Advancing Concrete Sustainability in Marine Structures

American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, United States

Abstract: The optimization of sustainability with reinforced concrete relies on concrete mix designs as well as proper selection of structural systems and materials. Sustainability can be further enhanced with proper repair and maintenance that extends the life of existing concrete structures. Resources continue to be developed to aid in achieving desirable levels of sustainability as related to concrete structures while not compromising the intended performance. The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) has long been recognized as a method to improve the sustainability of concrete. This current practice of SCMs is reviewed along with concrete structural system selection and use of glass fiber reinforced polymer reinforcement (GFRP). GFRP is well suited for corrosive environments such as salt water and air. Further, there is possibility of using sea water to produce concrete that is reinforced with GFRP. GFRP wraps may be employed to provide external reinforcement and corrosion protection for structural concrete elements. Resources are readily available to assist the design professional in meeting the sustainability goals and challenges of current and forthcoming owner requirements.