Using recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a replacement for natural aggregate in new concrete is a promising way to increase the overall sustainability of new concrete. This has been hindered, however, by a general perception that RCA is a sub-standard material due to the lack of technical guidance, specifically related to long-term durability, on incorporating RCA into new concrete. The goal of this research project was to determine whether current testing methods could be used to assess the potential alkali-silica reactivity of concrete incorporating RCA. The test methods investigated were ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1567 for assessing natural aggregate susceptibility to alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), and the ability of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to mitigate ASR, respectively. Seven different RCA sources were investigated. It was determined that ASTM C1260 was effective in detecting reactivity but expansion varied based on RCA processing. Depending on the aggregate type and the extent of processing, up to a 100% increase in expansion was observed. Replicate testing was performed at four university laboratories to evaluate repeatability and consistency of results. The authors recommend modification to the mixing and aggregate preparation procedures, when testing the reactivity of RCA using ASTM C 1260. This study also investigated the efficacy of replacing portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), known to mitigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete with virgin aggregates, to control ASR in concrete incorporating reactive RCA. The SCMs investigated as part of this study included: fly ash (class F), silica fume, and metakaolin. The results of modified alkali-silica reactivity tests, ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1567 (AMBT), are presented for two different recycled concrete aggregates when using 100% portland cement, binary blends of portland cement and fly ash, and ternary blends of portland cement, fly ash and metakaolin or silica fume. The results indicate that SCMs can effectively mitigate ASR in concrete made with RCA. A 40% replacement of portland cement with class F fly ash was able to reduce expansions to below 0.10% in the AMBT for concrete containing 100% of a highly reactive recycled concrete aggregate. A ternary blend, however, of portland cement with a class F fly ash and metakaolin was most effective for both RCAs tested in this study. Higher levels of mitigation may be required for some RCAs, compared to the level required to mitigate ASR in concrete made with their original natural aggregates, depending on the age and composition of the RCA. / Graduation date: 2012

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to determine the application of green building practices in Stellenbosch. In order to achieve this aim certain objectives had to be met. The first objective was to retrieve national and international literature on green building initiatives. Six main sections were discussed in the literature namely, climate change and the environment, the built environment, the concept of sustainability in cities and buildings, green building designs and practices, green buildings, green building councils and the different green rating systems, with a specific focus on the Green Star SA rating tool. The second objective was to discuss three case scenarios in Stellenbosch that practice green initiatives. The case scenarios selected are Distell Group Limited, Spier wine estate and the new Remgro head office Millenia park. Buildings in Stellenbosch selected by means of probability sampling. A total of 35% of all commercially zoned buildings in the Stellenbosch core were selected to participate in the sample. The land zoning maps from the Stellenbosch municipality was obtained and relevant buildings were sampled. Nine of the sampled buildings were heritage buildings (older than sixty years) and seventeen were buildings from the modernist era (younger than sixty years). Nine architect companies in Stellenbosch were also sampled. The respondents were determined by means of haphazard sampling. The third objective was to design two questionnaires, one for building owners and another for architects. The first questionnaire developed for building owners was divided into two sections. The first section determined what green practices owners are incorporating into their office buildings. These green practices developed in the questionnaire focused on the use of natural light in the buildings, LED lights, indoor ventilation, recycling methods, water saving methods, energy saving methods and whether management plans exist to monitor and evaluate the buildings energy