Researcher: Sammie van Berlo
Project Duration: September 2018 – May 2019
Project Partner: Witteveen+Bos
Research Summary:
The construction industry is one of the main focus areas of the Dutch government regarding the transition towards a circular economy. Because of the growing need for a more circular economy, Witteveen+Bos has asked for an inspection method to assess infrastructure on circularity. More specifically, this method focusses on an inspection and assessment method to assess concrete infrastructure components on their ability to be reused 1 on 1.
The circular indicators that influence the ability of a concrete component to be reused 1 on 1, are the toxicity, condition, residual lifespan, connections, retrieval, design requirements and the dimensions. In the first part of the research, for the seven circular indicators, it is studied which aspects of these indicators influence the ability of a concrete component to be reused 1 on 1. This is done by researching literature and reports and by taking interviews. Based on the findings, a set of functional requirements has been drawn up which is used for the design of the new method. Apart from the functional requirements, also a set of general requirements has been drawn up, based on existing circular assessment methods and infrastructure inspection practices. The functional requirements say more about which functional aspects need to be assessed by the method, whereas the general requirements give more general demands for the new design of the method. With the help of the general requirements, some of the functional requirements have been rejected and a set of assessment questions has been drawn up for the design of the new method. The essential information to assess 1 on 1 reuse of concrete components is:
- Information about the presence of iron fibers
- Information about the presence of composite fibers
- Information about the general condition of the component
- Information about the ability to transport a component
- Information about the ability of the component to be disassembled without completely damaging the component
In the second part of the research, the method and tool are designed through multiple design cycles. With the assessment questions and the general requirements, a first design of the method has been drawn up, together with a tool to help execute the method. After a feedback session to verify the first design of the method, a second design of the new method has been made. After a test case to validate the second design of the method, eventually a third and final design of this new method (to assess the ability for a concrete component to be reused 1 on 1) has been made, complemented with a tool to help execute the method.
For the design of the new method, the assessment questions of the seven circular indicators have been regrouped into three different categories in order to assess the ability of a concrete component to be reused 1 on 1. The three categories are Material Quality, Disassembly and Applicability.