Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materials
Considering the ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction and efficient use of resource targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of concrete structures to achieve these goals, there is an increasing need to study the environmental performance of different concrete produc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Built Environment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1196246/full |
| _version_ | 1797822521704185856 |
|---|---|
| author | Dilan Glanz Husam Sameer Daniela Göbel Alexander Wetzel Bernhard Middendorf Clemens Mostert Stefan Bringezu |
| author_facet | Dilan Glanz Husam Sameer Daniela Göbel Alexander Wetzel Bernhard Middendorf Clemens Mostert Stefan Bringezu |
| author_sort | Dilan Glanz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Considering the ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction and efficient use of resource targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of concrete structures to achieve these goals, there is an increasing need to study the environmental performance of different concrete production alternatives. Cement is one of the main building materials that contribute significantly to global warming; therefore, studying the environmental performance of innovative binders that can substitute the use of cement is highly recommended. This article investigates the climate, material, energy, and water footprints of four innovative mixtures of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with a binder made of alkali-activated materials in comparison with the one made of Portland cement. Footprint analysis is carried out within cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment boundaries. Within the life cycle assessment, the functional unit defines the quantification of the final product or service. The functional units of the UHPC were adapted for the comparability of concrete mixtures with different compressive strengths. The results show that UHPC made with an alkali-activated material has 32%–45% better performance in terms of a climate footprint and 19%–33% better performance in terms of material footprints, whereas a trade-off can be seen regarding 44%–83% higher energy footprints and 75%–146% higher water footprints. The disadvantages in energy and water footprints are caused by waterglass. When allocation is considered, mixtures with high silica fume content have higher environmental footprints. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:09:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2da5b3169458484a9ea07d97c6bb6b02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-3362 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:09:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Built Environment |
| spelling | doaj.art-2da5b3169458484a9ea07d97c6bb6b022023-05-22T04:45:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Built Environment2297-33622023-05-01910.3389/fbuil.2023.11962461196246Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materialsDilan Glanz0Husam Sameer1Daniela Göbel2Alexander Wetzel3Bernhard Middendorf4Clemens Mostert5Stefan Bringezu6Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyFaculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Structural Materials and Construction Chemistry, Institute of Structural Engineering (IKI), University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Structural Materials and Construction Chemistry, Institute of Structural Engineering (IKI), University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Structural Materials and Construction Chemistry, Institute of Structural Engineering (IKI), University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyFaculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyFaculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel, Kassel, GermanyConsidering the ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction and efficient use of resource targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of concrete structures to achieve these goals, there is an increasing need to study the environmental performance of different concrete production alternatives. Cement is one of the main building materials that contribute significantly to global warming; therefore, studying the environmental performance of innovative binders that can substitute the use of cement is highly recommended. This article investigates the climate, material, energy, and water footprints of four innovative mixtures of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with a binder made of alkali-activated materials in comparison with the one made of Portland cement. Footprint analysis is carried out within cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment boundaries. Within the life cycle assessment, the functional unit defines the quantification of the final product or service. The functional units of the UHPC were adapted for the comparability of concrete mixtures with different compressive strengths. The results show that UHPC made with an alkali-activated material has 32%–45% better performance in terms of a climate footprint and 19%–33% better performance in terms of material footprints, whereas a trade-off can be seen regarding 44%–83% higher energy footprints and 75%–146% higher water footprints. The disadvantages in energy and water footprints are caused by waterglass. When allocation is considered, mixtures with high silica fume content have higher environmental footprints.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1196246/fullconstructionsustainable infrastructurelife cycle assessmentgreenhouse gas emissionsmaterial footprintalkali‐activated materials |
| spellingShingle | Dilan Glanz Husam Sameer Daniela Göbel Alexander Wetzel Bernhard Middendorf Clemens Mostert Stefan Bringezu Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materials Frontiers in Built Environment construction sustainable infrastructure life cycle assessment greenhouse gas emissions material footprint alkali‐activated materials |
| title | Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materials |
| title_full | Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materials |
| title_fullStr | Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materials |
| title_short | Comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra-high-performance concrete using Portland cement and alkali-activated materials |
| title_sort | comparative environmental footprint analysis of ultra high performance concrete using portland cement and alkali activated materials |
| topic | construction sustainable infrastructure life cycle assessment greenhouse gas emissions material footprint alkali‐activated materials |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2023.1196246/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dilanglanz comparativeenvironmentalfootprintanalysisofultrahighperformanceconcreteusingportlandcementandalkaliactivatedmaterials AT husamsameer comparativeenvironmentalfootprintanalysisofultrahighperformanceconcreteusingportlandcementandalkaliactivatedmaterials AT danielagobel comparativeenvironmentalfootprintanalysisofultrahighperformanceconcreteusingportlandcementandalkaliactivatedmaterials AT alexanderwetzel comparativeenvironmentalfootprintanalysisofultrahighperformanceconcreteusingportlandcementandalkaliactivatedmaterials AT bernhardmiddendorf comparativeenvironmentalfootprintanalysisofultrahighperformanceconcreteusingportlandcementandalkaliactivatedmaterials AT clemensmostert comparativeenvironmentalfootprintanalysisofultrahighperformanceconcreteusingportlandcementandalkaliactivatedmaterials AT stefanbringezu comparativeenvironmentalfootprintanalysisofultrahighperformanceconcreteusingportlandcementandalkaliactivatedmaterials |