Overview
SEACON aims at demonstrating the safe utilization of seawater and salt-contaminated aggregates (natural or recycled) for a sustainable concrete production when combined with noncorrosive reinforcement to construct durable and economical concrete infrastructures. In addition to life-cycle assessment and life-cycle costing analyses used as driving tools for the assessment of the developed solutions, two real-size demonstration projects will be performed in two countries (i.e., Italy and Florida, USA), at locations with different (micro) climates to provide the opportunity for long-term performance monitoring.
SEACON uses the following steps:
Make it clear that chlorides are harmful for steel reinforcement, but they do not damage the concrete’s characteristics (i.e., workability,
strength development, durability)
- Assess through LCA and LCC durability performances and economical impact resulting from use of chloride contaminated aggregates,
- high chloride content cement and seawater on structural concrete
- Work at reinforcement level (improved SSR bar and use of GFRP bar in concrete)
- Demonstrate technology by means of two real-size field prototypes in two countries (Italy and Florida, USA)
Expected Outcomes:
Material related:
- Mix-design of chloride contaminated concrete
- Know-how on performance (durability) of chloride containing cement and concrete
- Know-how on expected service life of GFRP and SSR bars embedded in chloride contaminated concrete
Infrastructure related:
- Demo fields in Italy and USA (long-term monitoring)
Sustainability and economics related:
- LCA and LCC assessment
- Best practice and standardization needs for using SEACON technology in construction
Dissemination related:
- Conferences and workshops
- Training foryoung researchers
Social output related:
- Job opportunities