Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work aimed at evaluating the quality of particleboards manufactured with different wood proportions (Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill. ex Maiden) and rice husk. The composites were produced in the proportions 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of peels of rice with the use of urea-formaldehyde and tannin-formaldehyde adhesives. In order to characterize the quality of the particleboards, physical properties (specific mass; moisture content; water absorption and swelling in thickness after 2 and 24 hours), mechanical resistance (static bending; internal bonding and screw withdrawal) and xylophages resistance (Nasutitermes corniger under alimentary preference assay and decay fungi Gloeophyllum trabeum and Trametes versicolor in laboratory conditions) were evaluated. Results showed that particleboards manufactured with tannin-formaldehyde resins presented a higher quality. The increase of rice husk provided a larger instability and a smaller resistance of the particleboards. Particleboards produced with peels of rice presented a higher resistance to the attack of fungi or xylophages termites. Particleboards glued with tannin-formaldehyde were more resistant to the attack of termites; for the fungi, the difference among adhesives happened when these particleboards were submitted to the attack of Gloeophyllum trabeum, and the particleboards produced with urea-formaldehyde were the most resistant. In the fungi, Trametes versicolor was the fungus that provided the largest mass loss to the particleboards. / Avaliou-se a qualidade de painéis aglomerados produzidos com diferentes proporções de madeira (Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill. ex Maiden) e casca de arroz. Os compósitos foram produzidos nas proporções 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 100% de casca de arroz com a utilização dos adesivos ureia-formaldeído e tanino-formaldeído. Para caracterizar a qualidade das chapas, foram avaliadas as propriedades físicas (massa específica; teor de umidade; absorção de água e inchamento em espessura as 2 e 24 horas), a resistência mecânica (flexão estática; ligação interna; e resistência ao arrancamento de parafusos) e a resistência a xilófagos (aos cupins subterrâneos Nasutitermes corniger, em ensaios de preferência alimentar e aos fungos apodrecedores Gloeophyllum trabeum e Trametes versicolor em ensaios de laboratório). Os resultados obtidos indicaram que quando confeccionados utilizando a resina à base de tanino os painéis apresentaram qualidade superior. O acréscimo da casca de arroz proporcionou uma maior instabilidade e uma menor resistência das chapas. Em contrapartida, painéis produzidos com casca de arroz geralmente apresentaram maior resistência ao ataque de fungos apodrecedores ou aos cupins subterrâneos. Painéis colados com tanino-formaldeído foram mais resistentes ao ataque dos térmitas, enquanto que, para os fungos, a diferença entre adesivos ocorreu apenas quando submetidas ao ataque de Gloeophyllum trabeum, sendo as chapas produzidas com ureia-formaldeído as mais resistentes. Dentre os fungos, Trametes versicolor proporcionou uma maior perda de massa aos painéis.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Rice husk is a fairly abundant agro-industrial waste in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, hence the same has been suggested and studied to be used as in lignocellulosic hydrolysis to produce fermentable sugars material. However, processes of hydrolysis in most cases are more expensive and impractical. In this context, this work aimed to study which evaluated acid and enzymatic hydrolysis of rice hulls to obtain fermentable sugars using some alternative technologies such as ultrasound and supercritical CO2 to increase the yields of sugars. In the acid hydrolysis, the yields obtained at optimized conditions were 113.0 and 162.0 g.kg-1 for conventional and ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis, where the yield obtained by ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis was around 43% higher than for the conventional hydrolysis. In the enzymatic hydrolysis, it was evaluated the use of supercritical CO2 as co-solvent and ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis and the results were compared with conventional procedure. Maximum yield of fermentable sugar obtained was about 16 g.kg-1using conventional or ultrasound-assisted hydrolyses. The yield obtained in the hydrolysis using supercritical CO2 as co-solvent was around 4.2 g.kg-1. Enzymatic hydrolysis using conventional procedure showed to be the best alternative to obtain fermentable sugar from rice hulls since the innovative technologies employed did not lead to better results. For acid hydrolysis, it was possible to obtain high yield using less acid and low temperature, in a manner that