The main goal of the LORCENIS project has been to develop long lasting reinforced concrete for energy infrastructures with lifetime extended up to a 100% under extreme operating conditions. At the same time, our society has to face environmental aspects (increased CO2 emissions) challenging the energy request from carbon-based sources more efficiently at short term and to move to renewable energy sources at a longer term.
The LORCENIS concept with cost-efficient operation has been based on an optimal combination of novel technologies involving internal curing, customised protection, repairing (healing) and self-diagnosis methodologies. The functionality of the developed concrete materials was verified from a proof of concept (TRL 3) to technology demonstration (TRL 6-7), supported by numerical tools to capture the multi-scale evolution of damage and models for service life prediction. 4 scenarios were considered for demonstration:
S1: Concrete infrastructure in deep sea and (sub-)arctic zones: offshore windmills, gravity based structures, bridge piles, harbours.
S2: Concrete and mortar under mechanical fatigue: offshore windmills, sea structures.
S3: Concrete structures exposed to high temperature thermal fatigue: concentrated solar power plants.
S4: Concrete structures subjected to acid attack: sewage plant.
Moreover, LORCENIS considered analysis of cost-effectiveness and commercial potential of project outcomes within their exploitation strategy, as well as including the environmental and sustainability concerns through LCA and LCC analysis. Safety and health considerations were also addressed.
LORCENIS was realized by a well-balanced consortium of multidisciplinary experts from 9 universities and research institutes and 7 industries from 8 countries involving 2 SMEs.
