ECSN

4th RILEM International Conference on Concrete and Digital Fabrication (Digital Concrete 2024)
2024-09-04 - 2024-09-06
4th RILEM International Conference on Concrete and Digital Fabrication
4. – 6. September 2024
Munich, Germany
We are honoured and excited to announce the 4th RILEM International Conference on Concrete and Digital Fabrication (Digital Concrete 2024). The DC 2024 will take place in Germany and will be hosted by the Collaborative Research Centre TRR 277 “Additive Manufacturing in Construction (AMC)”, the Technische Universität Braunschweig and the Technical University of Munich.
The conference is scheduled from 4. – 6. September 2024 and will be held in Munich.
In addition, pre-conference PhD and industry workshops will be organised in Braunschweig and Munich.
DC 2024 is a ‘must attend’ event for researchers, engineers, architects as well as foresighted individuals from industry, politics and organizations to share and discuss the latest technological innovations within the AEC sector. The conference will provide a platform for the key developments in the field of digital fabrication in construction, ranging from additive manufacturing with concrete, metal, wood, clay, fibres and other innovative materials, to sustainable digital workflows from design to fabrication. DC 2024 aims to present the latest scientific findings alongside the latest industrial developments.
We look forward to welcoming you to Munich and Braunschweig in the late summer of 2024.
Dirk Lowke, Harald Kloft, Kathrin Dörfler, Christoph Gehlen and Norman Hack
MORE INFORMATION HERE

78th RILEM Annual Week & RILEM International Conference on Sustainable Materials & Structures: Meeting the major challenges of the 21st century - SMS 2024
2024-08-25 - 2024-08-30
The conference will aim to present and discuss the recent advances in materials and structures research to meet the great challenges of the 21th century and beyond:

enable sustainable, safe and durable construction (new and existing buildings and strategic infrastructures),
promote the circular construction / economy;
improve the energy efficiency of construction,
favour the quality and comfort of building (indoor air quality and comfort).

All these topics will be considered from the material’s perspective, but also from the structure’s perspective.

A special focus will be put on the worldwide practices and rationale to meet these goals.

The conference will cover all the topics in the scope of RILEM scientific activities, and will include:
> At the level of the building materials:

Cementitious materials (conventional and low-CO2 binders, alkali-activated materials and geopolymers, new binders (sulfur, magnesium, etc.)),
Bricks, stone, masonry, mortars, grouts
Bio-based materials, earth construction (special session organised)
Bituminous materials (special session organised)
Wood and timber structures

> At the level of the civil engineering structures:

Buildings: Quality of indoor air, comfort, hygrothermal behaviour of building materials
Strategic infrastructures in their environments

For any of these topics, scientific contributions investigating the time and service related properties: early age and setting, service properties, durability, safety, environmental impact, recyclability, will be particularly welcome

A special focus will be done on the special practices according to the world regions.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

Free webinar: All about RILEM: an international partnership on materials, building systems and structures
2024-06-14 13:00 - 14:00 (Europe/Stockholm) | Zoom Webinar
ECSN has a partnership agreement with RILEM, an international association for materials, building systems and structures. RILEM would now like to invite you to a free webinar on May 10 (1 hour) to tell you about RILEM and show you the free benefits that you can enjoy thanks to the partnership agreement between the two organizations.
This event is a unique opportunity to present RILEM, an ECSN partner since February 2023. RILEM is a non-profit association whose mission is to create and disseminate scientific and technical knowledge in the field of materials, building systems and structures, fostering links between experts from around the world.
If you would like to find out more about RILEM and its various technical committees, don’t miss the opportunity to register using the button below. The webinar will be held in English and there will be no registration fee for participants.
The webinar will be presented by Dr Daniela Ciancio (RILEM Implementation Manager) and moderated by Richard McCarthy, ECSN Chairman.

REGISTER

1st RILEM International Conference on Mineral Carbonation for Cement and Concrete
2024-04-16 - 2024-04-17
Welcome to the website of the 1st RILEM International Conference on Mineral Carbonation for Cement and Concrete !
The conference will take place the 16th and 17th of April 2024, in SuperC, RWTH Aachen University
HERE you will find all the information to participate and attend the conference.

RILEM Spring Convention & conference on advanced construction materials and processes for a carbon neutral society
2024-04-07 - 2024-04-12
Temporary description :
Organizing committee
Prof. Liberato Ferrara (chair)
Prof. Giovanni Muciaccia and Patrick Bamonte (co-chairs)
dr. Francesco Lo Monte
dr. Estefania Cuenca Asensio
International Scientific Committee
Prof. Liberato Ferrara (chair)
Prof. Marco di Prisco and Giovanni Plizzari (co-chairs)
Host institution: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
7, 8 and 9 April at Politecnico di Milano : RILEM Standing committee and TC Meetings
10-12 April at Palazzo Mezzanotte: Conference and TC Meetings