usage. The second section focused on the perception of the building owners. The respondents had to rate the importance of the above mentioned green initiatives on a scale of one 1 (being not at all) to 5 (being very important). The fourth objective was to develop a questionnaire for architects. The questionnaire determined whether green designs are incorporated by architects and if there is a greater demand for green designs by clients. The findings of the study revealed that respondents find natural light and air quality to be the most important aspects in an office. Recycling is applied by 93% of respondents. Less than 10% of respondents have installed solar panels, HAVC systems, rain water harvesting or other water management systems. Architects find that there has been an increase in the demand for green designs, but that there is a lack of knowledge of green initiatives by building practitioners. The main recommendations of the study are that the concept of green development be broadened into other spheres apart from planners. Education and training of green building must be available to all building owners and practitioners. Sustainable materials should be more accessible to building practitioners and these materials should be made available locally. Finally more buildings should be refurbished or renovated rather than be demolished to prevent waste and secure open spaces. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om die toepassing van groen initiatiewe in Stellenbosch te bepaal. Ten einde hierdie doel te bereik moes daar aan sekere doelwitte voldoen word. Die eerste doelwit was om nasionale en internasionale literatuur oor groen inisiatiewe te verkry. Ses hoof afdelings is bespreek in die literatuur, naamlik verandering van die klimaat en die omgewing, die Beboude-omgewing, die konsep van volhoubaarheid in stede en geboue, groen gebou ontwerp en praktyke, die rade vir omgewings vriendelike geboue en groen evalueering stelsels. Die tweede doelwit was om drie gevalle studies is Stellenbosch te bespreek wat groen inisiatiewe beoefen. Die gevalle studies wat bespreek word is Distell Eiendoms Beperk, Spier landgoedere en Remgro se nuwe hoof gebou Millenia Park. Waarskynlikheids steekproewe is gebruik om die geboue te identifiseer vir die veld werk, ʼn totaal van 35% van al die kommersiëele gesoneerde geboue in die Stellenbosch-kern is geselekteer om deel te neem in die steekproef. Die landsoneringskaarte van die Stellenbosch-munisipaliteit is verkry en betrokke geboue was geselekteer. Nege van die geselekteerde geboue was historiese geboue (ouer as sestig jaar) en sewentien was geboue van die modernistiese era (jonger as sestig jaar). Nege argiteks maatskappye in Stellenbosch is ook geselekteer vir die studie. Die respondente is deur middel van’n lukrake steekproef bepaal. Die derde doelwit was om twee vraelyste te ontwerp, een vir die eienaars van die geboue en die ander vir argitekte. Die eerste vraelys wat ontwikkel is vir die gebou-eienaars is verdeel in twee afdelings. Die eerste afdeling bepaal watter groen praktyke eienaars implimenteer in hul kantoor geboue. Die groen praktyke in die vraelys fokus op die gebruik van natuurlike lig in die geboue, LED ligte, binnenshuis ventilasie, herwinning, water besparing metodes, energie besparing metodes en bestuur planne wat opgetrek is om die energie verbruik van geboue te monitor en te evalueer. Die tweede afdeling van die vraelys fokus op die persepsie van die gebou-eienaars. Die respondente het die belangrikheid van die bogenoemde groen inisiatiewe gradeer op 'n skaal van een 1 (glad nie) tot 5 (baie belangrik). Die vierde doelwit was om 'n vraelys te ontwikkel vir argitekte. Die vraelys bepaal of groen ontwerp op geneem is deur argitekte en indien daar 'n groter aanvraag na groen ontwerpe deur kliënte is. Die bevindings van die studie het getoon dat die respondente natuurlike lig en die gehalte van binnenshuis lug as die belangrikste aspekte in di kantoor ag. Herwinning is deur 93% van respondente toegepas. Minder as 10% van die respondente het sonpanele, HAVC stelsels, reën wateropvangsisteme of ander watersparingssisteme geinstaleer. Argitekte vind dat daar 'n toename in die vraag na groen ontwerpe is, maar dat daar 'n gebrek aan kennis oor groeninisiatiewe is deur prakisynes . Die aanbevelings van die studie is dat die konsep van groen ontwikkeling versprei moet word na ander sfere behalwe beplanners. Inligting en opleiding oor omgewingsvriendelike geboue moet beskikbaar wees aan alle gebou-eienaars en praktisynes. Volhoubare materiale moet meer toeganklik wees vir bou praktisynes en hierdie materiale moet ook plaaslik beskikbaar gestel word. Laastens moet meer geboue opgeknap word eerder as om gesloop te word, om afval te voorkom en oop ruimtes te behou.

