Reuse of Steel in the Construction Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

This research explores sustainable construction practices focusing on material reuse, specifically reclaimed structural steel and slag. In general, the building stock is not designed for deconstruction, and material recovery for reuse at the end of life of buildings is complex and challenging. The study evaluates the benefits of content reuse through a thorough analysis of three case studies—BedZED eco-friendly housing, Angus Technopôle building, and the use of steel slag aggregate in road construction. It highlights the value of reclaimed structural steel and by-products like steel slag in waste reduction, energy conservation, and resource preservation. The BedZED case study showcases recycled steel’s cost-effectiveness and economic viability in construction, while the Angus Technopôle building exemplifies the adaptive reuse of an old steel frame building. Additionally, the third case study showcases the benefits of using Electric Arc Furnace C slag in asphalt-wearing courses, highlighting the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. The versatility of reclaimed structural steel and slag is evident in integrating material reuse in building construction and road infrastructure. These case studies illustrate the potential for reusing steel and its by-products in various construction contexts, from eco-friendly housing to road development. Therefore, the study aims to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of sustainable practices within the construction industry by showcasing the successful incorporation of reclaimed steel and slag in these projects. Considering the significant contributions of building construction to global greenhouse gas emissions, raw material extraction, and waste production, the study advocates for adopting circular economy (CE) principles within the construction industry. Finally, the analysis of case studies underscores the advantages of reclaimed structural steel and the valorisation of steel slag through the lens of CE and their contribution to sustainable development.

Section: Reused Steel Members and Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, reusing them instead can lead to even greater environmental benefits compared to producing new steel. Therefore, longevity and environmental considerations are crucial when it comes to building with steel structures [18].…”

Section: Reused Steel Members and Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilisation of Reused Steel and Slag: Analysing the Circular Economy Benefits through Three Case Studies

Cervantes Puma,

Salles,

Turk

et al. 2024

“…This naturally results in a majority of Review publications, aligning with previous patterns, giving an even distribution between DfD and Reuse. The topics emphasized are LCA [21,57,[69][70][71], adaptability [21][22][23][24]57,69,70,72,73], and the potential of CE integration within specific materials like concrete [18,22,24,74], timber [23,75], and steel [73,[76][77][78][79][80], which is further explored in Section 4.5. Additionally, through the further examination of publications within the CE investigation, the recurrent critical research gaps have been identified as the need for precise standardization [21][22][23]57,74,77,78,81], digital tool integration [81], and overcoming challenges in policy [69,76,78], market acceptance [73,78], and industry-wide adoption to advance CE [18,22,72,74,…”

Section: Research Type and Circular Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SC: [67] Upcycling SC: [55,56] Reuse SC: [85,96], CE: [79] CD: [61][62][63][64][65][87][88][89][90][91][92]97] CT: [20,[30][31][32]34] CD: [62,84], CE: [18,70,[73][74][75][76]78,80] CE: [98] General CE CT: [68] CT: [16] CE: [57], CT: [58,59], CD: [60] DfD and Reuse SC: [35] DfD CT: [94,95,99], CE: [71], SC: [66,[100][101][102] CD: [83,…”

Section: Deconstructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Mapping of Circular Economy in Structural Engineering

Seeberg,

Haakonsen,

Luczkowski

2024

Facing increasing sustainability demands, the construction industry is at a turning point where the implementation of circular economy (CE) strategies plays an essential role in driving the necessary transformation aimed at reducing the environmental impact. To facilitate this shift, structural engineering must effectively integrate circular principles into building design. With the exponential growth of research articles within this field, it is crucial to map the evolution of the research area. The objective of this study is to detail the trends with, challenges to, and research contributions, integration, and material applications of CE principles within structural engineering. Consequently, a systematic mapping of the CE within the field of structural engineering has been conducted in this study. Initially, the mapping process began with the identification of relevant keywords, followed by searches across four databases. Each resulting article was carefully screened against content criteria, culminating in 91 publications that were thoroughly evaluated. The publications were then categorized and analyzed based on attributes such as research type, circular design, materials, and applications. The results are presented through informative figures and tables. The analysis of the research indicates a predominant focus on technical solutions for structural systems, with demountable connections designed to facilitate the future reuse of materials representing more than half of the literature reviewed. A significant portion of the literature also addresses designing from reclaimed elements; these articles reflect a transformation in engineering approaches, incorporating computational design and innovative methodologies. The focus on steel as a structural material is prominent in the reviewed literature. However, there is an increasing focus on timber, which signals a definitive shift toward sustainable structural systems. Recurring challenges identified in the literature regarding the transition to a circular economy (CE) in the construction industry include the need for industry-wide adoption, precise standardization, the integration of digital tools, and the overcoming of related obstacles in policy and market acceptances. Furthermore, the literature demonstrates a significant research gap: the absence of a comprehensive digital framework enabling an effective digital circular structural design workflow.

“…However, as Ismaeel [79] pointed out, the materials with such certifications are not widely available. Limited availability is also a concern when reclaimed materials are intended to be used, and projects often struggle to find sufficient quantity and quality of reclaimed materials [49,80].…”

Section: Limited Availability Of Sustainable Materials and Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Review on the Barriers and Challenges of Organisations in Delivering New Net Zero Emissions Buildings

Mahmoodi,

Rasheed,

2024

Achieving the net zero emissions target that was set in the Paris Agreement to mitigate the risks of climate change seems increasingly difficult as countries and sectors of the economy are falling behind the expected trajectory. The building and construction industry, as one of the main contributors to global emissions, has an essential role to play toward this aim. Net zero emissions target has been introduced to this sector as well; however, achieving it is a very challenging and complex task. Many studies have been undertaken on implementing different measures and strategies to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. These studies identified many challenges and barriers in transforming the industry. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of challenges that organisations face in delivering new net zero emissions buildings. The relevant journal articles published since the Paris Agreement were identified and analysed using mixed-method data analysis, including quantitative (science mapping) and qualitative (thematic) analysis. The result showed increased attention to the subject over this period, with China, the UK, and Australia being the top contexts for research. The most discussed groups of barriers were “economic”, “knowledge”, and “technical”, respectively, followed by “organisational”, “market”, “technological”, and “legal” barriers.