Thoroughgoing sustainability indices to support the development of a forward-looking market for innovative construction materials

Abstract

In response to the ever-evolving demands of end-users within the construction sector, also due to the heightened global awareness regarding the pivotal role of the construction industry in sustainability ramifications, it has become imperative to wield strategic tools to steer the market toward farsighted choices. A notable example is represented by innovative cementitious materials, which are progressively captivating market interest due to their potential for enhanced overall sustainability performance. Henceforth, a crucial role is played not only by sustainability evaluation tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analyses but also by the integration of the latter into a more comprehensive approach able to promptly gauge the ecological and economic performance of the intended structural application. Some investigations have started exploring this opportunity, positing novel approaches that proffer immediate evaluations. These methods center around a range of indices that pivot upon ecological implications, along with performance indicators such as compressive strength. In light of this, the current study introduces a pair of novel indices with a more inclusive purview, encompassing not only environmental considerations but also costs and durability performance. One index, aimed at evaluating the feasibility of utilizing advanced construction materials as an alternative to traditional and consolidated options includes the aforementioned parameters on a cubic meter scale. In pursuit of this objective, part of the investigation is focused on the comparison between the mix designs of Ordinary Portland Cement Concrete (OPCC) and Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC), with CEM I or CEM III alternatively. The outcome revealed the limits of this first approach as it does not include some essential parameters, and OPCC performed better than UHPC in general. On the other hand, a complementary index has been proposed, seeking to optimize the mix design to be used to build structural elements or components and scale up to the level of the structural application. Thus, to check the consistency of the latter, UHPC roof panels, constructed by employing CEM I or CEM III alternatively, are then compared to panels made with ordinary reinforced concrete. The option containing CEM III registered better results in terms of holistic sustainability. The overall scope of this study is to encourage a more comprehensive, immediate, and all-encompassing evaluative approach, favouring the spread of advanced construction materials within the entire supply chain of the construction industry.