Smart materials and technologies for sustainable concrete construction

TLDR

Sustainable concrete construction seeks to reduce the industry’s environmental impact through eco‑friendly practices. This review surveys current trends and opportunities for sustainable concrete construction. It examines a range of sustainable materials and technologies—including green concrete, supplementary cementitious materials, permeable and cool concrete, self‑healing, 3D‑printed, photocatalytic concrete, electrified machinery, carbon capture, and digitalization—to assess their potential, challenges, and stakeholder roles.

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of current trends and opportunities for sustainable concrete construction, emphasizing the importance of adopting eco-friendly practices to mitigate the industry's environmental impact. Green concrete, supplementary cementitious materials, permeable concrete, cool concrete, and the use of local materials are explored as sustainable materials and technologies. Innovations like self-healing concrete, 3D-printed concrete, photocatalytic concrete, electrified machineries, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage principles are also discussed, highlighting their potential to improve the sustainability of construction practices. Challenges faced in implementing sustainable concrete construction practices, such as technical, economic, and social barriers, are also addressed. The roles of governments, industry, and academia in promoting sustainable concrete construction are examined, stressing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and research. Lastly, emerging trends and technologies, including digitalization, data-driven approaches, and circular economy principles, are identified as critical factors in driving the transition towards sustainable concrete construction.