ultrasound can be used as a device for process intensification. / A casca de arroz é um resíduo agroindustrial bastante abundante no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, deste modo à mesma vem sendo sugerida e estudada para ser usada como material lignocelulósico em hidrólises para a produção de açúcares fermentescíveis. Entretanto, processos de hidrólises na maioria das vezes não possuem um alto rendimento o que torna o processo ainda mais caro e inviável. Dentro desse contexto o presente trabalho teve o intuito de realizar um estudo onde avaliou hidrólise ácida e enzimática da casca de arroz para a obtenção de açúcares fermentescíveis utilizando algumas tecnologias alternativas, como o banho de ultrassom e CO2 supercrítico para aumentar os rendimentos de açúcares. Os ensaios foram realizados em diferentes condições de temperatura, concentrações de ácido e umidade, pressão e concentrações de enzima do meio. Na hidrólise acida convencional obteve-se um rendimento de 113,0 g.kg-1 e na hidrólise ácida assistida por ultrassom o rendimento foi de 162,0 g.kg-1, com base nesses resultados dos rendimentos de açúcares foi possível concluir que o uso do ultrassom intensificou o processo ocorrendo um aumento do rendimento em cerca de 43% quando comparado com o rendimento de açúcares fermentescíveis da hidrólise convencional. Já na hidrólise enzimática utilizando o CO2 Supercrítico o rendimento foi de 4.2 g.kg-1 enquanto que o rendimento da hidrólise enzimática convencional e assistida por ultrassom foi de 16 g.kg-1, neste caso o uso do CO2 supercrítico não foi uma alternativa promissora, uma vez que a mesma causou uma desnaturação das enzimas causando uma diminuição na eficiência do processo.

A cinza obtida da queima controlada da casca de arroz é um material que apresenta propriedades pozzolânicas: reage na presença de água e dióxido de cálcio produzindo silicato de cálcio hidratado (C-S-H), o material que confere a resistência mecânica aos cimentos. Portanto, a cinza de casca de arroz é um material de potencial interesse para o desenvolvimento de cimentos não convencionais, baseados em subprodutos industriais ou agrícolas. Neste trabalho, os compostos presentes em cinzas de alta reatividade pozzolânica e os produtos obtidos de sua reação pozzolânica foram estudados através da Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN) de alta resolução de 13C e 29Si. Na cinza não hidratada foram detectados domínios de sílica amorfa, o componente principal, e quantidades menores de sílica cristalina (cristobalita e quartzo), carbono amorfo e cadeias de siloxanos. Foi estudada a evolução da reação em pastas obtidas da hidratação da cinza na proporção água: cal: cinza O,47H20+O,53(O,1CCA+O,9Cal)=1 (entre 8 e 134 dias de idade). Mediante a RMN de 29Si foi possível caracterizar a formação de C-S-H e disposição dos grupos silicatos na estrutura. A estrutura do C-S-H obtido é comparável à observada em cimentos convencionais e cimentos de escoria de alto forno, e é compatível com os modelos propostos. A quantidade de C-S-H produzido e a velocidade da reação são menores quando comparadas com os outros cimentos. Efeitos da carbonatação de C-S-H foram observáveis em atmosfera ambiente. Foi detectado também o efeito da hidratação sobre os componentes minoritários da cinza. / The ashes obtained from burning rice husks have pozzolanic properties: in the presence of water and calcium dioxide the ashes react to produce calcium silicate hydrate (C-SH), the main binding agent in cementitiuos materials. Therefore, rice husk ashes are interesting materials in order to produce non-conventional cement, based in industrial or agricultural byproducts. The compounds present in a sample of rice husk ashes of high pozzolanic activity, and the products of hydration, were characterized using high resolution solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) of 13C and 29Si. Several compounds were detected in anhydrous ashes: amorphous silica (the main component), and minor quantities of crystalline silica (cristobalite and quartz), amorphous carbon and siloxane polymeric chains. Hardened pastes were prepared with a ratio water:calcium dioxide:ash O,47H20+O,53(O,1dioxide ash+O,9calcio)=1. The evolution of the hydration reaction was monitored at several ages between 8 to 134 days. The formation of C-S-H was detected by 29Si-NMR and the arrangement of the silicate groups was characterized. The structure of the C-S-H formed in these pastes agrees with the one observed in conventional cements and also b1ast furnace slag cements. Also, it is in agreement with the accepted structural models of C-S-H. The amount of C-S-H produced and the velocity of the reaction are minor than those observed in blast furnace slag cements. Carbonation effects were detected in ambient atmospheric conditions. Also, the effect of the hydration on the minority compounds was also detected.

