INSIGHT | SUSTAINABILITY & CIRCULAR ECONOMY
in an easy and user-friendly way, allowing for fast, repetitive and reproducible measurements in a large number of concrete samples. This test method provides an easier, more reliable
and robust characterisation of the fibre content in FRC. It contributes to the optimisation of systematic quality control for FRC in terms of content and orientation of the steel fibres.
DRAMIX® The Dramix®
EYED INSPECTOR eyeD Inspector is a registered brand that
encompasses a line of products for the assessment of material properties and structures. A huge testing programme conduct by Roma
University saw the extraction of seven sample cores from two precast concrete segments, and four specimens taken from each core - giving a total of 28 samples. The Dramix®
eyeD inspector device shows good
sensitivity and can be considered a valid screening tool, but its accuracy strongly depends on the acceptance threshold adopted. The device could be used with a lower margin than
that indicated in Bulletin 83, and, if necessary, supported by destructive tests on specimens that exceed this threshold, in order to ensure compliance more reliably. In addition to the technical aspects, the use of the
inductive method offers significant economic, time- related advantages. The ability to perform checks without crushing the specimens allows for reduced costs and shorter verification times.
Above: Stacked FRC tunnel segments PHOTO CREDITS: BEKAERT
group led by Professor A. Aguado at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC-BarcelonaTech) developed the non-destructive magnetic induction test – the Inductive Method – (Juan 2011; Torrents et al. 2012). This allows assessment of the content and orientation of steel fibres in FRC specimens using the method, which reduces cost and can be undertaken rapidly - in a matter of less than two minutes. The Inductive Method is based on the
ferromagnetic properties of the steel fibres that are able to alter the magnetic field around them. It is one of the main contributions of the research group to the field of systems to control and characterise FRC. The non-destructive magnetic induction test
represents a step towards an enhanced methodology for FRC characterisation, given that it can be implemented
SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENTS Among various construction processes, tunnel construction results in a significant amount of CO2 emissions because almost all tunnels are lined with reinforced concrete and utilise various high energy consuming equipment for excavation. Embodied carbon and high energy consumption can be minimised through three distinctive ways. Two main complementary approaches can be
adopted to mitigate embodied carbon and reduce high energy consumption: the first method includes decreasing the overall quantity of reinforced concrete utilised through design optimisation; the second approach is lowering the embodied carbon within each unit volume of the reinforced concrete by reducing the usage of Portland cement and steel rebar. The latter can be established by two substitutions in the concrete mix - a low carbon binder instead of Portland cement, and steel fibres rather than steel rebar. These approaches were discussed by speakers
from Cowi/Technical University of Denmark during the STUVA congress. This topic shows an exciting mega trend5
. A further reduction can be achieved by combining
Right: Dramix®
eyeD inspector PHOTO CREDITS: BEKAERT 24 | February 2026
steel fibre reinforcement with alkali-activated concrete (also known as a geopolymer). This combination can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 70% compared to Portland cement-based concrete
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