Environmental Performance of Deconstructable Concrete Beams Made with Recycled Aggregates

The construction sector is one of the most energy-intensive and raw-material-demanding human activities and, hence, contributes a significant share greenhouse gas emissions. As matter principle, making “greener” main challenges for policy makers, private companies scientific community. For this reason, promising actions based on recycling Construction Demolition Waste (CDW) converting them into secondary raw materials itself. Moreover, reduction environmental impact can be further amplified through optimization production, assembly deconstruction/reuse procedures maximization service life. In aim, present work aims at analyzing performance duly sized designed prefabricated Decontructable Reusable Beam (DRB) incorporating with Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA) assembled by means an innovative system memory®-steel prestressing technique. evaluated Life Cycle Assessment cradle-to-gate approach: analysis 16 midpoint categories was conducted using methodology proposed EN15804. context, three allocation scenarios avoided impacts due to reuse (100-0, 50:50 0-100) were considered, sensitivity performed. It verified that higher amount post-tensioning required shape memory alloy steel bars, DRBs inferior than Ordinary Beams (ORB). However, when scenarios, it observed DRB could have considerably lower impacts, depending type procedure adopted in LCA modeling. This study brings as contribution evaluation some design guidelines development circular concrete structures principles Design Deconstruction (DfD) process.