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Sustainability of Concrete


Sustainability is generally defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The three pillars of sustainability are environment, economy, and society. The carbon footprint of concrete can be lowered by using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, slag cement, and silica fume; by using higher-strength concrete; and through the use of alternative fuels during the cement manufacturing process. A sustainable structure is also a durable and resilient structure—long lasting and able to resist natural forces with little damage, and when damaged, easily restored for use. Use of concrete applications can also provide “green” benefits—for example, pervious concrete results in pavements, sidewalks, and parking areas that drain directly to the subsurface, eliminating the need for drainage structures, underground piping, retention basins (saving materials and lower carbon footprint), and direct discharge into rivers and lakes (an environmental benefit).

Practice oriented papers and articles ON SUSTAINABILITY OF CONCRETE

Smart Sustainable Concrete Construction

Publication: Concrete International
Date: 12/1/2023

Overcoming Barriers to Adopting Carbon Reduction in Concrete

Publication: Concrete International
Date: 11/1/2023

Approaches to Teaching Cement Hydration Processes to Undergraduate Students

Publication: Special Publication
Date: 11/1/2023

A Sustainable, Adjustable, and Reusable Concrete Form

Publication: Concrete International
Date: 6/1/2023

Tech Spotlight: What the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Means for the Cement Industry

Publication: Concrete International
Date: 1/1/2023

One Year Closer to a Carbon-Neutral Cement Future

Publication: Concrete International
Date: 12/1/2022

Development Length of GFRP Rebars in Reinforced Concrete Members under Flexure

Publication: Special Publication
Date: 10/1/2022

Thoughts Regarding Cement, SCMs, Concrete, and CO2

Publication: Concrete International
Date: 8/1/2022

Lowering the Clinker Factor of Limestone Calcined Clay Cements (LC3) below 50%: a Comparison with Natural Pozzolans

Publication: Special Publication
Date: 7/1/2022

Data-Driven Decision-Making to Inform Sustainable Performance-Based Specifications

Publication: Special Publication
Date: 7/1/2022

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