ZERO ENERGY CONCRETE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTION

摘要

Concrete is a versatile construction material that is most commonly used world wide. Construction industry provides employment of several million people. To build structures that are more sustainable, we need to reduce energy consumption and minimise waste. In the precast concrete production, energy is required for placing and compacting the concrete. For durability requirements, the water cement ratio is kept low and thus, the consistence of the concrete is low and the energy required for compaction is high. Also, for obtaining high early strengths required for demoulding, prestress transfer and handling of the precast elements, at ages from 6 to 18 hours, besides the low water cement ratio external heat is supplied for accelerating the strength development. The Zero Energy Concrete which utilises innovative polycarboxylic ether (ACE) superplasticiser for producing a self compacting concrete which allows for the total elimination of the external energy required for placing, compacting and curing. This leads to a significant energy saving and other costs related to better and safer working ambient and improved surface appearance and durability. In this paper the mechanism of action of the Zero Energy Concrete and its engineering properties, compared to the normal fluid consistence concrete, are reported.