Iordanis Zygomalas

A newly developed life cycle inventory (LCI) database for commonly used structural steel components

The use of steel within the construction sector has enabled the delivery of larger-volume and more complex-shaped structures, while life cycle assessment (LCA) has been introduced as a pro-active design tool to ensure their sustainability. As LCA efficiency greatly depends on the life cycle inventory (LCI) data used, it is the purpose of the current research to present detailed structural steel LCI data and thus increase environmental benefits deriving from the effective use of LCA within construction. Hot-rolled structural steel members were chosen as the research starting point and the necessary information was provided by the leading structural steel manufacturer in Greece. Results include a list of environmental inputs and outputs, which can be used within relevant LCA studies and environmental impact assessment. Critical issues hindering the use of LCA were identified, along with the most environmentally damaging production stages and environmental categories mainly burdened. A new methodology for assessment results comparison was also applied.

Life cycle assessment environmental data for structural steel construction in Greece

The construction industry is a critical sector in relation to sustainable development as its optimisation in terms of the consumption of resources can provide significant environmental benefits. To achieve this, a number of tools and methodologies have been developed to assist decision making. Life cycle assessment is one of the most acknowledged and widely used methodologies to assess the sustainability of construction works. Its efficient use, however, requires environmental data that in some cases are not yet available. Especially for sectors such as steel construction in which the potential for sustainable development is increased due to the recycling and reuse potential of the material, the lack of such data slows sustainability-related progress down. The current research addresses this issue by collecting primary environmental data for cold-formed structural steel and compiling the required data-sets. The data-sets are used to assess the environmental impact of an existing steel building and identify how and to what extent the environment is burdened by its construction. The findings of the research include the aforementioned environmental data which can be used in environmental analyses related to construction projects, while additional conclusions concerning the environmental impact of steel buildings in terms of quantity and type were also drawn.

Evolution of Environmental Sustainability for Timber and Steel Construction

The movement for sustainable development aims at the optimization of the whole of human activity in terms of environmental, economic and social impact. The aim of the present paper is the examination of the content and evolution of environmental sustainability in order to identify the key implications and requirements regarding timber and steel structures, two fields with significant potential in terms of sustainability. The conclusions drawn include the identification of issues such as raw materials, the construction stage of a project and waste management and their potential influence on the environmental sustainability of timber and steel construction.

Influence of biotic factors on the mechanical properties of wood, taking into account the time of harvesting

Abstract The aim of the present paper is to investigate the influence of biotic factors (fungi and insects) on the mechanical properties of wood through the effect of blue-stain, taking into account the time of harvesting and the time of stay of wood in the forest. Specifically, the resistance to axial compression and to bending (modulus of rupture (MOR)) was studied using infected specimens of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway Spruce (Picea abies) (the usual types of wood used in woodwork). The specimens were obtained from logs of Scots Pine and Norway Spruce that were harvested in three different seasons of year, namely in July 2012, November 2012 and June 2013, respectively, in the forest of Elatia-Greece, and the attack pace by biotic factors with respect to the time of logging was studied. The placement of the experimental surfaces of each type of tree was made on skid road and in the stand. Totally, 120 laboratory measurements in axial compression and 120 measurements in bending (MOR) took place. The results proved that blue-stain hardly affect the mechanical properties of both wooden species and particularly the specimens that were derived during the winter logging.

LCA of timber and steel buildings with fuzzy variables uncertainty quantification

Steel and timber structures constitute a construction technology which holds significant potential in terms of sustainability and are therefore selected as sustainable solutions for the construction of housing, commercial or other types of building projects. This paper consists of two parts. Firstly, to quantify the sustainability potential of timber and steel construction by calculating the environmental impact caused throughout the life cycle of a steel-framed residential building and a timber building. The calculation has been extended with the usage of fuzzy variables that represent uncertainty of the various parameters involved.

Quantification of the influence of life cycle parameters on the total environmental impact of steel-framed buildings

Abstract Due to the increased urgency with which environmental issues are currently being prioritized, business sectors such as construction, that have been identified as one of the largest consumers of raw materials and energy, are actively involved in research aiming to optimize construction processes and products in terms of environmental impact. Although researchers have pointed out various issues and aspects of a construction project’s delivery process that can significantly affect its environmental impact, the extent to which these issues can influence the total environmental impact of the project is unclear. The current research aims to investigate and eventually quantify the influence of a number of such parameters, utilizing an existing steel-framed building as the basis for the necessary calculations. The conclusions drawn illustrate the actual extent of the influence of the examined life cycle parameters, while also offering specific insight in regard to the determination of criteria that can be used as the basis for recommendations for similar projects.

Environmental impact assessment of end-of-life scenarios for steel buildings

Environmental sustainability requires all business sectors to decrease the environmental impact associated with the delivery of their services and products. An efficient response from the building sector requires research aimed at the minimisation of the environmental impact of buildings throughout their life cycle, from construction to demolition. The end of a building’s service life can critically influence the total environmental impact, particularly with building technologies such as steel construction. The purpose of the current research was the assessment of the environmental impact caused by different end-of-life scenarios as can be applied to steel buildings. An existing residential steel building is used for the calculations, while the results allow for the comparison between the different end scenarios concerning the main structural materials used, namely the structural steel. Conclusions drawn include the formation of a clear perspective on the environmental impact benefits that can be achieved at the end of a steel building’s life cycle and the positive effects of the steel construction technology as applied to building projects in terms of environmental sustainability. The increased potential of the reuse and relocation scenarios in terms of environmental sustainability are also highlighted.