Development, Design, and Implementation of Low Carbon Concrete Structures

二氧化碳(CO2)等温室气体(GHGs)是气候变化的主要原因，预计气候变化将导致气温上升和极端天气事件，并给加拿大经济造成数十亿美元的损失。水泥生产占全球二氧化碳排放量的8%。因此，迫切需要制定减少水泥使用量的战略。这一研究项目的重点是通过减少结构构件的尺寸或构件中水泥的使用量，或两者兼而有之来提高结构效率，从而减少水泥使用量。要做到这一点，需要从基于实验室的实验测试开始的方法组合。为了充分了解这些有效结构元件的性能，并确保它们将提供安全耐用的结构，将采用先进的测试技术(例如混合模拟)和传感器技术(例如分布式光纤应变传感)。设计这些低水泥结构构件的先进方法也将被开发，因为目前的钢筋混凝土结构设计方法不允许设计师有必要的灵活性来改变横截面或材料特性。为了确保这项研究的结果能够并将被建筑业利用，研究团队包括代表建筑业全领域的合作伙伴(建筑师、承包商、工程师、混凝土供应商和行业协会)以及代表主要客户的政府合作伙伴。为了提高知名度并促进行业接受度，整个项目团队(合作伙伴和研究人员)将共同设计、建造和测试示范结构，目标是实现与使用传统方法设计的结构相比减少50%的水泥。如果在全球范围内实施，这种水泥减排水平将相当于整个航空业二氧化碳排放量的两倍。交付成果包括低碳混凝土结构的新设计指南、设计软件工具、示范结构(将用作生活实验室)以及至少5名HQP的培训，这些培训具有设计未来低碳混凝土结构所需的技能。

Green House Gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are the leading cause of climate change, which is projected to lead to increases in temperatures and extreme weather events as well as cost the Canadian economy billions of dollars. The production of cement contributes to 8% of global CO2 emissions. As such there is a pressing need to develop strategies for reducing the use of cement. This research project focuses on reducing cement use by improving structural efficiency through reducing the size of structural members, the amount of cement used in a member, or both. To do this, a combination of approaches is required that begins with lab-based experimental testing. In order to fully understand the behaviour of these efficient structural elements and ensure that they will provide safe and durable structures, advanced testing techniques (e.g. hybrid simulation) and sensor technologies (e.g. distributed fibre optic strain sensing) will be employed. Advanced approaches to the design of these low cement structural elements will also be developed since current approaches to the design of reinforced concrete structures do not allow designers the required flexibility to vary the cross-section or material properties. To ensure the outcomes of this research can and will be utilized by the construction industry, the research team includes partners representing the full spectrum of the construction industry (architects, contractors, engineers, and concrete suppliers and trade associations) as well as government partners representing key clients. To create awareness and promote industry acceptance, the full project team (partners and researchers) will work together to design, construct, and test a demonstration structure, with a goal of achieving 50% cement reductions versus a structure designed using conventional approaches. This level of cement reduction would be equivalent to twice the CO2 emissions of the entire airline industry if implemented on a global scale. The deliverables include new design guidelines for low carbon concrete structures, design software tools, the demonstration structure (which will serve as a living lab), and the training of at least 5 HQP with the skills required to design of future low carbon concrete structures.