Giuseppe Ferrara

Polytechnic University of Turin | polito · DISAT - Department of Applied Science and Technology

The utilisation of carbonation treatments to produce building materials is emerging as a valuable strategy to reduce CO2 emissions in the construction sector. It is of great importance to regulate the degree of carbonation when the mineralisation process is combined with hydration, as a high CO2 uptake may impede the development of adequate strengt...

The compositional characteristics of cement by-pass dust (CBPD), specifically its alkalinity and salt content, present significant limitations to its reinsertion in cement production. Furthermore, these characteristics give rise to considerable concerns regarding its disposal. The present study investigated the potential for treating CBPD through t...

Electric Arc Furnace slag (EAF slag) reuse is currently limited by its inconsistent chemical composition and volume instability. However, the alkaline composition suggests the possibility to use this material for carbon capture and storage. This study investigated the CO2 uptake of EAF slag using a direct aqueous carbonation technique. The process...

Existing masonry buildings are often in need of strengthening interventions, and several technical solutions have been recently developed for this purpose. Among them, the use of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) composites has gained consensus as a technically viable and economically convenient option as a strengthening technique. The present paper...

The study aims to investigate feasible strategies to mitigate CO2 emissions of cement industry by acting on two different levels, capturing the CO2 emitted in industrial by-products, and reducing cement production through its partial substitution with these carbonated materials. A slurry accelerated carbona-tion was implemented on Electric Arc Furn...

Many CO2 reactive by-products from industrial processes can be valorised via carbonation to produce building materials. The amount of CO2 captured in mineralisation processes is environmentally and economically relevant , however results from the literature are often controversial owing to a lack of standardisation in the existing CO2 quantificatio...

In the steelmaking process, electric arc furnace (EAF) is regarded as a green production route, as it essentially uses ferrous scraps instead of virgin raw materials. In addition, the alkaline composition of the slag derived from the EAF production makes it suitable for carbonation treatment, and specifically for the permanent storage of CO2 throug...

Timber-concrete composite (TCC) structures consist of thin concrete slabs connected by stud or bonding to glulam beams. They emerged as a valuable system with lightweight elements characterised by high strength and stiffness. However, the structural efficiency of real-scale TCC floors with an adhesive-based connection systems requires further inves...

Existing buildings are often in need of strengthening interventions, and several technical solutions have been recently developed for this purpose. Among them, the use of textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) composites has gained consensus as a technically viable and economically convenient option. Moreover, TRM has the potential to be employed as a rev...

The increase in concrete structures’ durability is a milestone to improve the sustainability of buildings and infrastructures. In order to ensure a prolonged service life, it is necessary to detect the deterioration of materials by means of monitoring systems aimed at evaluating not only the penetration of aggressive substances into concrete but al...

The study is part of the MOOVABAT project aiming at defining innovative technological buildings with low environmental impact and characterised by the capacity to constantly adapt to the changing of their users’ needs. In this context, the mechanical performance of a fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) frame, chosen as a structural solution for the buil...

This research is part of MOOVABAT project aimed at designing a new technological building. In this context, experiments were carried out to assess the feasibility of using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) for moment-resisting frames. Research focuses on the mechanical behaviour of beam-to-column connections under monotonic and cyclic loading. Specifi...

In the last decades, the use of steel slag as binder in supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) emerged as a valuable solution to re-use by-product of the steel making industry, and to reduce the use of cement. Moreover, steel slag-based mortar and concrete have proven to be suitable materials for mineral carbon sequestration, capable of perman...

As shown in the previous chapters, the use of plant fibres as reinforcement in mortar-based composites represents a promising solution to improve the sustainability of the material.

As shown in the previous chapters, although plant-based TRM systems present a high potential, they are also characterised by several limitations that prevent their spread in the market.

Once defined the properties of the TRM constituent materials, i.e. mortar and textile, to get an exhaustive analysis it is necessary to move from a “material” scale of analysis to the investigation of the composite itself.

As shown in previous chapters, Flax TRMs are characterised by a promising mechanical behaviour.

Through the ages, the Mediterranean basin was interested by earthquakes events considered among the most destructive natural hazards, if not to the human life itself, then more likely to the works of man.

Prior to addressing the investigation of Natural TRMs, and to studying its influence on structural elements, it is necessary to characterise the reinforcing fabric.

In recent years, the use of plant fibres in Textile-Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composites emerged as a valuable solution to increase their sustainability. Several studies carried out to mechanically characterize the so-called Natural TRMs, although showing promising results, also emphasised some drawbacks due to a severe deformability of the system an...

Companies and practitioners working in the civil construction sector are more and more aware and motivated to develop and adopt sustainable building materials, possibly obtained from renewable and locally available resources. As part of this common effort, special attention is being paid to an emerging class of materials generally referred to as bi...

This book is intended to raise awareness about the use of sustainable Textile-Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composite systems, including plant fibers, for civil engineering applications. It presents a comprehensive characterization of the mechanical properties of Flax-TRM composite systems when used for strengthening masonry elements. Moreover, it report...

Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composite systems as a technique to retrofit and reinforce existing structures represents, nowadays, an efficient application. The use of plant fibres textile as reinforcement, instead of the most employed industrial ones, resulted a promising solution as response to the sustainability criteria more and more required...

A growing environmental awareness is gradually changing the entire economic system and consequently, the building materials sector is increasingly interested in innovative sustainable solutions. The use of plant fibres as reinforcement in inorganic composite systems, generally referred to as Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM), represents an innovative...

Recent earthquakes have highlighted the vulnerability of existing buildings, generally realised without any measures against the effects of seismic actions. The need for maintenance and rehabilitation of historical centres and the preservation of the original architectural characters of building are among the major challenges in civil and structura...

Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composite systems are gaining consensus within the scientific and technical communities as a viable and advantageous alternative to the most conventional Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites. Due to the good compatibility both in terms of stiffness and vapor permeability between the inorganic matrix and the subs...

Among the existing techniques to retrofit and reinforce masonry elements, the use of Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composite systems represents these days an efficient and compatible solution. Aiming to improve the sustainability of these composite systems, the efficiency of plant fibres as reinforcement fabric of TRMs is analysed in the present...

The increasing attention toward environmental aspects has led, also in the sector of construction materials, to the need for developing more eco-friendly solutions. Among several options, the employment of low energy raw materials appears as an efficient solution intended to enhance the sustainability of building structures. One of the applications...

The use of Textile-Reinforced-Matrix (TRM) systems is gaining consensus as a possible technical solution for strengthening masonry structures. In this context, the use of natural fabrics (among which those made of flax) instead of synthetic ones can have a positive impact on several sustainability-related aspects, such as renewability, recyclabilit...

Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) composite systems are among the most promising techniques for strengthening masonry elements. This study aims to assess the mechanical performance of a sustainable TRM system internally reinforced by natural fabric. More specifically, specimens consisting of a bi-directional flax fabric and a hydraulic lime-based mor...

In recent years, the increasing interest in environmentally friendly materials has brought the attention of material technologists and civil engineers to natural fibres and their potential use in composite materials. Although several research activities have shown the good mechanical properties of these fibres, their use is still limited due to bot...

The use of Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) systems is emerging as a suitable solution for strengthening historical masonry buildings, as they are made of compatible materials often resulting in limited and reversible interventions. Moreover, TRM systems reinforced by basalt textile are a very promising solution. This study presents the results of s...