Environmental changes are great challenges that humanity must face. This has spurred a flurry of activities aimed to lower our impact on our environment. This essay focuses on the aspects that influence decision makers when choosing construction materials as well as a look into whether wood has a lower impact on the environment compared to concrete when building houses. The materials have been assembled through surveys, interviews and literary studies. The primary factor that was given most weight among entrepreneurs and architects were robustness and safety, and concrete was in that regard favoured over wood. It is also possible that already established economical structures support the use of concrete instead of wood. Environmental aspects are not reflected among entrepreneurs as very important factors when it comes to choosing materials and for change to occur there needs to be more information supporting that wood can be as robust as concrete in structures for it to be similarly prioritised. Concerning wood’s impact on the climate and the environment compared to concrete there is a significant difference in woods favour if only the construction and production phase of the house’s life cycle is examined. However, there are studies that show that depending on the material used and the time the house is expected to remain there are instances where wood has a higher environmental impact than concrete. Conclusively, wood is not always more environmentally friendly. The environmental impact of a material in construction depends heavily on the life span of the house.

Orientador: Manuel Baldomero Rolando Berrios Godoy / Banca: Silvia Aparecida Guarnieri Ortigoza / Banca: Salvador Carpi Junior / Resumo: A presente pesquisa consistiu em investigar possíveis causas que levam à persistência da deposição irregular de Resíduos da Construção Civil - RCD -, em vias e logradouros públicos da cidade de Parnaíba/PI, de forma a gerar subsídios para a implementação de políticas públicas relacionadas à limpeza urbana municipal, com a finalidade de contribuir para a melhoria da saúde, bem como, também, para a qualidade de vida e ambiental no município. Para a definição das causas sociais que geram o problema, buscou-se identificar as categorias participantes que, direto ou indiretamente, estão envolvidas com o processo das deposições irregulares de RCD, que relações se estabelecem entre elas, quais as expectativas de umas em relação às outras, e que sanções existem, e são aplicadas, para cada categoria de participantes, quando da tentativa de controlar o comportamento de outras categorias envolvidas. As possíveis causas da persistência da deposição irregular de RCD em áreas de domínio público da cidade de Parnaíba estão relacionadas à inexistência de política pública municipal que considere os problemas dos RCD; aos altos investimentos de recursos na coleta corretiva, com a contínua remoção dos resíduos sólidos em geral, sem um acompanhamento efetivo; à falta de expressividade e à não efetividade de ações de controle por parte da administração municipal local, quanto à questão das deposições irregulares em vias e logradouros públicos do município; à indiferença da administração municipal quanto à legislação dos serviços de saneamento, no sentido de fazer valer as regulamentações federais e municipais; à substancial economia obtida pelos geradores e transportadores, que externam para a cidade os custos de transporte e deposição; ao recebimento de valores significativos por parte de empresas contratadas pela administração municipal, ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This research consists in investigating possible reasons which lead to the persistence of irregular deposition of construction and demolition waste (CDW) in public ways and streets in Parnaíba-PI, in a manner of generating subsidies for implementation of public policy connected with the municipal urban sanitation, with the purpose of contributing for the health improving, as also, for the quality of life and ambient in the Municipality. To define the social reasons that generate the problem, it was necessary to identify the participant categories that, in a direct or indirect way, are involved with the irregular deposition of Construction and Demolition Waste process, what kind of connections are established among them, what are their expectations, and what sanctions exist and are applied for every participant categories regarding the attempt to control the behavior of others involved categories. The possible causes of the persistence of irregular CDW in public domain areas in Parnaíba-PI are connected with: the inexistence of a Municipal public policy that looks upon the problems of the CDW; the high investments of resources about the corrective collect with the continuous removal of solid waste, in general without an effective monitoring; the inexpressive and ineffective actions from the Municipal Administration about the irregular deposition of construction and demolition waste in public ways and streets; the indifference of the Municipal Administration about the legislation concerning the sanitation services in order to enforce the federal and municipal regulations; the substantial saving obtained from the generators and transporters, who externalize to the city the costs of transport and deposition; with the receiving of highly expressive values, from companies contracted for the Municipal Administration, as payment for public cleaning services, - collect, weeding and sweeping ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

