The primary objective of the research Project "Eco-concrete as a mass building material for economical
and lighter concrete systems Congreen.Carbon.System (CCS)", funded by the Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Climate Action, is to investigate the potential of utilizing non-metallic
reinforcement in conjunction with CO2-reduced concrete formulations for use in precast frame
components. The combination of these materials presents a range of potential avenues for enhancing
the sustainability and efficiency of concrete components. The materials are investigated on a frame
structure for a railway overpass. Figure 1 shows a draft of the construction. The use of non-metallic reinforcement offers the possibility of reducing the concrete cover to a
minimum, thereby creating a slimmer cross-section, increasing the durability of the structure and
absorbing higher stresses than conventional reinforcing steel. Due to the corrosion resistance of the
non-metallic reinforcement, no high pH-value is needed in the concrete matrices. This opens up the way
for eco-friendly concrete matrices. Blast furnace cement (CEM III) serves as the basis for a CO2-reduced
concrete formulation that meets the required standards for production in the precast plant, such as
sufficient early strength and workability and the expected exposures during the service life of the
structure. A comprehensive series of material tests will be carried out to prove the effectivness of the
material combination and provide a basis for an otimised design approach for the frame structure. In
addition, fatigue tests are carried out on specific parts of the frame structure. The results of the
numerous tests are needed to develop principles for calculating the building components which are
then used to construct a scaled demonstrator of the frame structure. A monitoring system comprising
fiber optic sensors will be implemented to facilitate optimal tracking of the utilization and deformations
of the demonstrator. The ultimate objective of the research project is to provide a base for a national
technical approval/general construction technique permit for the new material combination in order to
meet the requirements for the implementation of the system in railway construction.