La presente investigación fue elaborada con el fin de estudiar la influencia que tiene el agregar cenizas de cascara de arroz (CCA) y fibras de polipropileno (FPP) en la fisuración por contracción plástica del concreto. El estudio de investigación tuvo lugar en la ciudad de Lima, donde nos enfocamos a investigar las propiedades plásticas y mecánicas de un concreto f´c=210 kg/cm2, que se utiliza comúnmente en la fabricación de losas macizas, con reemplazo parcial del cemento por CCA en porcentajes de 5%, 10% y 15% respecto a su peso, y FPP en rendimiento de 900 gr/m3. Las principales propiedades en estado endurecido fueron investigadas, la resistencia a la compresión y la resistencia a la flexión y la propiedad en estado plástico que se desarrolló fue la fisuración debido a la contracción plástica a través del ensayo ASTM C1579. Teniendo en cuenta que no existe un acuerdo relativo al ancho de fisura máxima en un elemento estructural, se decidió utilizar límites entre 0.2 a 0.4 mm, para ambientes normales, sugeridos por el Mg. Ing. Gianfranco Ottazzi. De los resultados obtenidos, la mezcla adicionada con CCA en reemplazo parcial del cemento en 5%, 10% y 15% junto con las FPP en rendimiento de 900 gr/m3, podemos inferir que las CCA reducirán, no de manera significativa, las propiedades de la resistencia de un concreto f´c= 210 kg/cm2, sin embargo, reducen el promedio de apariciones de fisuras producidas en las losas macizas debido la contracción plástica del mismo. / The present investigation was elaborated with the purpose of studying the influence of the addition of rice husk ash (RHA) and polypropylene fibers (PPF) on the plastic shrinkage cracking of concrete. The research study took place in the city of Lima, where we focused on investigating the plastic and mechanical properties of a concrete f´c = 210 kg / cm2, which is commonly used in the manufacture of solid slabs, with partial replacement of the cement by RHA in percentages of 5%, 10% and 15% respect to its weight and PPF in yield of 900 g / m3. The main properties in the hardened state were investigated, the compressive strength and flexural strength and the property in the plastic state that developed was cracking due to plastic shrinkage through the ASTM C1579 test. Taking into account that there is no agreement regarding the maximum width in a structural element, it was decided to use limits between 0.2 to 0.4 mm, for normal environments, suggested by Mg. Eng. Gianfranco Ottazzi. According to the results obtained, the mixture added with RHA in replacement of cement in percentages of 5%, 10% and 15% together with PPF in yield of 900 gr / m3, we can infer that the RHA will reduce, not significantly, the strength properties of a concrete f´c = 210 kg / cm2, however, reduce the average occurrence of cracks produced in solid slabs due to the plastic shrinkage of the same. / Tesis

En distintas partes del mundo como Inglaterra, Cuba y Perú, se está presentando una situación en que la materia prima de la construcción como los agregados se está acabando por la sobreexplotación y se teme en un futuro que existirá una criticidad mayor de estos materiales. