CSZ-Darmstadt congratulates Dr.-Ing. Saied Kashkash on the successful defense of his dissertation. As a project engineer in bridge construction at CSZ, he completed his doctorate at the University of Pécs in Hungary under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Orban Zoltan. His research deals with sustainable recycled concrete, which uses recycled coarse aggregate, and provides valuable insights for concrete structures. In a short interview, he gives an insight into his work and shows the close link between science and practice.

Innovations in sustainable bridge construction
Dr. Kashkash’s dissertation is dedicated to the development of concrete made with recycled coarse aggregate. The central question is: How can recycled concrete be optimized to achieve the same performance as conventional concrete while providing environmental benefits?
One of the most important findings of his research is that high-strength concrete can be produced from recycled aggregate, which leads to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions. Particularly exciting: by storing the recycled material for longer periods, CO₂ is naturally bound through natural carbonation. This opens up great potential for more sustainable construction.

Connection between science and practice
As a project engineer in bridge construction, Dr. Kashkash deals with the durability and resistance of concrete on a daily basis. His research makes an important contribution to the selective deconstruction planning of structures at the end of their service life. The aim is not only to recycle concrete demolition materials, but also to use them specifically for structural applications. This not only conserves resources, but also reduces the environmental impact of the construction industry.

Challenges and thanks
The biggest challenge on the way to his doctorate was balancing research, family and career. CSZ supported him by allowing him to reduce his weekly working hours in order to devote more time to his research.
We congratulate Dr. Kashkash on this great success and look forward to pursuing his innovative approaches to sustainable construction in practice. His work impressively demonstrates how scientific progress and practical engineering can go hand in hand.

Title of the dissertation:
“Sustainable Recycled Structural Concrete Design Incorporating Recycled Coarse Aggregate”