1st Edition

The Sustainable Use of Concrete

By Koji Sakai, Takafumi Noguchi Copyright 2012
    188 Pages 128 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    188 Pages 128 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Cement-based concrete has excellent properties as a construction material, and the raw materials of cement—rocks, and limestone and clay—are bountiful. Yet its production generates high quantities of CO2, making it a potentially unsustainable material. However, there are no alternatives to concrete and steel as basic methods for development of socioeconomic infrastructure at this time. Highlighting sustainability issues in the construction industry, The Sustainable Use of Concrete presents guidelines on how to move toward sustainable concrete construction.

    The book begins by clarifying the historic background and meaning of sustainability, after which it outlines areas that need to be considered in connection with sustainability in the concrete and construction field. It examines environmental, social and cultural, and economic aspects, then considers an evaluation system of sustainability. The authors include various tools and ISO standards, and then explore technologies for sustainability, with case studies and examples that promote understanding of current technologies.

    Although the construction sector, in the broadest sense, has come to recognize that infrastructure development over the past two centuries has been unsustainable, it has been slow to adjust. Comprehensive information and relevant practical guidance are very scarce. This book lays out a roadmap for creating a human-friendly and safe environment with low environmental burden.

    Introduction
    References

    Sustainability
    Natural History
    Human Beings and Concrete
    Genealogy of Sustainability
    Pillars of Sustainability
    References

    Sustainability in Concrete and Construction
    Environmental Aspects
    Social and Economic Aspects
    References

    Evaluation Systems of Sustainability
    Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
    Environmental Standards for Buildings
    Systems of Environmental Impact Evaluation
    Environmental Standards for Concrete Sector
    Evaluation of Social and Economic Aspects
    Tools of Environmental Effect Evaluation for Buildings
    References

    Technologies for Concrete Sustainability
    General
    Concrete
    Concrete Structures
    References

    Sustainable Concrete Technologies: Case Studies
    CO2 Negative Concrete in Japan
    Low Carbon High-Flowable Concrete
    High-Performance Shotcrete
    Closed-Loop Concrete System on Construction Site
    Concrete Pavement
    Ultra-High Strength Fiber Reinforced Concrete
    Adaptable Super High Rise Residential Buildings
    Utilization of Thermal Mass of Concrete
    Pervious Concrete
    References

    Future Perspectives
    Existing Perspectives
    New Perspectives
    Wishful Thinking
    References

    Index

    Biography

    Koji Sakai is a Professor at Kagawa University, Japan. He chairs ISO/TC71/SC8 on environmental management for concrete and concrete structures, fib commission 3 on environmental aspects of design and construction, and the Japan Concrete Institute Technical Committee on sustainability.

    Takafumi Noguchi is an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo, Japan and secretary of ISO/TC71/SC8, fib commission 3, and the Japan Concrete Institute Technical Committee on sustainability

    "It is a useful reference book [and] gives a good overview of the subject. The level of writing is suitable for an undergraduate materials or civil engineering student."
    —Dr. Jacqueline Glass, Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Sustainable Construction, Loughborough University, UK

    "… a logical approach … would definitely buy it – authoritative and forward looking … A rigorous approach to best practice … an excellent book with plenty of useful info and well conducted research and analysis ..."
    —Martin Clarke, Chief Executive, British Precast Concrete Federation

    "… presents guidelines on how to move toward sustainable concrete construction. … Ultimately, it provides guidance for creating a world that is safe for both humans and the environment."
    —Concrete international, June 2013