An Overview of Composites as Construction Materials for the Development of Sustainable Structures

There are numerous environmental impacts associated with the construction industry because it consumes significant energy and other resources. The design and construction of civil structures such as residential buildings require several construction materials. This paper presents an overview of sustainable composite materials for construction projects such as buildings, factories, public structures and offshore structures. The construction materials that are used to produce structural elements, or build houses, as well as other structures include composites and conventional materials. New construction technologies using composite materials, have been developed in the construction sector to promote sustainability. The advantages of using composites as construction materials over traditional materials are highlighted in this paper. There are increasing implementation of composite materials on construction sites as they incorporate fewer materials, light-weight materials, newer designs and time-saving materials. Also, composite materials offer a promising option when it comes to architecture and sustainable construction, as they guarantee high performance. Thus, this paper provides an overview of composites as construction materials for the development of sustainable structures in the construction industry with some recommendations given. This review is to enhance policies for industry application of composites geared towards sustainability.