The AFGC (Association Française de Génie Civil), with the sponsoring of the RILEM and the fib, is organising an International Conference on “Numerical Modeling Strategies for Sustainable Concrete Structures” in Aix-en-Provence from 29th May to 1st June, 2012.

Cement is the more used building material constituent, and will
continue to be largely used in the years to come. Its production
generates CO2 emissions.
It is, thus, of primary importance to optimize the use of this
cement in the concrete structures, while checking that these
structures have lifespan compatible with the stakes of the
sustainable development. To take up this challenge, it is
essential to use adapted tools of quantification making it
possible to justify, in a rigorous and reliable way, the strategic
and technical choices adopted.
The numerical methods (finite elements, finite volumes, finite
differences …) constitute a relevant response to this challenge.
They potentially allow, due to a best taken into account of the
rheological, physico-chemical, and mechanical concrete
properties, and of thermo-hydro-mechanics and environmental
boundary conditions on the structures, to optimize these
structures (optimization with respect to time, money, safety,
energy, CO2 emissions, and, more generally, life cycle), in a way
more reliable than the codes and analytical approaches
currently used.
The control of the concretes placing in the formworks, their
durability, their cracking, their shrinkages, and their creeps, with
respect to the sustainable development (evaluation of CO2
emissions, for example) constitute, therefore, the principal
topics of this international conference.
The objective is to join together researchers, engineers,
architects, urbanists, industrials and owners, to exchange and
reflect on the use of these numerical tools and their contribution
with respect to the current stakes of sustainable development.

Website : International Conference on Numerical Modeling Strategies for Sustainable Concrete Structure | SSCS 2012 | Aix en Provence | France