TECHNICAL | CONCRETE


CARBON SAVING PUSH BOOSTS PSCL DEVELOPMENT


Carbon saving is a new boost to further development of Permanent Sprayed Concrete Lining (PSCL), says Benoit de Rivaz, technical director for Bekaert BP Underground Solutions


Underground space plays a vital role in sustainable urban planning as it provides a solution to the limited surface area available. In terms of transportation, underground networks enable efficient and rapid mass transit, helping to alleviate congestion and reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, underground space is essential for the


infrastructure required to sustain cities, such as dense networks of pipelines for delivering fresh water and the sewers for collecting wastewater to be taken away for treatment. Additionally, underground space accommodates


the extensive network of cables and service stations necessary for modern communication systems. By utilising underground space, cities can optimise their


resource management and minimise their environmental impact, contributing to a more sustainable urban future. Achieving decarbonisation in tunnel construction


is not only possible but crucial from a sustainable perspective. Currently, nearly 70% of embodied carbon in tunnels is attributed to concrete linings. There is a consensus showing that this carbon emission footprint can be reduced by using less Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and employing new binders, using carbon cure methods, using high performance fibres instead of steel reinforcement bars (rebar), and reducing concrete thickness and optimising aggregate quantities. To achieve bringing these down, we need to talk about, first, steel and concrete.


Above: Spray panel for concrete testing 10 | July 2023


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53