[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan Port Authority (BPA) has completed the development and trial construction service of eco-friendly modular paving blocks, which began in April last year.
Modular paving blocks are a repair method that installs concrete blocks manufactured in a factory on-site, similar to the way Lego blocks are connected.
BPA selected the optimal block shape through structural analysis considering the ground conditions and maximum equipment load at the construction site, Shinsundae Pier CFS.
Additionally, the mix ratio was finalized through indoor testing to reduce the amount of cement, the main raw material of concrete that emits a large amount of carbon dioxide, by up to 50%, while increasing the strength to more than twice the existing 30MPa.
The developed eco-friendly modular paving blocks were manufactured at an external factory and installed on the yard floor of Bukhang Shinsundae Pier in November last year, completing on-site verification of construction period, stability, and durability. Guidelines for design, construction, and maintenance of this method were also presented.
The paving blocks developed this time have advantages such as easier maintenance, increased service life compared to conventional concrete paving, and minimizing disruption to pier operations by shortening construction periods.
The paving budget was also reduced by about 50%, and half of the cement usage was replaced with blast furnace slag fine powder, a byproduct of the steel industry, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 0.15 tons per cubic meter.
This reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is equivalent to the amount emitted by a gasoline passenger car driving 66 km.
A BPA official said, “We plan to continuously monitor the crack shapes and displacements of the paving blocks installed at the pier site using 3D scanners and drones, and then expand the application of the modular method to Busan Port. By introducing and expanding the eco-friendly modular method, we will strengthen Busan Port’s competitiveness through budget savings and carbon dioxide emission reductions, contributing to the realization of a sustainable port.”
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