MORE INFORMATION HERE

Webinar on 3D Concrete Printing
2024-03-21 13:00 - 16:30 | Zoom
Webinar on 3D Concrete Printing
3D concrete printing (3DCP) is a new and exciting technology that may change the concrete production. Several interesting R&D projects on 3DPC is currently ongoing in universities, research institutes and companies in the Nordic countries. Svenska Betongföreningen (The Swedish Concrete Association) is organizing a webinar on 3DCP in order to disseminate knowledge about this technology. The webinar is also a part of the Nordic co-operation inside the Nordic Concrete Federation which board has decided to start a series of webinars on various hot topics.
The webinar is free, but registration is needed for participation.
See the full programme and register on the Swedish Concrete Association’s website »

ECSN webinar: Concrete and sustainability – an update on ongoing efforts in Europe – Part 2
2024-02-28 11:00 - 16:30
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ECSN is a network of European concrete societies comprising of 15 members. In this webinar, we have brought together experts from within ECSN circles to present examples from various European countries on how the concrete construction sector can reduce its impact on the climate. This is the third webinar that ECSN has organised in the field of sustainable concrete. The first webinar was arranged on 25 November 2021 on the topic ”Concrete and sustainability – an update on ongoing efforts in Europe” and the second was arranged on 29 March 2023 on the topic “Binders and concrete for the next decade”.
The cement and concrete industry contribute significantly to global CO2 emissions. Concrete research on sustainability involves exploring various aspects of sustainability and finding practical solutions to address environmental, social and economic challenges. In this webinar focus will be both on the design aspects as well as materials. In some countries there is already a change in legislation, and it is important to design in a more optimal way where CO2 emission will be an important side condition which includes changing strength, using prestressed concrete, alternative cement based materials, recycling and new production techniques. Examples of all these efforts will be presented and discussed in this webinar.
Welcome!
ECSN – European Concrete Societies Network
Webinar: Concrete and sustainability – an update on ongoing efforts in Europe – Part 2
Time: 28 February 2024, 11.00 – 16:30 (CET)
The webinar is free, but registration is needed for participation.

Program

11:00
Introduction: European Concrete Societies Network
Richard McCarthy, Chairman

11:10
The Globe Consensus – a Global Initiative for Decarbonization of the Construction Sector
Michael Havbro Faber, Aalborg University (Denmark) and Harbin Institute of Technology (China)

11:40
How standards can support sustainability of cement and concrete
Christoph Müller, Managing Director, VDZ Technology (Germany)

12:00
Future and emerging Supplementary Cementing Materials (SCMs)
Professor Ruben Snellings, KU Leuven (Belgium)

12:20
A natural sedimentary pozzolan for future green cements in Northern Europe
Urs Müller, Technical Manager, Schwenk Sweden (Latvia)

12:40
Break

13:10
Climate-driven Structural Design in Early Design Phases – Concrete bridges
Rasmus Rempling, Associate Professor, Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden)

13:30
Partnership for sustainability goal 17: The Alo building – a case study
Bjørnar Hamstad, Head of Construction Section, Multiconsult (Norway)

13:50
Returned readymixed concrete, washing equipment and recycling
Lauri Labe, Quality Manager, Betoonimeister AS (Estonia)

14:10
Electromobility in the concrete industry
Kai Westphal, Manager of concrete production and distribution, Steypustöðin RMC-producer (Iceland)

14:30
Break

14:40
(P)RECAST – reuse of precast concrete elements
Katja Udbye Christensen, Business Manager, Danish Technological Institute (Denmark)

15:00
Reusing prefabricated concrete for a circular economy
Professor Satu Huuhka (Finland)

15:20
Recycled aggregates, green product, green opportunities
Walter Speelman, Manager Technology & Sustainability Beton, Heidelberg Materials (The Netherlands)

15:40
Measuring the Life Cycle GHG Emissions of High Performance Concretes
Dr William Wilson, Sustainability Manager, Ireland Materials, Roadstone (Ireland)

16:00
UK Concrete Sustainable Construction Strategic Priorities
Dr Noushin Khosravi, Sustainable Construction Manager, UK Concrete, MPA (UK)

16:20
Summary and general discussions

16:30
Closing

ECSN webinar: Binders and concrete for the next decade
2023-03-29 00:30 - 16:30
Join ECSN on the journey to more sustainable construction!
New webinar: Binders and concrete for the next decade
This is the second webinar that ECSN has organised in the field of sustainable concrete. The first webinar was arranged on 25 November 2021 on the topic ”Concrete and sustainability – an update on ongoing efforts in Europe”.
It is well known that the cement and concrete industry contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions. But at the same time, this industry is now making a huge effort to solve these challenges. Solutions are now being developed using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), or a combination of both. Other solutions are to develop new composite cements where the clinker is replaced partly with new supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Potential approaches are also to re-carbonate old binders to enable them to function as new SCMs. Examples of all these efforts will be presented and discussed in this webinar.
Welcome to the webinar and be a part of the future!
Program and registration »