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio es elaborar un concreto f’c=210 kg/cm2 para elementos verticales, con el fin de reducir parcialmente el cemento por ceniza de cascarilla de arroz (CCA) y la arena por PET. En esta investigación, se ha determinado que la cascara de arroz incinerada puede generar que el material se comporte como una puzolana al igual que el cemento. Asimismo, para el caso del PET reciclado se ha investigado con un tamaño reducido puede permitir adherirse y acomodarse de una mejor manera evitando generar lagunas en el concreto. En esta investigación, se han elaborado cuatro combinaciones con diferentes proporciones de CCA y PET, de las cuales dos de ellas han presentado resultados favorables cumpliendo todos los requerimientos técnicos para un concreto f’c=210 kg/cm2. Este concreto propuesto puede reducir entre un 10% a15% el uso de cemento y un 2.5% de arena para un metro cubico de concreto. De esta manera, se ha demostrado que el aprovechamiento del material agroindustrial como es la cascarilla de arroz y el material reciclado como el PET puede reducir hasta un 6% el uso de agregados como la arena, la piedra caliza y la arcilla, estos últimos que son usados para la elaboración de cemento. / In different parts of the world such as England, Cuba and Peru, a situation is occurring in which the raw material for construction such as aggregates is running out due to overexploitation and there is fear in the future that there will be a greater criticality of these materials. Therefore, the objective of this study is to elaborate a concrete f'c = 210 kg / cm2 for vertical elements, in order to partially reduce the cement by rice husk ash (CCA) and the sand by PET. In this investigation, it has been determined that the incinerated rice husk can cause the material to behave like a pozzolana just like cement. Likewise, in the case of recycled PET, it has been investigated with a reduced size that can allow it to adhere and accommodate in a better way, avoiding generating gaps in the concrete. In this research, four combinations with different proportions of CCA and PET have been elaborated, of which two of them have presented favorable results, meeting all the technical requirements for a concrete f'c = 210 kg / cm2. This proposed concrete can reduce the use of cement and 2.5% sand for one cubic meter of concrete by 10-15%. In this way, it has been shown that the use of agro-industrial material such as rice husk and recycled material such as PET can reduce the use of aggregates such as sand, limestone and clay, the latter by up to 6%. They are used to make cement. / Tesis

La utilización de ceniza de cáscara de arroz (CCA) puede reducir el gran problema ambiental asociado a su inadecuada disposición. Una forma, es su adición en suelos arcillosos, lo que puede brindar soluciones a los problemas de estabilización, aumentando así su capacidad de soporte del suelo. El presente proyecto de investigación tiene como finalidad la estabilización de suelos arcillosos aplicando ceniza de cáscara de arroz para el mejoramiento de subrasante en la localidad de Moyobamba- departamento de San Martín; donde se obtuvo un suelo de arcilla inorgánica de alta plasticidad siendo su clasificación SUCS “CH” y AASHTO “A-7-6 (20)”. Se realizó ensayos estandarizados de mecánica de suelos, tales como Análisis Granulométrico, Límites de Atterberg, Proctor Modificado y California Bearing Ratio (CBR) con combinaciones de ceniza de cáscara de arroz (CCA) de 5%, 10% y 15%. En el ensayo de CBR la resistencia obtenida al 95% de la Máxima Densidad Seca del suelo natural es de 3,96%, añadiendo el 5% de CCA la resistencia es de 6,90%, con 10% de CCA es de 9,60% y para el 15% de CCA es de 10,5 %, por lo que la investigación concluye que el