Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint
The production of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) generates significant environmental impacts that increase climate change and decrease people’s quality of life. Recent studies highlight the potential to reduce these environmental burdens by partially replacing Portland cement with Supplementary Ceme...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/2/22 |
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| author | Angie Pineda Rita Peñabaena-Niebles Gilberto Martínez-Arguelles Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza |
| author_facet | Angie Pineda Rita Peñabaena-Niebles Gilberto Martínez-Arguelles Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza |
| author_sort | Angie Pineda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The production of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) generates significant environmental impacts that increase climate change and decrease people’s quality of life. Recent studies highlight the potential to reduce these environmental burdens by partially replacing Portland cement with Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and coarse aggregates with Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA). However, designing PCCs with simultaneous contents of SCMs and RCA is not easily manageable because current design procedures fail to adjust all of the variables involved. In order to overcome these limitations, this research introduces a novel mathematical model designed to develop operationally efficient PCC mixes that are both environmentally sustainable and cost-effective. The proposed model, denominated <i>OptiCon</i>, employs the Life-Cycle Assessment and Life-Cycle Costs Analysis methodologies to evaluate the incorporation of three different SCMs (i.e., fly ash, silica fume, and steel slag) and RCA into PCC mixes. <i>OptiCon</i> is also integrated within a graphical user interface in order to make its implementation straightforward for potential users. Thus, <i>OptiCon</i> is operationalized through an algorithm, offering a replicable approach that can be adapted to various contexts, providing both a theoretical framework and a practical tool for state agencies, engineers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to adopt more environmentally friendly practices in concrete production. Furthermore, a case study from northern Colombia analyzed thirty mix design scenarios with varying supplier conditions (foreign, local, or mixed), calculating costs and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions for a fixed concrete volume of 1 m<sup>3</sup>. The findings demonstrated that utilizing <i>OptiCon</i> can achieve substantial reductions in both CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and production costs, underscoring the model’s efficiency and practical impact. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eae4863f54c940b6ab25f7215cca1833 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2411-5134 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inventions |
| spelling | doaj-art-eae4863f54c940b6ab25f7215cca18332025-08-20T02:18:16ZengMDPI AGInventions2411-51342025-03-011022210.3390/inventions10020022Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget ConstraintAngie Pineda0Rita Peñabaena-Niebles1Gilberto Martínez-Arguelles2Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza3Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 081007, ColombiaDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 081007, ColombiaDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 081007, ColombiaDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 081007, ColombiaThe production of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) generates significant environmental impacts that increase climate change and decrease people’s quality of life. Recent studies highlight the potential to reduce these environmental burdens by partially replacing Portland cement with Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and coarse aggregates with Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA). However, designing PCCs with simultaneous contents of SCMs and RCA is not easily manageable because current design procedures fail to adjust all of the variables involved. In order to overcome these limitations, this research introduces a novel mathematical model designed to develop operationally efficient PCC mixes that are both environmentally sustainable and cost-effective. The proposed model, denominated <i>OptiCon</i>, employs the Life-Cycle Assessment and Life-Cycle Costs Analysis methodologies to evaluate the incorporation of three different SCMs (i.e., fly ash, silica fume, and steel slag) and RCA into PCC mixes. <i>OptiCon</i> is also integrated within a graphical user interface in order to make its implementation straightforward for potential users. Thus, <i>OptiCon</i> is operationalized through an algorithm, offering a replicable approach that can be adapted to various contexts, providing both a theoretical framework and a practical tool for state agencies, engineers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to adopt more environmentally friendly practices in concrete production. Furthermore, a case study from northern Colombia analyzed thirty mix design scenarios with varying supplier conditions (foreign, local, or mixed), calculating costs and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions for a fixed concrete volume of 1 m<sup>3</sup>. The findings demonstrated that utilizing <i>OptiCon</i> can achieve substantial reductions in both CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and production costs, underscoring the model’s efficiency and practical impact.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/2/22life cycle assessmentlife cycle costs analysisPortland Cement concreterecycled concrete aggregatesupplementary cementing material |
| spellingShingle | Angie Pineda Rita Peñabaena-Niebles Gilberto Martínez-Arguelles Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint Inventions life cycle assessment life cycle costs analysis Portland Cement concrete recycled concrete aggregate supplementary cementing material |
| title | Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint |
| title_full | Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint |
| title_fullStr | Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint |
| title_short | Development of <i>OptiCon</i>: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint |
| title_sort | development of i opticon i a mathematical model with a graphical user interface for designing sustainable portland cement concrete mixes with budget constraint |
| topic | life cycle assessment life cycle costs analysis Portland Cement concrete recycled concrete aggregate supplementary cementing material |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/2/22 |
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