“Standard for Structural Design and Calculation of Reinforced Masonry Buildings（Draft）” was published by Ar chitectural Institute of Japan in March 2021. Reinforced concrete masonry is called RM structure from the acronym of Reinforced Masonry, and is a hybrid structure of masonry structure and reinforced concrete structure. The RM structure building consists of RM bearing walls, RM wall beams, reinforced concrete slabs and foundations. It has the same structural form as the reinforced concrete boxed-shaped wall building, and is a structure and construction method with high earthquake resistance, durability, and workability. This report outlines this draft standard.

A study on the influence of various properties of concrete on salt scaling was conducted using ordinary Portland cement (N) and blast furnace slag cement type B (BB). In the case of air entrainment by AE agent, the amount of scaling in the concrete using N was smaller than that in the concrete using BB at the same water-cement ratio, indicating that the difference was due to the type of cement. As compressive strength, tensile strength, static modulus of elasticity, air-void spacing factor, coefficient of linear expansion, and freezable water content are unlikely to be major factors, it is possible that the ease of water movement may influence the amount of scaling.

The effect of the use of waste by the cement industry on the extension of the life of final disposal sites has been described by the Japan Cement Association. However, this effect is considered not to have been evaluated accurately because the type of final disposal site and the influence of domestic demand were not taken into consideration. Therefore, a study was conducted to more accurately estimate the effect of the cement industry on extending the remaining life of final disposal sites and to clearly show its contribution. As a result, it was estimated that if the cement industry were to not use waste, the remaining life of controlled typed landfills would decrease from 25 years to 7 years, indicating the significant cont ribution of the cement industry to the life extension of final disposal sites.