Achieving carbon neutrality has become a common global goal. Concrete, which literally supports the foundation of our daily lives, is the second most consumed material in the world after water. It is estimated that CO2 emissions associated with cement production, which is essential for concrete, account for up to 8% of global emissions, highlighting the need for more efficient and prolonged use. This lecture will focus on the development of novel functional concretes that can contribute to sustainability. It will cover three key areas: (1) fiber-reinforced concrete, (2) selfhealing concrete, and (3) concrete 3D printing, showcasing the latest research advancements in each field. Fiber-reinforced concrete compensates for the most critical weaknesses of concrete, namely its low tensile strength and brittle failure. Therefore, this material could potentially eliminate the need for steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures, thereby fundamentally overcoming durability issues. Self-healing concrete offers a technology that automatically fulfils inevitable cracks without human intervention. In countries like Italy and Japan, which are facing aging and declining populations, such labour-saving technologies will become increasingly necessary. Concrete 3D printing has significant potential for labour- and material-saving in construction. However, it represents a fundamentally different structure compared to conventional reinforced concrete, requiring further development of many component technologies, such as new reinforcement methods. This lecture will provide an overview of the development status and current challenges associated with these different types of functional concrete. Additionally, efforts to reduce the embodied carbon of concrete materials through supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) will also be discussed as a common theme among these materials. Syllabus: 1. Introduction (0.5h – Fantilli) 2. Development of fiber-reinforced concrete and its contribution to sustainability (3h – Nishiwaki) 3. Development of self-healing concrete and its contribution to sustainability (3h – Nishiwaki) 4. Development of concrete 3D printing and its contribution to sustainability (3h – Nishiwaki) 5. Conclusions (0.5h – Antonaci)

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This lecture will focus on the development of novel functional concretes that can contribute to sustainability. Guest lecturer: - Tomoya Nishiwaki (Associate Professor at Tohoku University): He is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Architecture and Building Science, Tohoku University, Japan, where he has been a faculty member since April 2010. His research focuses on the development of functional concrete to enhance sustainability in construction, with a particular emphasis on innovations like self-healing concrete, concrete 3D printing, fiber-reinforced concrete (FRCC), and the non-destructive testing of concrete. His mission is to extend the lifetime of buildings and improve their durability through advanced materials and techniques. He completed his doctoral studies at Tohoku University, where he earned his Doctor of Engineering (Dr. Eng.) degree in 2005. He also holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the same institution. Before joining Tohoku University, he worked as a construction engineer at Obayashi Corporation, Japan, and held academic positions at Yamagata University. He was a visiting researcher at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands, from 2014 to 2015. His research interests include Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHP-FRC), self-healing concrete, the mechanical characteristics and durability of concrete materials, and the environmental aspects of building materials. He is also passionate about education, having received an Education Award from Tohoku University in recognition of his contributions to teaching and mentoring students in the field of architecture and building science.

In presenza

Presentazione orale

P.D.2-2 - Aprile

17 Marzo 2025 - dalle 14.30 alle 18.00 Aula 'Giuseppe Albenga' - ingresso 1 - secondo piano DISEG 18 Marzo 2025 - dalle 14.30 alle 17.30 Aula 'Giuseppe Albenga' - ingresso 1 - secondo piano DISEG 19 Marzo 2025 - dalle 14.30 alle 18.00 Aula 'Giuseppe Albenga' - ingresso 1 - secondo piano DISEG