recycled aggregate concrete and alternative binders for sustainable building engineering (second volume)

The construction industry is considered one of the most important sectors of socio-economic development. However, its dynamism gives rise to two major environmental issues: (i) a significant increase of construction and demolition waste (CDW), which represents more than 30% of the solid waste generated by all economic sectors; and (ii) an increase in the production of Portland cement concrete, which is the most widely used construction material in the world and, through the production of cement alone, constitutes about 7% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, it is essential to find, on the one hand, solutions for discarded CDW in addition to their use as recycled aggregates and, on the other hand, alternative sustainable binders that can replace Portland cement.

This reprint focuses on the development of sustainable cementitious composites, either by the replacement of natural aggregates with recycled aggregates or by the use of sustainable binding technologies that constitute a viable alternative to Portland cement.