Abstract:
Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), mainly made from recycled materials such as construction and demolition waste (CDW), has emerged as a sustainable alternative to natural aggregate concrete (NAC). While RAC offers potential benefits in waste reduction and resource conservation, a comprehensive understanding of its environmental impact and sustainability compared to NAC has been lacking. This study addresses this gap by conducting a thorough review and analysis of comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies between RAC and NAC. This paper synthesizes current literature to evaluate the environmental impact of both materials throughout their life cycles, from raw material extraction to disposal. It examines key factors such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and resource depletion to provide a thorough comprehension of the effects on the environment of each concrete type throughout their life cycles. Challenges in using RAC as a sustainable concrete option, such as sourcing and quality control, are also discussed, along with recommendations for future research and industry practices. The findings indicate that the environmental impact of RAC compared to NAC is significantly influenced by transport distances and modes. In addition, the choice of functional units in LCAs substantially affects the comparison between RAC and NAC, with strength reliability offering a clear benefit by addressing concrete property variability and better reflecting real-world conditions.
摘要:
再生骨料混凝土(RAC),主要由建筑和拆除废物(CDW)等回收材料制成,已成为天然骨料混凝土(NAC)的可持续替代品。虽然RAC在减少废物和节约资源方面提供了潜在的好处,与NAC相比,缺乏对其环境影响和可持续性的全面了解。本研究通过对RAC和NAC之间的比较生命周期评估(LCA)研究进行全面审查和分析来解决这一差距。本文综合了现有文献,以评估两种材料在其整个生命周期中对环境的影响。从原料提取到处理。它考察了能源消耗等关键因素,温室气体排放,和资源枯竭,以全面了解每种具体类型在其整个生命周期中对环境的影响。使用RAC作为可持续的具体选择的挑战,如采购和质量控制,还讨论了,以及对未来研究和行业实践的建议。研究结果表明,与NAC相比,RAC对环境的影响受到运输距离和方式的显着影响。此外,LCA中功能单元的选择极大地影响RAC和NAC之间的比较,具有强度可靠性,通过解决混凝土性质的可变性和更好地反映现实世界的条件,提供明显的好处。