Dias, Sara Maria Santos Soares (2023) Design, development and validation of construction elements made of composite wood waste. PhD thesis, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
Abstract
Concrete, a widely utilized construction material, faces significant challenges due to its substantial carbon emissions and depletion of natural resources. To address these issues, various strategies have been explored, including the use of alternative aggregates.This thesis starts by raising awareness of alternative aggregate' potential and limitations and promoting their widespread adoption in the construction industry. However, adopting alternative aggregates has been hindered by industry professionals' lack of awareness and knowledge regarding their availability and benefits. Concerns about these materials' quality and performance also contribute to the reluctance to adopt them. An essential factor to consider is the vital need to reduce waste generation and enhance the value of products and materials that are categorized as end-of-life or by-products, since incorporating them into concrete is emerging as a viable prospect.The present study investigates the practical feasibility of utilizing end-of-life treated wood waste to produce lightweight cement and concrete composites. The proper management of this waste has become a pressing environmental concern within the wood industry, posing challenges for many companies. The research begins by characterizing wood waste from different sources to assess the presence of leaching substances and check the relevant physical and chemical properties for cement composite production. A comprehensive experimental study was then conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using concrete mixes containing wood chips and sawdust for structural and nonstructural building applications. Several mixes with different types and amounts of wood were produced and evaluated for their durability, and mechanical and physical performance.The study further investigates the feasibility of incorporating wood waste in structural applications by examining the steel-concrete bond of ordinary steel reinforcement bars and prestressed strands in wood-concrete composites. Full-scale structural elements were made and tested to assess the feasibility of using wood-concrete composites in structural applications. Bending and fatigue tests were performed under static and dynamic loads. The work also evaluated the environmental performance through a life cycle assessment (LCA) study.In conclusion, this research studies the potential of wood waste as alternative aggregates for concrete and cement composites, addressing environmental concerns and advocating sustainable practices.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Tadeu, António José Barreto; Almeida, João António Soares and de Brito, Jorge Manuel Caliço Lopes |
| Index terms: | validation, experiment, chemical property, face, life cycle assessment, strategy, fatigue, construction industry, presence, construction material, depletion, reinforcement, natural resource, environmental concern, aggregate, waste generation, wood, durability, carbon emission, sustainable practice, composite, environmental performance |
| Subjects: | sustainability assessment, environmental issues, materials science, environmental impact, climate science, environmental science, psychology, environmental resource management, material properties and characteristics, professional development, management, traditional and composite building materials, industry analysis, health conditions and diseases, sustainable practices, data collection methods, material degradation and durability, building materials |
| Topics: | Construction Materials, Information Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here