneficially. |
| Sectors | Construction |
| Description | Throughout the project we have been working with industry partners discussing their current methods and processes for concrete mix design specification. From discussions we have been able to highlight areas where mix design choices could be more efficient, or where the performance of a concrete mix has not been thoroughly considered. In general, disucssions with industry have triggered them to think about the stakeholders in their concrete specification process, and where the most impactful decisions are being made (so these can be improved with regards to embodied carbon). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Construction |
| Title | Results table supporting "Model fitting to concrete carbonation data with non-zero initial carbonation depth" |
| Description | The table contains the results of curve fitting two alternative models to 361 data series of carbonation depth vs carbonation exposure time. The sources of original data series are cited, and details about the initial depth, test duration and CO2 concentration are included for each series. Results from each curve fitting include the estimated carbonation coefficient, K, and the R2 and RMSE values of each of these fits. The error in K from the linear model compared to the non-linear model is reported for each series, as well as the predicted depth at the end of the test using the non-linear model. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Data supporting a publication. |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/344843 |
| Description | Cambridge University Structures Seminar (Forsdyke) - Tailored concrete for durability |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on the importance of durability and how concrete can be tailored to save CO2 and meet desired durability requirements encouraged debate amongst participants and knowledge exchange. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Cambridge Zero Research Symposium (Forsdyke) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The presentation encouraged reflection on the CO2 impact of concrete and awareness of need for cement reduction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.zero.cam.ac.uk/cambridge-zero-research-symposia-2021 |
| Description | Concrete Sustainable Design Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Online workshop with Costain design team members to establish what the driving factors are for specification of specific concrete mixes or concrete properties when these are influenced by the structural design. This lead to lots of discussion, and was followed by another workshop reporting back findings to a larger working group of Costain and CIRG members. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | LafargeHolcim Zero Carbon Hackathon 17-19 November 2019 (Gimenez Fernandez and Forsdyke) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Members of the research team participated in a Hackathon to come up with novel lower carbon concrete solutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/zero-carbon-hackathon-encourages-students-rethink-material-use-constru... |
| Description | Poster at the IABSE Prague Conference 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of a poster at the IABSE Symposium Prague 2022: Challenges for Existing and Oncoming Structures, during conference poster sessions. The poster was accompanying the conference paper "An analysis of the potential for improving cement efficiency through functionally graded concrete elements with durability-driven concrete specification" and was well recieved by the audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.iabse.org/Prague2022/ |
| Description | Preseantation at Second fib Italy YMG Symposium on Concrete and Concrete Structures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation delived to conference attendees at the Second fib Italy YMG Symposium on Concrete and Concrete Structures, Rome, 18th-19th November 2021. The presentation summarised the work in the conference paper "Carbonation depth measurement of concretes exposed to different curing and preconditioning conditions, using image-processing tools". There were questions following the presentation, both in person and submitted to the author by email to be adressed afterwards. The presentation and conference paper recieved an award for "Best research advances in concrete and concrete structures" at the conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://fibitaliayoung.it/index.php/2021/12/20/symposium-2021-vincitori-awards/ |
| Description | Presentation at fib Symposium 2021: Concrete Structures: New Trends for Eco-Efficiency and Performance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation delived to conference attendees at the fib Symposium, Lisbon (online), 14th - 16th June 2021. The presentation summarised the work in the conference paper "An analysis of existing models for carbonation coefficient applied to tests under natural conditions". There was a question and answer session following the presentation, with questions posed by virtual atendees and the chairpeople of the conference session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.fib-international.org/publications/fib-proceedings/i-fib-i-symposium-in-lisbon,-portugal... |
| Description | Presentation at fib Symposium 2022: Concrete Structures: New Trends for Eco-Efficiency and Performance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation delived to conference attendees at the fib International Congress 2022 Oslo- 12th -16th June. The presentation summarised the work in the conference paper "Carbonation Behaviour of Concrete Exposed to Natural and Accelerated Carbonation Conditions". There was a question and answer session following the presentation, with questions posed atendees and the chairpeople of the conference session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.fib-international.org/publications/fib-proceedings/6th-i-fib-i-international-congress-in... |
| Description | St Catharine's college Engineering Society presentation (Forsdyke) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A presentation to the undergraduates, postrgraduates and academics studying Engineering at St Catharine's college. The presentation was titled "Using Image Processing and Analysis in Concrete Research" and focussed on the use of image processing techniques to give more information than traditional measurement methods. There was good engagement from the students and siginicant discussion following the presentation about the interdisciplinary nature of research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | St Catharine's college Engineering Society presentation (Forsdyke) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A presentation to the undergraduates, postrgraduates and academics studying Engineering at St Catharine's college. The presentation was titled "Performance-based design of concrete structures" and focussed on the optimising concrete selection for cement reduction. There was good engagement from the students and siginicant discussion following the presentation about the interdisciplinary nature of research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | St Catharine's college Engineering Society presentation (Forsdyke) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | An online presentation to the undergraduates, postrgraduates and academics at St Catharine's college. The presentation was titled "Improving Cement Efficiency in Concrete Elements" and described the problems of cement use in terms of embodied carbon, and the concept of tailored elements to improve this. There was good engagement from the students and siginicant discussion following the presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | St Catharine's college Graduates and Fellows research seminars (Forsdyke) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Jess Forsdyke gave a presentation entitled: "What's so hard about concrete?" to postgraduate students and academic fellows. This lead to interesting questions afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |