Reinforced short columns designed in accordance witht the regulations fib Model Code 2020 Eurocode 2:2023 and ABNT NBR 6118:2023. Sustainability study

Abstract

This paper aims to present a study of sustainability, focused on the design of short reinforced concrete columns respecting the premises of four established technical standards: ABNT NBR 6118:2014, ABNT NBR 6118:2023, fib Model Code 2020 (final draft) and Eurocode 2:2023. For the design of the columns, two reinforcement ratios were considered, one minimum (³ 0,4%) and one maximum for bypass splices (< 4,0%); two different concrete strength classes, C20 and C50; and, with f_ck referred to three different ages of 28, 56 and 91 days. This scenario provided 16 different possibilities for column configurations. Concrete was also considered to be mixed with two different cements: CR with high clinker content (> 90%) and CS with about 30% clinker. The comparative analysis addressed the topic of sustainability, considering only CO_2eq. emissions, and dematerialization. Under the conditions of this study, it is concluded that using Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1) criteria, concrete produced with cements class CS and f_ck referenced at 56 days, always lead major dematerialization and lower greenhouse gas emissions. This study also demonstrates that design decisions, with smart concrete technology, can significantly influence the sustainability of one structure.