What Can We Do About Concrete? (Peter Claisse)

Far more concrete is produced than any other man-made material. Annual production represents one tonne for every person on the planet. It is an incredibly versatile material, and is used in almost all major construction projects. It does, however, have two serious problems which may threaten its use in the future.

The first problem is that cement production is responsible for approximately 5% of all carbon dioxide emissions. This results from chemical reactions in the kiln and cannot be significantly reduced with energy efficiency or alternative fuels.

The second problem is durability. There are some fine examples of Roman concrete which is still in good condition after 2000 years; but there are also many examples of modern structures which have required extensive repairs just a few years after completion.

This lecture will discuss how these problems could be overcome, and what needs to be done to make sure that the necessary changes take place.

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