Methods of interaction for the modular reuse of existing structures

An unimaginable 16 billion tons of concrete have been used in Germany since 1945 - at least. If you consider that houses are designed for a useful life of around 50 years and bridges for around 100 years, you get an idea of how many buildings will be ready for demolition in the coming decades. At the same time, new buildings will be needed as residential buildings, office buildings and bridges. So the idea of reusing existing elements of old buildings for new ones - not recycling them - is an obvious one. In recycling, building materials are crushed and reassembled with new cement - this only saves a small amount of CO₂ and also reduces the load-bearing capacity.

Instead, the researchers led by spokesperson Prof. Dr. Peter Mark from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering envisage using a modular system of existing elements such as ceilings, walls, columns and foundations. They have already secured examples of these components from the demolished NA and GC buildings on the Ruhr University Bochum campus construction sites. They are carrying out extensive tests on these parts, for example to determine their load-bearing capacity, detect possible damage and ageing effects and upgrade the components if necessary. After all, the new buildings have to be safe. Logistics will also be the subject of research: How can it be possible to construct a new building from old elements that have to be available in terms of time and location? Extensive storage of elements is not planned.

Cooperation partners

In addition to civil and environmental engineering and mechanical engineering at Ruhr University Bochum, researchers from the University of Stuttgart, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing in Berlin and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are also involved in the CRC.

The Collaborative Research Center will begin its work on April 1, 2025.

You might also be interested in