uso de ceniza de cáscara de arroz (CCA) como material estabilizante de suelos arcillosos brinda buenos resultados. / The use of rice husk ash (RHA) can reduce the big environmental problem associated with its inadequate disposal. One way is its addition to clay soils, which can provide solutions to stabilization problems, causing the increasing its soil bearing capacity. The present research project has as purpose to stabilize clay soils by applying rice husk ash (RHA) to improve the subgrade in the town of Moyobamba - department of San Martín; where a high plasticity inorganic clay soil was obtained, its classification being SUCS "CH" and AASHTO "A-7-6 (20)". Standardized soil mechanics tests were made, such as Granulometric Analysis, Atterberg Limits, Modified Proctor and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) with combinations of rice husk ash (CCA) of 5%, 10% and 15%. In the CBR test the resistance obtained at 95% of the Maximum Dry Density of the natural soil is 3.96%, adding 5% of RHA the resistance is 6.90%, with 10% of RHA it is 9, 60% and for 15% of RHA it is 10.5%, so the research concludes that the use of rice husk ash (RHA) as a stabilizing material for clay soils provides good results. / Tesis

Agricultural activities produce a large quantity of waste each year in the Mekong Delta. For example, appropriately 26.86 million tons of rice straw, 5.37 million tons of rice husks, 1.33 million tons of bagasse and 0.59 million tons of corn straw were produced in 2016. Despite such a huge quantity of agricultural waste, the waste has been rarely used effectively. Around 54.1 - 98.0% of rice straw is normally burnt on the field; only 20 - 50% of rice husk is used for pellet or energy purposes; a few sugar-cane factories apply bagasse feeding to steam cookers, and a small quantity of corn straw is used as livestock feeding. If this biomass source is used for electricity generation, in theory, for the period of 2006 - 2020, it is estimated that this source can potentially generate 1203 million MWh/year from rice straw, 236 million MWh/year from rice husk, 45 million MWh/year from bagasse, and 40 million MWh/year from corn straw. Electricity generation of biomass source will not only solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by agricultural waste but also meet increasing energy demands for socio-economic development in this region. / Hàng năm lượng chất thải phát sinh từ một số loại hình canh tác nông nghiệp chính ở ĐBSCL rất lớn. Chỉ tính riêng năm 2016 ghi nhận thải ra khoảng 26,86 triệu tấn rơm rạ; 5,37 triệu tấn vỏ trấu; 1,33 triệu tấn bã mía và 0,59 triệu tấn thân cây bắp. Lượng chất thải phát sinh lớn nhưng các biện pháp sử dụng những nguồn sinh khối này chưa đa dạng, rơm rạ phần lớn được người dân đốt trực tiếp ngay trên đồng ruộng chiếm 54,1 - 98,0% lượng rơm rạ thải ra; chỉ có khoảng 20 - 50% lượng vỏ trấu được sử dụng; bã mía chỉ được một số nhà máy sử dụng để đốt cho lò hơi; một lượng nhỏ thân cây bắp được người dân sử dụng cho chăn nuôi. Nếu có thể tận dụng các nguồn sinh khối này để sản xuất điện thì tiềm năng lý thuyết ước tính từ năm 2005 đến 2020 của rơm rạ là 1203 triệu MWh/năm; vỏ trấu là 236 triệu MWh/năm; bã mía là 45 triệu MWh/năm; và thân cây bắp là 40 triệu MWh/năm. Sản xuất điện từ các nguồn sinh khối này không chỉ giải quyết lượng phế phẩm nông nghiệp phát sinh, giảm thiểu ô nhiễm môi trường mà còn có thể tạo ra nguồn điện cung cấp cho nhu cầu phát triển của vùng.

