Rethinking the Industrial Ecosystem for Concrete Structures: Innovative Applications for Advanced Composites in Construction

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The current trajectory of the global concrete industry is unsustainable, contributing significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and landfill waste. The proposed Discovery research program will address these critical issues by exploiting the unique advantages of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as a potential catalyst to adopt a paradigm of reuse in the construction industry. This concept has been described as an industrial ecosystem in which one generation of structures becomes a resource to be repurposed for the next generation of structures. The long-term aim of the proposed research is to promote a circular economy within the construction industry to divert waste from landfills and reduce energy consumption, emissions, and the depletion of finite natural resources associated with concrete production. The research program will focus on four short-term objectives: 1) Develop FRP retrofitting techniques for deconstructed concrete structures to create opportunities for reuse within an industrial ecosystem; 2) Investigate the performance of reconfigurable FRP-concrete modular components designed to facilitate disassembly and reassembly; 3) Develop new demountable connection types for concrete structures using FRP materials; and, 4) Address the logistical and technical barriers preventing widespread reuse of concrete structures. This research program aims to create new knowledge related to a largely neglected, yet critical, issue of sustainable design. The reuse of concrete structural members is relatively unexplored, and provides an opportunity for significant disruption of the construction industry if technical and logistical challenges can be overcome. In the proposed research program, the inherent advantages of FRP materials will, for the first time, be investigated for the primary purpose of enabling the reuse of concrete components for multiple generations of structures within an industrial ecosystem. The proposed work includes several innovations related to novel uses of FRP in construction, as well as the durability and condition assessment of concrete structures. Additionally, the research program will ultimately lead to new design guidelines, inventory and rating systems for reclaimed structures, and condition assessment methods. This work will result in several benefits to Canada, including: 1) environmental benefits due to reduced emissions, energy use, landfill waste, and consumption of natural resources; 2) economic benefits associated with improved resource efficiency and lower life-cycle costs; 3) new market opportunities for disruptive Canadian businesses willing to embrace a new circular economy; and 4) the training of HQP which represent the next generation of engineers with unique skills, design experience, and expertise, as well as an understanding of sustainable development issues, durability, and asset management.