Stages (phases) for the new era of reinforced concrete construction

The new era of reinforced concrete construction (or Concrete 4.0) goes beyond the traditional prescriptive approach, relying on a series of digitized, sustainable and industrialized phases, in which the process is holistic, interconnected and focused on material performance. To achieve this, distinct phases are required: digital and performance-based design (BIM and conceptual design), sharing of geometric and performance data between the parties involved in the supply chain; advanced seismic design with nonlinear analysis and structural confinement criteria; and design of increasingly environmentally friendly mixtures and dosage for a better calculation of the carbon footprint and the use of binders with low environmental impact. The other three phases are industrialization and prefabrication in the factory, construction and assembly 4.0 on site, and the life cycle, monitoring and remanufacturing. Let’s explore the fundamentals of this transformation.