Concrete is one of the most enduring, economical, and fit-for-purpose building materials. It’s simply not possible to develop affordable and efficient infrastructure without concrete. A reasonable balance of economic, social, and environmental considerations is required to further enhance the usability and effectiveness of concrete.
Transportation of people and goods will become paralyzed without bridges, roads, port facilities, bus stops, and utilities. Concrete infrastructure helps remove and process waste, and provides the necessary supply of potable water. It enables the provision of education, health, and law-and-order.
Simply put, it’s critical to understand the role of concrete infrastructure in building modern civilizations. Concrete is the most essential material which helps sustain economic development. From dams, bridges, and processing plants to roads, LRT, and sewage lines, concrete is an economically viable building material required to build public structures.
What is sustainable concrete infrastructure?
Sustainability is often described as development that fulfills the needs of the present without affecting the ability of the next generation to meet their growing needs. When it comes to sustainable infrastructure, it must be developed and built with materials and construction processes that deliver desirable performance with respect to the environment, society, and the cost of the project over its full life cycle.
Sustainable infrastructure is supposed to be cost-effective, long-lasting, and ideal for the intended purpose. Concrete has the potential to help us achieve sustainability. It can meet future demands for necessary facilities while minimizing any bad environmental impacts.
Need for innovative construction materials
While concrete offers impeccable strength, it’s useless without reinforcement. The weak tensile strength of concrete makes it necessary to use a reinforcing material. Civil engineers have been using reinforcing bars to overcome this weakness. However, the corrosion of reinforcement creates new challenges. The global construction industry spends billions of dollars annually just to rehabilitate existing concrete structures. It’s not possible to achieve sustainability with construction materials that corrode and require regular maintenance.
Composite materials: an opportunity to achieve sustainable infrastructure
The importance of composite materials has increased over the past decade considering the need for maintenance-free and durable materials. Composite materials such as GFRP fiberglass rebar has what it takes to achieve long-lasting concrete structures. Unlike steel or other conventional materials, GFRP construction products don’t rust and provide superior tensile strength, flexibility, and ability to withstand harsh environments.
While maintenance-free and long-lasting concrete structures play a critical role in economic development, it’s time to encourage the use of composite materials to build structures that can maintain their integrity for a long period of time.
About TUF-BAR
TUF-BAR helps the construction industry in North America and around the world build sustainable concrete infrastructure with composite products such as GFRP fiberglass rebar, fiberglass rock bolts, dowels, and fencing panels. Contact us for more information!
