The Concrete at the 4th Industrial Revolution

Abstract

The rapid technological evolution has leveraged several sectors of the industry, allowing innovations in several levels of performance. The construction sector has been following this transformation, with material innovations, optimization of production processes, and new construction methods emerging on a daily basis, despite being a traditional sector. With the focus on the 4th industrial revolution (Economy 4.0), it is essential to provide the industry with suitable materials to keep up with this evolution, capable of meeting the increasing requirements of performance, durability, and sustainability. As concrete is one of the most versatile materials and used in the construction industry, it is essential to adapt it to the most demanding production methods, namely pre-fabrication, with shorter production cycles, higher automation, unusual shapes (variable, complicated, very slim) and solutions (from traditional to three-dimensional printing based), all challenges for Economy 4.0. In the last decade, particular attention and research effort have been given to high performance and ultra-high performance concretes. These new cementitious matrix materials provide improved performance compared to traditional concrete, both regarding the mechanical properties (allowing smaller sections and manufacturing time, high finish quality of the parts), as well the durability, with significant impact on the life cycle of structures. This optimization allows a reduction not only of the resources required for its manufacture but also a reduction of the environmental footprint and increases the material life cycle. This work deals with this challenge, characterizing a fiber-reinforced self-compacting concrete and showing its advantages, structural performance, impact on the resources used, and maintenance throughout its life cycle.