Decarbonization of Concrete Structures: A Path Towards Industrialization

• Author / Creator

  Ramon Rivera, Alejandro

• The increasing demand for more ef ficient and eco-f riendly building practices has led to
  developing and improving traditional construction methods to address building issues
  concerning environmental impacts and costs. However, alongside the incorporated benefits,
  they introduce new obstacles and challenges that impact the final product. Alternatives to
  decrease carbon dioxide emissions by reducing construction materials usage are strongly
  emerging in the industry due to environmental harm and its impact on climate change. In
  many developed countries such as Canada, dif ferent acts and measures are being taken to
  achieve net-zero emissions shortly, fostering a collaborative commitment across the industry
  to eliminate millions of tonnes of greenhouse emissions.
  This study employs building information modeling technologies and examines six construction
  methods regarding material usage, carbon footprint, and costs. This approach analyzes
  basement walls methods: Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) walls, concrete sandwich wall
  panels, ribbed wall panels, and concrete slabs: cast-in-place, hollow-core, and ribbed slabs
  to assess material cost implications and carbon footprint of reinforcement steel, insulation,
  formwork timber, and concrete in the manufacturing, transportation, and material waste,
  stages.
  The study aims to identify the most sustainable and cost-ef fective construction practices by
  comparing these methods under consistent project conditions, constraints, location, and
  transportation distances.
  The findings indicate significant mitigation of carbon emissions and cost savings with ribbed
  structures. However, these benefits may vary depending on construction location,
  transportation distances, material types, site temperature conditions, choice of
  manufacturers, and seismic activity. The study highlights the need for continuous innovation
  to meet environmental goals and ensure economic viability.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Decarbonization
  • Concrete
  • BIM

• Graduation date

  Fall 2024

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-zzk7-t711

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.