Towards sustainable seismic design: assessing embodied carbon in concrete moment frames

Abstract

The construction industry faces the imperative of reconciling structural integrity with environmental sustainability, urging a nuanced exploration of the material choices and design parameters. This study investigated the seismic design and embodied carbon implications of varying concrete grades and column spacing in concrete moment frames. A systematic approach was employed, conducting seismic design analyses and embodied carbon assessments for concrete moment frames with concrete grades of C25/30, C32/40, and C40/50 and column spacings of 4, 6, and 8 m. The results highlight the intricate influence of concrete grades on the resulting beam and column designs, with C32/40 emerging as the optimal choice, showing a substantial reduction in total embodied carbon. Additionally, column spacing is pivotal in shaping the beam design parameters, exhibiting a positive correlation between reduced column spacing and lower embodied carbon. This study contributes useful insights into the ongoing discourse on sustainable construction, offering a balanced perspective on the complex interplay between structural design choices and environmental implications.