WEBINAR: Concrete and sustainability – an update on ongoing efforts in Europe
2021-11-25 12:30 - 16:40
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Video source: Shutterstock.com
Join ECSN on the journey to more sustainable construction!
ECSN is the federation/network of European concrete societies comprising of 13 members. In this webinar, we have brought together experts from within ECSN circles to present examples of how the concrete construction sector can reduce its impact on the climate.
The earth faces great challenges. The UN Sustainable Development Goals set out a blueprint for achieving a more sustainable future for all of society, with Goal 13 requiring urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The 2015 Paris Agreement further stipulates that the global temperature increase will be limited to below 2°C, with the aim of limiting it to 1.5°C. This is to be achieved primarily through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
An increasing global population requires societal development with necessary associated housing and infrastructure. Yet, climate change action also requires that all of society works to reduce their impact on the climate. In many areas, concrete is the only building material that can meet long term quality and durability requirements. Therefore, concrete continues to be an essential material for building sustainably, and for creating the welfare demanded by today’s modern society.
The purpose of this webinar is to demonstrate the potential of the concrete sector to do more to reduce its impact. For example, continuing research across the globe has resulted in real progress being made in developing binders with a lower impact on the climate. Work is also being progressed which aims to build more optimised and slender construction elements. Additionally, a review of overly stringent regulations may also be required to allow for reductions in cement contents in certain construction sectors.
In parallel with all of this, the development of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is taking place. With Norway having more than 20 years’ experience of the geological storage of carbon dioxide, it is known that CCUS is technically possible. However, many challenges remain in its full development at scale. Other examples of the use of CCUS technology include new developments in the manufacture of concrete building blocks.
Our future requires that many solutions are needed; therefore, the whole of society must cooperate in meeting these challenges.
Welcome!
ECSN – European Concrete Societies Network
Webinar: Concrete and sustainability – an update on ongoing efforts in Europe.
Time: 25th of November, 12.30 – 16:40 (CET)
Fee: The webinar is free, but registration is needed for participation.
The last day to register is November, 24td.

Program
Moderators: Børge Johannes Wigum – Chairman of Icelandic Concrete Association & Cecilie Hagby – Managing Director of Norwegian Concrete Association.

12:30
Introduction: European Concrete Societies Network & Sustainability challenges for the concrete industry in Europe
Richard McCarthy, Chairman ECSN & Managing Director of the Swedish Concrete Association (Sweden)

12:45
A general overview on decarbonisation and resource efficiency in concrete construction
Lars Meyer, Managing Director of the German Society for Concrete and Construction Technology (Germany)

13:05
The path to circular economy in the cement and concrete industry
Brian Gilmore, Sustainability Manager, Cement Manufacturers Ireland (Ireland)

13:25
Circular solutions within the concrete industry to reach climate ambitions
Sigríður Ósk Bjarnadóttir, University of Iceland (Iceland)

13:45
Roadmap for climate neutral concrete in Sweden
Malin Löfsjögård, Managing Director of the Swedish Concrete Federation (Sweden)

14:05
Break

14:15
Novel approaches used and future ideas of sustainability in Austria
Konrad Bergmeister, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Austria)

14:35
NeoCem project – Fitness for use of new Belgian composite cements
Filip Van Rickstal, Managing Directorof the Belgian Cement Research Centre (Belgium)

14:55
Development of low carbon classification for concretes
Jouni Punkki, Concrete Technology, Aalto University (Finland)

15:15
How a classification system has lowered the carbon footprint for concrete in Norway
Sverre Smeplass, Chief Advisor Skanska (Norway)

15:35
Break

15:45
Sustainable concrete structures – implementation of principles in a new fib Model Code 2020
Petr Hájek, Department of Architectural Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic)

16:05
The UK concrete and cement industry road map to beyond net zero – an overview and update on progress of related initiatives
Elaine Toogood, Head of Architecture, MPA, The Concrete Centre (UK)

16:25
Summary and general discussions

16:40
End of webinar

fib Symposium 2021
2021-06-14 - 2021-06-17
Concrete Structures: New Trends for Eco-Efficiency and Performance
The fib Symposium 2021 will be held in Lisbon, from the 14th to the 16th of June 2021, gathering together professionals, researchers and students from all over the world to discuss ‘Concrete Structures: New Trends for Eco-Efficiency and Performance’.
Key-note speakers will address the three most relevant topics: fib Model Code 2020, sustainable concrete, and high-performance structures. Furthermore, the latest scientific and technological innovations and the most impressive projects in structural concrete will be presented. The fib YMG is organizing an innovative session. A students’ competition will take place, addressing the double challenge of optimizing concrete’s carbon footprint and performance for a specific structural application. The most relevant companies from the concrete construction industry will exhibit their products at the sponsors’ exhibition hall located at the symposium’s venue.
Lisbon is a breathtaking city with thousands of years of history and was considered the Worlds’ Leading City Break Destination in 2019. Moreover, it is surrounded by astonishing magical places nearby, such as Cascais and Sintra. The symposium is thus an excellent opportunity to combine work with leisure. There will be organized a technical visit to a construction/rehabilitation site as well as a vast set of social activities and tours will be offered.