The world is facing a major climate threat where carbon dioxide emissions are in focus. At the same time, society requires new buildings and developed infrastructure. Concrete is one of the most common building materials and 30 billion tonnes are produced annually, which corresponds to about 6 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. The majority of carbon dioxide emissions occur during cement production. Sweden's long-term climate goal is that by 2045 there will be no net emissions to the atmosphere. To achieve this, a major change is required in the concrete and cement industry. Carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by reducing the amount of cement in concrete and replacing the reduced amount with a supplement. Materials with pozzolanic properties have been shown to work well as binders in concrete. Pozzolan materials contain a high content of silica which reacts well with calcium hydroxide in cement. Oat and rice husk ash that is burned under the right conditions has shown good pozzolanic properties. The purpose of this thesis is to optimize a concrete recipe that will result in reduced carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the amount of cement. The reduced amount of cement is replaced with rice husk ash. The report is based on laboratory work where concrete recipes are mixed, measured for density, tested for set and spread measurements and cast into cubes for later tensile strength testing. The results from the laboratories showed that rice husk ash as a binder in concrete provides high early compressive strength, high density through particle compaction and becomes self-compacting without stone separation. One conclusion that can be drawn is that rice husk ash as a supplement to cement can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by 54 percent. / Världen står inför ett stort klimathot där koldioxidutsläppen står i fokus. Samtidigt är samhället i behov av nya bostäder och utvecklad infrastruktur. Betong är ett av de vanligaste byggnadsmaterialen och det produceras årligen 30 miljarder ton, vilket motsvarar cirka 6 procent av världens koldioxidutsläpp. Majoriteten av koldioxidutsläppen sker vid cementtillverkningen. Sveriges långsiktiga klimatmål är att år 2045 inte ha några nettoutsläpp till atmosfären. För att uppnå detta krävs en stor förändring i betong- och cementindustrin. Koldioxidutsläppen kan minskas genom att reducera mängden cement i betongen och ersätta den reducerade mängden med ett supplement. Material med puzzolana egenskaper har visat sig fungera bra som bindemedel i betong. Puzzolana material innehåller en hög halt av kiseldioxid som reagerar bra med kalciumhydroxid i cement. Havre- och risskalaska som bränns under rätt process har uppvisat bra puzzolana egenskaper. Syftet med det här examensarbetet är att optimera ett betongrecept som ska resultera i minskade koldioxidutsläpp genom att reducera mängden cement. Den reducerade mängden cement ersätts med risskalaska. Rapporten bygger på laborationer där betongrecept blandas, mäts för densitet, testas för sätt- och utbredningsmått samt gjuts i kuber för senare tyckhållfasthetsprover. Resultatet från laborationerna visade att risskalaska som bindemedel i betong ger hög tidig tryckhållfasthet, hög densitet genom partikelpackning samt blir självkompakterande utan att stenseparation sker. En slutsats som kan dras är att risskalaska som supplement till cement kan reducera mängden koldioxidutsläpp med 54 procent.

Global cement production is continuously increasing from 1990 till 2050 and growing particularly rapidly in developing countries, where it represents a crucial element for infrastructure development and industrialisation. Every tonne of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) produced releases, on average, about 800 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere, or, in total, the overall production of cement represents roughly 7% of all man-made carbon emissions. The present paper aims to deepen the re-use of agricultural solid waste materials as partial replacement of OPC, which can positively contribute to the sustainability of the concrete industry because of their availability and environmental friendliness. In particular, rice-husk ash (RHA) and oat-husk ash (OHA), burned under the right conditions, can have a high reactive silica content, representing very potential pozzolans. The mechanical and physical characteristics of both materials are investigated to evaluate the influence on concrete properties. Subsequently, using the environmental product declarations (EPDs) of the material used, a comparative environmental impact analysis between RHA concrete and ordinary concrete having the same resistance class, is presented. It is concluded that the use of RHA as supplementary cementitious material can serve a viable and sustainable partial replacement to OPC for the reduction of CO2 emissions and global warming potential. / Den globala cementproduktionen ökar från 1990 till 2050 och växer särskilt snabbt i utvecklingsländer, där den utgör en viktig del för infrastrukturutveckling och industrialisering. Varje ton vanligt portlandcement (OPC) släpper i genomsnitt ut cirka 800 kg koldioxid i atmosfären, och, totalt, representerar den totala cementproduktionen ungefär 7% av alla koldioxidutsläpp från mänsklig verksamhet. Det här examensarbetet syftar till att fördjupa kunskapen om och därmed i förlängningen återanvändningen av fasta avfallsmaterial från jordbruket som delvis ersättning av OPC, vilket kan bidra till hållbarheten i betongindustrin på grund av deras tillgänglighet och miljövänlighet. I synnerhet kan risskalaska (RHA) och havreskalaska (OHA), som bränns under rätt process, ha en hög reaktiv kiseldioxidhalt, vilket representerar mycket potentiella puzzolaner. De mekaniska och fysiska egenskaperna hos båda materialen har undersökts för att utvärdera deras inverkan på betongegenskaper. Därefter presenteras en jämförande miljökonsekvensanalys mellan RHA-betong och OPC-betong med samma motståndsklass med användning av miljövarudeklaration (EPD) för det använda materialet. Man drar slutsatsen att användningen av RHA som alternativt bindemedel (SCM) till OPC kan hjälpa till att minska koldioxidutsläppen och den globala uppvärmningspotentialen.

