How can we reuse concrete as much as possible in construction projects?
How can we reuse concrete as much as possible in construction projects?
Implementing innovative developments in construction does not happen as quickly as we would like. But, if the new generation of structural engineers has its way, this is about to change. An article on Betonhuis.nl portrays colleague Femke Middeldorp. She is an exponent of that new generation - one that has almost literally been ‘spoon-fed’ sustainability. She is committed to making thinking sustainably, and more importantly, acting sustainably the standard in our industry.
Old concrete in new buildings
In her graduation project, Femke researched how to reuse cast-in-place concrete. She later came in contact with Witteveen+Bos through a former fellow student. With us, Femke, working under the guidance of Maartje Dijk, had the opportunity to investigate whether cast-in-place concrete could be used in new buildings and explore techniques for doing so.
Cutting away existing concrete
Femke is now putting her findings into practice. At a construction site in the inner-city area of Leiden, for example, where existing concrete is being cut away for reuse at the same location in a new construction project. According to Femke, from her perspective as a structural engineer, you cannot get involved early enough in plans to demolish old buildings and draw up the designs for new ones. She highlights this with her research on reconnecting concrete elements, such as floors or beams, that have been cut away from an existing structure: 'The type of joint chosen in the new application - fixed or pinned - makes a difference. You have to cut the concrete in different places depending on that choice'.
Femke's research has not gone unnoticed in the concrete industry. Betonhuis, the Dutch concrete industry association, was so impressed by the technique for reusing cast-in-place concrete that it decided to portray her in an article on their website.
If you would like to learn more about Femke's approach to concrete reuse in construction projects, you can read the full article (in Dutch) on the website of Betonhuis.
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