[pt] O conceito da construção sustentável surge após discussões por todo o mundo acerca da possibilidade de desenvolvimento de forma sustentável. Paralelamente à adoção de práticas de sustentabilidade em novos projetos de empreendimentos, surge a necessidade de tornar sustentáveis edificações já existentes. Com isto, observa-se a dificuldade de se encontrar critérios de sustentabilidade para construções existentes aplicáveis no cenário brasileiro. O presente estudo desenvolve-se com uma inicial introdução dos principais certificados, selos e qualificações sustentáveis existentes no Brasil. Na sequência elaborados estudos de caso em duas edificações de diferentes características - ano de construção, bairros, entre outros - na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, nos quais foram analisados e aplicados os critérios de avaliação que constituem o Selo Casa Azul criado a adotado pela CAIXA. Como último passo indicados os obstáculos que cada edificação apresentou para atingir melhores resultados de acordo com o Selo. / [en] The study of the main certifications, seals and qualifications applied in Brazil and in the world reveals the advantages of these certificates for buildings that seek to encourage the practice of sustainability in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Over the next two decades there has been an impasse between developed countries and those who advocated environmental preservation, since the former believed in capitalist economic development only by changing raw materials. Finally, in the 1980s the term sustainable development was created, whose definition consisted in the defense of a development able to meet current needs without harming the possibility of future generations to meet their own needs. Due to this growing concern with the environment, the construction sector needed to adapt to new requirements, changing methods and creating means to control and supervise sustainable practices, through environmental certificates such as LEED, AQUA-HQE, Selo Casa Azul and Qualification Qualiverde.

The early stages of the construction process are crucial for achieving an optimal product from an environmental and sustainable perspective. It is primarily organizational and human factors limiting environmental and sustainability efforts. The barriers are described as time and cost constraints, knowledge, experience-feedback, ability to handle tools and a heterogeneous culture. Development contributes to change that need to be addressed with increased commitment and interest in all levels of the organization. The environmental and sustainability aspects need to be integrated into all working methods involving employees to increase understanding and raise knowledge. / De tidiga faserna inom byggprocessen är avgörande för att nå en optimal produkt ur ett miljö- och hållbarhetsperspektiv. Det är främst organisatoriska och mänskliga faktorer som begränsar miljö- och hållbarhetsarbete. Dessa barriärer beskrivs som tid- och kostnadsrestriktioner, kunskap, erfarenhetsåterföring, förmåga att hantera hjälpmedel samt en heterogen kultur. Utveckling bidrar till förändringsströmmar som behöver bemötas med ökat engagemang och intresse inom alla led av organisationen. Miljö- och hållbarhetsaspekten behöver integreras inom samtliga arbetsmetoder med involvering av medarbetare för att öka förståelse och höja kunskapsnivån.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-10-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:17:21Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 feijaoneto_fg_me_rcla.pdf: 2167585 bytes, checksum: bc0c4425185bb5f1103aad4453f8e76c (MD5) / A presente pesquisa consistiu em investigar possíveis causas que levam à persistência da deposição irregular de Resíduos da Construção Civil - RCD -, em vias e logradouros públicos da cidade de Parnaíba/PI, de forma a gerar subsídios para a implementação de políticas públicas relacionadas à limpeza urbana municipal, com a finalidade de contribuir para a melhoria da saúde, bem como, também, para a qualidade de vida e ambiental no município. Para a definição das causas sociais que geram o problema, buscou-se identificar as categorias participantes que, direto ou indiretamente, estão envolvidas com o processo das deposições irregulares de RCD, que relações se estabelecem entre elas, quais as expectativas de umas em relação às outras, e que sanções existem, e são aplicadas, para cada categoria de participantes, quando da tentativa de controlar o comportamento de outras categorias envolvidas. As possíveis causas da persistência da deposição irregular de RCD em áreas de domínio público da cidade de Parnaíba estão relacionadas à inexistência de política pública municipal que considere os problemas dos RCD; aos altos investimentos de recursos na coleta corretiva, com a contínua remoção dos resíduos sólidos em