The construction industry is the largest consumer of materials in our society. Approximately 40% of all materials used are related to this section of the industry. Equivalent is the impact of the sector’s activities to the environment in terms of non-renewable energy sources (grey energy), gas emissions (mainly CO2), solid waste, etc. With concrete being the most widely used construction material (second only to water in total volumes consumed annually by society) and cement being the essential “glue” in concrete, emphasis should be placed on investigating and enforcing appropriate ways, methodologies and policies, to make cement manufacturing and the construction industry in general a more environmental friendly sector. At the same time, by considering, at one hand the significant amount of research and breakthroughs achieved on structural materials and design, as well as the level of sophistication of the modern European Standards and structural codes, and on the other hand, the increasing cases of premature deterioration of concrete structures, particular emphasis should also be placed on safeguarding the service life of reinforced concrete structures (in addition to tackling their environmental burden). That is why it is very important to introduce the sustainable way of thinking and the concept of industrial ecology on the preliminary design stages of a structure, on the material selection process and on the service life estimation stage, in achieving a robust durable reinforced concrete (RC) structure (for a given service life) with the minimum environmental burden. Thus, the main objective of the present Thesis is to focus on identifying and quantifying a structured framework of the appropriate methodologies in formulating an Integrated Design Process (IDP) for the design of durable and sustainable structures at the minimum environmental and economical cost (without compromising issues of structural safety) and also in identifying and demonstrating ways of industrial ecology for the sustainable development of the cement and construction industry. The present Thesis contributes to the evaluation of the environmental cost of each component of concrete and to provide the best possible mix design configuration (by means of a holistic analytical software tool) in terms of low environmental cost, as well as, to assess this proposed configuration in terms of strength and durability requirements. Overall, it has to be emphasized that through the present Thesis a new indicator is proposed for design purposes: the environmental cost, which can be added to the existing strength, durability and economic cost indicators towards an integrated design optimization of concrete structures. Finally, it is concluded that the incorporation of new Supplementary Cementing Materials (SCM), as biomass ashes and especially Rice Husk Ash (RHA), offers new perspectives for decreasing the environmental cost of constructions. / Η κατασκευαστική βιομηχανία αποτελεί τον μεγαλύτερο καταναλωτή υλικών στην κοινωνία μας. Περίπου το 40% όλων των υλικών που χρησιμοποιούνται σχετίζονται με αυτόν τον τομέα της βιομηχανίας. Αντίστοιχο αντίκτυπο έχουν και οι δραστηριότητες του τομέα στο περιβάλλον σε ότι αφορά