Simplified structural design and LCA of reinforced concrete beams strengthening techniques

This work provides the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of four commonly used strengthening techniques of reinforced concrete beams. Firstly, it provides a simplified methodology to size the strengthening, overcoming the need of extensive knowledge in structures. Secondly, it provides the application of LCA to the selected techniques. The method improves the applicability of LCA to buildings, analyzes the environmental differences between techniques, and reveals the importance of the anchoring method as well as the enormous benefit in reusing building structures. Results obtained for conventional beams are displayed in tables ready to use in LCAs with broader boundary systems.