concrete

This research brief summarizes findings from a study in which researchers investigated the use of higher percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement and asphalt roofing shingles as a partial replacement for the virgin binder in new asphalt mixes.

Researchers at UC Davis developed an initial methodology to evaluate implications of design decisions on the environmental impacts of concrete systems using a multi-criteria selection process to assist decision-makers.

Concrete is also responsible for over 8% of annual anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. As population and urbanization increase and existing infrastructure deteriorates, demand for production of concrete will increase, and with it, the environmental burdens from its production. The models used to determine environmental impacts of producing concrete have considerable uncertainty and variability. This makes it challenging to identify the most effective means of mitigating these burdens.

This work aims to quantitatively examine data variability, an inherent characteristic of elements in supply chains, and data uncertainty, a function of data quality for the system being modeled, in assessments of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from concrete production.

This report demonstrates how considerations across concrete material design and infrastructure design can be used together to change environmental impacts and costs by targeting appropriate constituents, materials, and system longevity.