Challenge

In agriculture, people use concrete trench silos to ensile roughage (maize, grass) (low oxygen fermentation and preservation). Traditionally, people build these silos in concrete (class XA3) with cement (LA), to resist acidic silo juices.

The environmental impact of this cement and concrete is very significant: there are high CO2 emissions, extraction of the primary raw materials and waste streams require high-energy transport modes.

ILVO - the Flemish Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research - is looking for a more environmentally friendly alternative.

For the construction of a trench silo (for the experimental experimental farm in Melle), it is aiming at sustainable concrete, based on reused crushed demolition concrete, especially concrete granulates and/or the use of fly ash and slag as an alternative to cement.

A waste product is thus brought back into the cycle for a high-quality application. We also aim for a longer lifespan through better chemical resistance.

Because the necessary standards and practical experience in chemically aggressive environments (i.e. vegetable fermentation juices) for this sustainable, circular concrete recipe are still lacking, further research and validation of the intended applications is needed.