Innovation potentials for construction materials with specific focus on the challenges in Africa

Abstract

Africa is urgently in need of adequate basic infrastructure and housing, and it is one of the continents where massive construction activities are on the rise. There is a vast variety of potentially viable resources for sustainable construction on the continents, and consequently, the continent can bring innovative, greener technologies based on local sources effectively into practice. However, unlike established concrete constituents from industrialised countries in the global North, most of the innovation potentials from the African continent have not yet been the focus of intensive fundamental and applied research. This clearly limits the implementation of more sustainable local technologies.
 This paper presents a case for the need to first appreciate the rich diversity and versatility of the African continent which is often not realistically perceived and appreciated. It discusses specific innovation potentials and challenges for cementitious materials and concrete technology based on local materials derived from sources on the African continent. The unique African materials solutions are presented and discussed, from mineral binders over chemical admixtures and fibres to reinforcement and aggregates. Due to the pressing challenges faced by Africa, with regards to population growth and urbanisation, the focus is not only put on the technological (durability, robustness and safety) and environmental sustainability, but also strongly on socio-economic applicability, adaptability and scalability. This includes a review of alternative, traditional and vernacular construction technologies such as materials-saving structures that help reducing cementitious materials. Eventually, a strategic research roadmap is hypothesised that points out the most relevant potentials and research needs for quick implementation of more localised construction materials.

Building concrete futures: materiality and urban lives in West Africa

“…By interrogating the urban futures built with concrete, it also questions the environmental impact of the construction industry in Africa, an issue that deserves deeper investigation (Van Damme 2018; Schmidt etal . 2020).…”

“…2020; Schmidt etal . 2020). In France, the research centre CRAterre (International Centre for Earthen Architecture), based in Grenoble, is developing projects across the world with compressed earth block (CEB) technology, which is emerging as a potentially viable option in terms of price and sustainable objectives.…”

“…This article also analyses the construction industries, which are 'highly visible, yet at the same time particularly opaque' (Smith 2019;. By interrogating the urban futures built with concrete, it also questions the environmental impact of the construction industry in Africa, an issue that deserves deeper investigation (Van Damme 2018;Schmidt et al 2020).…”

“…In Europe, in the USA and also in Africa, various networks and initiatives, launched by architects and NGOs and supported by donors and academic institutions, promote alternative methods of construction. Scholars are testing the possibility of developing binding agents other than cement; they are also training builders in these techniques (Van Damme and Houben 2018;Habert et al 2020;Schmidt et al 2020). In France, the research centre CRAterre (International Centre for Earthen Architecture), based in Grenoble, is developing projects across the world with compressed earth block (CEB) technology, which is emerging as a potentially viable option in terms of price and sustainable objectives.…”

A Cameroonian Study on Mixing Concrete with Wood Ashes: Effects of 0-30% Wood Ashes as a Substitute of Cement on the Strength of Concretes

“…It is reported that wood is the third consumption building materials next to cement and the world statistical review report stated that in 2015, the global cement produced was 4,6 billion tonnes and it is expected values between 6 and 13.5 billion tonnes in 2050 [21]. This is equivalent to about 626 kg/per capita, a value higher than the amount of human food consumption [17,22].…”