Using RecyclingGraphs to decide the applicability of module D data in the LCA of functional wall structures

Authors
Schwede, Dirk; Ruf, Lavinia; Bui, Quoc-Bao; Stergiaropoulos, Konstantinos

Abstract
How and to which degree materials in building structures can be recycled largely depends on which degree and quality they can be reclaimed during building demolition. Even if the individual material can be recycled well, the same material can be wasted for recycling if mixed with other material or contaminated by harmful substances. Therefore the decision if module D data (re-use, recovery, recycling potential) can be accounted for in the LCA depends on the design for recycling and the handling of materials during deconstruction. RecyclingGraphs and ConnectionMatrixes have been developed to analyse and optimise structures’ ability to be decomposed and their components to be recycled. Materials are classified on a qualitative scale in terms of various characteristics, such as their recyclability, their ability to be incinerated, and their deposition’s harmfulness. The connections are evaluated regarding their ability to be disassembled and the compatibility of the materials connected. Based on these characterisations, the material pairs and the entire compositions can be evaluated, and it can be determined if module D data is applicable in the specific case of structure. So far, the RecyclingGraphs and ConnectionMatrixes have been applied to static comparisons of different constructions. In the BMBF-funded project “ReBuMat”, this will now be applied in a dynamic process. For this purpose, conventional wall constructions will be analysed and further developed on material level and connection level. Here, reference is made to the use case in Vietnam. Vietnam is in urgent need of functional and future-oriented constructions that implement sustainable building materials. This includes the addition of the remaining modules to the modules A1-3 of various building materials calculated in the “CAMaRSEC” project. This publication presents the latest developments of the method and its possible application in the functional wall structures’ design process.