PSI - Issue 64

Federica Russo et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 64 (2024) 1752–1758 Federica Russo, Gabriella Maselli, Antonio Nesticò / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

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In recent years, Tensofloor (post-tensioned) technology has developed, representing an evolution in the field of industrial flooring. It takes the form of a complete structural element, designed and manufactured with accurate calculations and verifications to ensure optimal performance in terms of strength, durability and flatness. On one hand, traditional industrial floors made with electrowelded mesh adopt an established technique that employs an electrowelded steel mesh as a reinforcing element. This mesh is inserted inside the concrete during the pouring phase in order to impart strength to the structure. However, this method sometimes results in the need to set up construction joints and expansion joints to control the contractions of the concrete during the drying process, which can lead to wear and tear problems and the requirement for frequent maintenance. On the other hand, post-tensioned industrial pavements with viplated strands adopt an innovative technology involving the use of pre-stressed strands. These strands are placed within the concrete prior to pouring and are then tensioned to impart compressive strength to the concrete. This methodology eliminates the need for construction joints and expansion joints, thus reducing the risk of damage and the need for maintenance (Barrizza & Siviero, 2009). In addition, post-tensioned pavements provide better flatness over time and offer superior mechanical performance compared to traditional solutions. As a result, post-tensioned concrete pavement represents an advanced solution compared to the characteristic limitations of older generation floors, allowing high quality standards to be achieved. Due to their high mechanical strength and low maintenance requirements, these floors are particularly suitable for indoor and outdoor areas with heavy traffic of hard-wheeled carts and high static and dynamic loads, as well as for environments that require precise flatness for housing shelving. In summary, such floors offer an excellent combination of strength, durability and ease of maintenance, making them the ideal choice for industrial environments. 3. Environmental and Economic Assessment Methodologies Environmental and economic assessment methodologies play a key role in decision making in the construction industry, enabling informed and sustainable choices that aim to maximize overall investment value and promote long term sustainability. Among these methodologies, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) are of particular importance (Patti, 2023). Specifically, LCA offers the ability to assess the environmental impact of a product, process or service by considering the entire life cycle, from the raw material extraction stage to final disposal. This methodology provides a comprehensive picture of the interactions between humans and the environment, helping to identify the main sources of environmental impact and evaluate possible improvement strategies (Baldo et al., 2008; Calabrò et al., 2021) Through the comparative analysis of different alternatives, LCA allows the selection of the most sustainable solution based on predefined environmental criteria, such as greenhouse gas emission, energy resource consumption and raw material use. In addition, it allows the identification of life cycle stages with the greatest environmental impact, facilitating targeted interventions to improve overall efficiency (Petrillo et al, 2022). Depending on the detail of the investigation, there are four possible approaches to LCA analysis: (a) Cradle-to grave , which considers the entire life cycle of the product, from extraction of raw materials to final destination; (b) Cradle-to-gate , which is limited to resource acquisition, some production activities, and/or operation of services, but excludes subsequent stages; (c) Gate-to-gate , which involves a process whose activities take place within a site (e.g. an industry); (d) Gate-to-grave , which considers only the processes of distribution, use, and final disposal of the product. Analyses on the same system performed with different boundaries lead to different and non-comparable results (Demertzi et al., 2020). The application of the LCA methodology is regulated by ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, which provide principles and guidelines for its practical implementation. According to these standards, the implementation of LCA is conducted according to the following four operational steps. • S TEP 1 – D EFINITION OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES . The purpose of the analysis, the system to be analyzed (product, process or service), the boundaries of the system and the functional unit to which the environmental impacts relate are specified. • S TEP 2 – INVENTORY ANALYSIS (LCI). This involves the detailed life cycle analysis of the product, process or service under consideration. This includes the identification and quantification of raw materials used, air emissions, water