Concrete Self-Healing for Sustainable Buildings: A Focus on the Economic Evaluation from a Life-Cycle Perspective

Andres Miguel Panza Uguzzoni, Elena Fregonara (), Diego Giuseppe Ferrando, Giovanni Anglani, Paola Antonaci and Jean-Marc Tulliani
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Andres Miguel Panza Uguzzoni: Applied Science and Technology Department, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
Elena Fregonara: Architecture and Design Department, Politecnico di Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy
Diego Giuseppe Ferrando: Architecture and Design Department, Politecnico di Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy
Giovanni Anglani: Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
Paola Antonaci: Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
Jean-Marc Tulliani: Applied Science and Technology Department, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Concrete is one of the world’s most used and produced materials, based on its dominant role in the construction sector, both for the construction of new structures and for the repair, restoration, and retrofitting of built ones. Recently, research has been focused on the development of innovative solutions to extend the service life of reinforced concrete structures, specifically by introducing self-healing properties aimed at reducing the necessary maintenance interventions and, consequently, the environmental impacts. These solutions imply costs and financial feasibility impacts, which must be measured and evaluated to support the ranking of preferable alternatives. Thus, this paper proposes a methodology capable of supporting the selection of material/product options from the early design stages in the construction sector. Assuming a life-cycle perspective, the Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) approach is proposed for comparing three material solutions applied to the case study of a wall component hypothesized to be used in building construction in Turin, Northern Italy. Namely, traditional standard concrete and two different self-healing concrete types were evaluated using the Global Cost calculation of each solution. The focus is on the material service life as a crucial factor, capable of orienting investment decisions given its effects on the required maintenance activities (and related investments) and the obtainable residual value. Thus, according to a performance approach, LCC is combined with the Factor Method (FM). Assuming the capability of the lifespan to affect the Global Cost calculation, the results give full evidence of the potential benefits due to the use of self-healing materials in construction in terms of the reduction in maintenance costs, the increase in the durability of buildings and structures and related residual values, and consequently, the reduction in the environmental impacts.

Keywords: economic–environmental sustainability; self-healing concrete; 3D-printed capsules; macro-capsules; Life-Cycle Costing; Factor Method; service life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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