geral, sem um acompanhamento efetivo; à falta de expressividade e à não efetividade de ações de controle por parte da administração municipal local, quanto à questão das deposições irregulares em vias e logradouros públicos do município; à indiferença da administração municipal quanto à legislação dos serviços de saneamento, no sentido de fazer valer as regulamentações federais e municipais; à substancial economia obtida pelos geradores e transportadores, que externam para a cidade os custos de transporte e deposição; ao recebimento de valores significativos por parte de empresas contratadas pela administração municipal,... / This research consists in investigating possible reasons which lead to the persistence of irregular deposition of construction and demolition waste (CDW) in public ways and streets in Parnaíba-PI, in a manner of generating subsidies for implementation of public policy connected with the municipal urban sanitation, with the purpose of contributing for the health improving, as also, for the quality of life and ambient in the Municipality. To define the social reasons that generate the problem, it was necessary to identify the participant categories that, in a direct or indirect way, are involved with the irregular deposition of Construction and Demolition Waste process, what kind of connections are established among them, what are their expectations, and what sanctions exist and are applied for every participant categories regarding the attempt to control the behavior of others involved categories. The possible causes of the persistence of irregular CDW in public domain areas in Parnaíba-PI are connected with: the inexistence of a Municipal public policy that looks upon the problems of the CDW; the high investments of resources about the corrective collect with the continuous removal of solid waste, in general without an effective monitoring; the inexpressive and ineffective actions from the Municipal Administration about the irregular deposition of construction and demolition waste in public ways and streets; the indifference of the Municipal Administration about the legislation concerning the sanitation services in order to enforce the federal and municipal regulations; the substantial saving obtained from the generators and transporters, who externalize to the city the costs of transport and deposition; with the receiving of highly expressive values, from companies contracted for the Municipal Administration, as payment for public cleaning services, - collect, weeding and sweeping ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

A habitação com qualidade é uma necessidade que deve ser satisfeita sem comprometimento dos eco-sistemas existentes, levando as empresas a assumirem uma postura ética de valorização do meio ambiente. A consciência quanto a finitude dos recursos naturais e à degradação ambiental fomentada pela construção civil vêm despertando preocupação, principalmente devido ao déficit habitacional de 5,4 milhões de novas habitações. A questão ambiental atrelada à gestão empresarial é vista hoje não como modismo, mas como necessidade de sobrevivência dentro de um mercado competitivo, uma sociedade mais atenta aos seus direitos como consumidores e cidadãos e a sobrevivência do planeta com seus ecosistemas e ciclos de renovação preservados. Dessa forma, propõe-se, através de metodologia exploratória com pesquisa bibliográfica, critérios de planejamento de empreendimentos habitacionais voltados para a construção sustentável. Apresentam-se pautados na ecoeficiência técnica e de gestão do empreendimento, tendo como resultado a redução progressiva dos impactos ambientais e da intensidade do consumo de recursos ao longo do seu ciclo de vida, a um nível, no mínimo, equivalente à capacidade de suporte estimada da Terra. Contribui para o estado da arte na Construção Sustentável, dedicando-se a caracterizar e a dar relevância sob o ponto de vista ambiental, social e econômico ao empreendimento, configurando sua eco-eficiência. / Dwelling with quality is a need that must be satisfied without endangering the ecosystems, leading companies to assume an ethics posture of environmental valuation. The conscience of natural resources finitude and environmental degradation fomented by Construction come rousing, principally due to 5,4 millions new dwellings deficit. The environmental issue leashed to business management is not seeing as ephemeral, but as a survival requirement inside a competitive market, a community heedful to their consumers and citizens right as well as to the planet survival with its eco-systems and renewal cycles. On this context, is proposed, through an exploratory methodology and bibliographical research, planning criteria of dwelling projects with focus on sustainable construction. Arouse guided by eco-efficiency techniques and project management, showing as result the gradual reduction of environmental impacts and resources consumption intensity, to a standard , at least, close to the planet uphold capacity. Contribute to the State of the Art on Sustainable Construction, committing on characterize and give relevance, considering environmental, social and economical point of view, configuring its eco-efficiency.

