Carbon footprint reduction in mid-rise buildings: analysis, design, and LCA-based evaluation of alternate steel slag aggregates in concrete
Abstract Sustainable construction practices increasingly focus on the partial or complete replacement of traditional concrete ingredients to reduce environmental impact. However, existing building codes primarily assess sustainability in terms of concrete as a whole, with limited guidance on the env...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Discover Civil Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-025-00276-y |
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| Summary: | Abstract Sustainable construction practices increasingly focus on the partial or complete replacement of traditional concrete ingredients to reduce environmental impact. However, existing building codes primarily assess sustainability in terms of concrete as a whole, with limited guidance on the environmental benefits of replacing individual components, such as fine aggregates, and coarse aggregates. In contrast, extensive data is available on the environmental impact of cement, enabling more informed decisions regarding its substitution. This research addresses the gap in knowledge related to coarse aggregate replacement by analysing and designing a 10-story mid-rise building as a test case by using 100% steel slag aggregates—a by-product of steel production—as a sustainable alternative to natural coarse aggregates. The structural design was carried out in ETABS, incorporating laboratory-tested physical and mechanical parameters of modified concrete in accordance with ASTM standards. A 100-year Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impact, comparing the designed structure to a conventional concrete building. The results demonstrate a 100% reduction in natural aggregate consumption, saving 11,100 tons of crushed stone aggregates, leading to a reduction of 69 tons of CO₂ emissions and 500 kg of ozone emissions over the building’s lifespan. Additionally, this approach conserved 2 million gallons of water, otherwise required for natural aggregate production. The environmental impact of coarse aggregates was measured following guidelines and data available from renowned stone aggregate associations, as referenced in this study. Despite these advantages, current design codes lack explicit provisions for quantifying the environmental benefits of alternative aggregates, limiting their widespread adoption. While cement-related sustainability data is well-documented, the absence of standardized environmental impact metrics for alternative coarse aggregates underscores the need for revised guidelines. This study highlights the importance of integrating material-specific sustainability metrics into standards to encourage the systematic use of alternative aggregates and support environmentally responsible construction practices. |
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| ISSN: | 2948-1546 |