τις μη ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας («γκρίζα» ενέργεια), αέριες εκπομπές (κυρίωςCO2 ), στερεά απόβλητα, κλπ. Δεδομένου ότι το σκυρόδεμα αποτελεί το πιο ευρέως χρησιμοποιούμενο δομικό υλικό (δεύτερο μετά το νερό σε συνολικούς όγκους που καταναλώνονται ετησίως από την κοινωνία) και ότι το τσιμέντο είναι η απαραίτητη «κόλλα» στο σκυρόδεμα, έμφαση πρέπει να δοθεί στη διερεύνηση και επιβολή κατάλληλων τρόπων, μεθοδολογιών και πολιτικών για τη μετατροπή της τσιμεντοβιομηχανίας και της κατασκευαστικής βιομηχανίας σε έναν γενικά περισσότερο περιβαλλοντικά φιλικό τομέα. Ταυτόχρονα, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη από τη μια μεριά τη σημαντική ποσότητα έρευνας και τα επιτεύγματα σχετικά με τα δομικά υλικά και τον σχεδιασμό, και επιπλέον το επίπεδο της επιτήδευσης των σύγχρονων Ευρωπαϊκών Προτύπων και κατασκευαστικών κανονισμών, και από την άλλη μεριά τις αυξανόμενες περιπτώσεις της πρώιμης φθοράς των κατασκευών από σκυρόδεμα, ιδιαίτερη έμφαση θα πρέπει να δοθεί στη διασφάλιση της διάρκειας ζωής των κατασκευών οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος (σε συνδυασμό με την αντιμετώπιση της περιβαλλοντικής τους επιβάρυνσης). Για το λόγο αυτό είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντική η εισαγωγή του βιώσιμου τρόπου σκέψης και της έννοιας της βιομηχανικής οικολογίας στα προκαταρκτικά στάδια σχεδιασμού μιας κατασκευής, κατά τη διαδικασία επιλογής υλικών και κατά το στάδιο εκτίμησης της διάρκειας ζωής, ώστε να επιτευχθεί μια εύρωστη, ανθεκτική κατασκευή οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος (για δεδομένη διάρκεια ζωής) με την ελάχιστη περιβαλλοντική επιβάρυνση. Συνεπώς, ο κύριος στόχος της παρούσας Διατριβής είναι να επικεντρωθεί στον εντοπισμό και ποσοτικοποίηση ενός δομημένου προτύπου κατάλληλων μεθοδολογιών για τον σχηματισμό μιας Ενοποιημένης Διαδικασίας Σχεδιασμού για τον σχεδιασμό ανθεκτικών και βιώσιμων κατασκευών με το ελάχιστο περιβαλλοντικό και οικονομικό κόστος (χωρίς συμβιβασμούς σε θέματα που άπτονται της κατασκευαστικής ασφάλειας) και επίσης για την αναγνώριση και επίδειξη τρόπων βιομηχανικής οικολογίας για την βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη της βιομηχανίας τσιμέντου και σκυροδέματος. Η παρούσα Διατριβή συνεισφέρει στην αξιολόγηση του περιβαλλοντικού κόστους κάθε συστατικού του σκυροδέματος αλλά και στην παροχή ενός καλύτερου δυνατού σχεδιασμού σύνθεσης σκυροδέματος (μέσω ενός ολιστικού αναλυτικού λογισμικού) υπό όρους χαμηλού περιβαλλοντικού κόστους, καθώς και στο να αξιολογήσει την προτεινόμενη σύνθεση υπό όρους αντοχής και απαιτήσεων ανθεκτικότητας. Συνολικά, πρέπει να τονισθεί ότι στη παρούσα Διατριβή προτείνεται για πρώτη φορά ένας νέος δείκτης για σκοπούς σχεδιασμού: το περιβαλλοντικό κόστος, το οποίο μπορεί να προστεθεί στους υπάρχοντες δείκτες αντοχής, ανθεκτικότητας και οικονομικού κόστους προς μια ολοκληρωμένη αριστοποίηση σχεδιασμού κατασκευών από σκυρόδεμα. Τέλος, προκύπτει το συμπέρασμα ότι η ενσωμάτωση νέων συμπληρωματικών υδραυλικών υλικών (SCM: Supplementary Cementing Materials), όπως οι τέφρες βιομάζας και ειδικά η τέφρα φλοιού ρυζιού (RHA: Rice Husk Ash), προσφέρει νέες προοπτικές για τη μείωση του περιβαλλοντικού κόστους σκυροδέματος.