The sector of civil construction is one of impactantes, responsible mostly of the residues generated in the planet. The sped up growth of the cities comes causing ambient disequilibrium and reduction of the quality of life of population and one of the probable solutions is the implantation of sustainable cities, of echo-efficient constructions, stimulates it to the structure of the one productive chain of the sector with ecological principles, the use of alternative constructive and matter methods, or either, the search of the sustentabilidade of the sector. The companies are being pressured for the society to adopt measured of protection to the environment and social responsibility. So that the company takes decisions more possible adjust and can analyze the present situation of the company in relation to its customers, competitors and to the environment if make necessary the formularization of pointers. The use only of financial pointers, can generate a little real situation of that really the ideal is happening is, to use beyond the financial pointers, to get information of pointers of management, quality and ambient. For this study, we use as instrument of research, surveys in bibliographical sources and research effected in the area and study of case. Questionnaires had been applied that had served as exploratory instrument and of survey of questions, and had as objective, to evaluate the degree of importance of the ambient questions and quality in the companies of civil construction of Aracaju, as well as, of the practical ones of management come back to the environment. The research identified, among others questions, that in subtle way, the great concerns them studied companies had turned around the management of the quality and the strategical planning, and that for what we can observe, it did not include the variable ambient. / O setor de construção civil é um dos mais impactantes, responsável por grande parte dos resíduos gerados. O crescimento acelerado das cidades vem causando desequilíbrios ambientais e redução da qualidade de vida da população e uma das prováveis soluções são a implantação de cidades sustentáveis, de construções ecoeficientes; o estimulo à estruturação da uma cadeia produtiva do setor com princípios ecológicos; a utilização de métodos construtivos e materiais alternativos; ou seja, a busca da sustentabilidade do setor. As empresas estão sendo pressionadas pela sociedade a adotar medidas de proteção ao meio ambiente e de responsabilidade social. Para que a empresa tome decisões o mais acertadamente possível e possa analisar a situação presente da empresa em relação aos seus clientes, concorrentes e ao meio ambiente se faz necessário a formulação de indicadores. A utilização somente de indicadores financeiros, pode gerar uma situação pouco real do que está acontecendo, o ideal é, utilizar além dos indicadores financeiros, obter informações de indicadores de gestão, de qualidade e ambientais. Para esse estudo, utilizamos como instrumento de pesquisa, levantamentos em fontes bibliográficas e pesquisas efetuadas na área e estudo de caso. Foram aplicados questionários que serviram como instrumento exploratório e de levantamento de questões, e teve como objetivo, avaliar o grau de importância das questões ambientais e de qualidade nas empresas de construção civil de Aracaju, como também, das práticas de gestão voltadas ao meio ambiente. A pesquisa identificou, entre outras questões, que de maneira sutil, as grandes preocupações das empresas estudadas giraram em torno da gestão da qualidade e do planejamento estratégico, e que pelo que podemos observar, não incluiu a variável ambiental.

Este trabalho analisa, por meio de método experimental, a viabilidade de apropriar a produção de painel alveolar de concreto armado para aplicação em habitações de interesse social. Compara os processos industriais praticados para a produção deste elemento com alternativas inovadoras proporcionadas pela incorporação de fôrma interna, ou núcleo alveolar, que permite apropriar a tecnologia para aplicação em diferentes escalas conforme as características de cada empreendimento. Avalia a execução, a conectividade e o desempenho mecânico em relação à resistência à compressão do painel alveolar. Contribui com contexto de construção sustentável e o aproveitamento de resíduos industriais e conclui que o núcleo alveolar incorporado configura inovação tecnicamente viável no processo de produção do painel alveolar que pode ser utilizado em sistemas de fechamento e superestruturas (paredes portantes e lajes) em habitações. / This work analyzes the viability of appropriate the hollow core slab production for social housing construction, by means of an experimental method procedure. It compares the industrial process with innovated alternatives proportionate by internal hollow nuclear mould incorporate which provides technology appropriation for several production scales according to construction portage. Evaluate the execution, connectivity (with hydraulic and electric systems) and compressive strength of hollow core slabs. The researchs contributions is relate with the context of sustainable construction and the use of industrial waste as construction raw materials and it concludes that internal hollow nuclear mould incorporate is technically viable in hollow core slabs production´s process and this precast element could be applied in wall´s and slabs for housing construction.