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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value) by assigning weights to them according to the established priorities in order to ensure an accurate and goal oriented analysis. S TEP 2: L IFE C YCLE A SSESSMENT (LCA). In the second stage of the process, we proceed with the assessment of environmental impact through LCA, the methodology for which is described in Section 3. At this stage, quantifying the consumption of resources, including aggregates, water, and energy, and pollutant emissions associated with each phase of the life cycle of industrial flooring: from production, to installation, to use, to maintenance, and finally to disposal, is important for the analysis. S TEP 3: L IFE C YCLE C OSTING (LCC). In the third stage of the process, we focus on the LCC assessment, the methodology of which is set out again in Section 3. This assessment involves identifying and quantifying all costs associated with each stage of the pavement life cycle, including the costs of production, installation, maintenance, repair, and disposal. S TEP 4: LCA & LCC I NTEGRATION . In the fourth step of the process, we proceed with the integration of the results of the two previous analyses. To facilitate the comparison and integration of the two analyses, the results are normalized (Fregonara, 2017). The choice of normalization method depends on the specific context of the analysis and the objectives of the comparison. One of the methods is to use the same functional unit for both analyses: for example, if the functional unit is “1 ton of product”, both LCA and LCC results should b e related to this unit. If LCA calculates the environmental impact per ton of product and LCC calculates the cost per ton, the results are already in a comparable form. In addition, multi-criteria analysis (MCA), which integrates both types of results into a single decision framework, can be used to directly compare LCA and LCC. This technique allows the different environmental impacts and economic costs to be weighted according to their relative importance. S TEP 5: S ENSITIVITY A NALYSIS . In the fifth step of the process, sensitivity assessment and scenario analysis are conducted. This involves examining the influence of key variables – material prices, pavement service life, and evolving technologies – on the results of the analysis (Nesticò et al., 2023). This process helps identify critical factors that may affect pavement selection decisions. 5. Conclusions Sustainability in the industrial sector is of paramount importance in reducing environmental impact and promoting environmentally sustainable practices. In particular, sustainable flooring is a beneficial solution, as it contributes to the reduction of the ecological footprint and improves the quality of indoor and outdoor environments. These solutions not only promote the conservation of natural resources, but also the creation of healthier and safer environments for workers. A new technology called tensofloor (post-tensioning) has emerged in the field of materials engineering, which has established itself among traditional industrial flooring technologies. The distinguishing features of this technology include the perfect flatness provided by the absence of joints and the increased strength of concrete due to the tension of steel strand meshes. This aspect prevents surface deformation resulting from continuous use during normal work activities, helping to extend maintenance time and preserve both the environment and financial resources. The jointless post-tensioned floor thus represents a high-quality solution that overcomes the limitations found in traditional concrete floors, positively solving construction problems, especially in dated industrial buildings, without the risk of slab cracking or buckling, regardless of the size of the building or its floor plan. In order to guide decision-makers toward more sustainable and beneficial choices in the long term, this study proposes a methodological framework that integrates assessment tools, such as LCA and LCC, to compare the two technological solutions for industrial pavements. This methodology provides a comprehensive view of both the environmental and economic implications of the two alternatives. This makes it possible to identify the solution that minimizes the overall environmental impact and maximizes the economic value over time.