The study presented here is part of the ambitious CESAREF (Concerted European action on Sustainable Applications of REFractories) doctoral network started in late 2022. The aim of the consortium is to contribute in scientific breakthroughs in refractory area for steel making thanks to transversal competences that can be built from cooperation between academics and industries. The present PhD topic brings together CNRS-IRCER laboratory (France), Vesuvius (Belgium) and Pyrotek (Canada) R&D centers. Over the last decades, the combination of a strong increase in steel production and, at the same time, a strong reduction in refractories consumption during the process has been registered. Although, operative lifetimes of refractories depend on composition and application, their engineering is one of the pivotal actions to tackle waste production. In recent years, due to legislative, geopolitical, and economic constraints, the focus concerning refractories wastes has been shifted to recycling, reuse, and circularity practices. In this context, the application of a phenomenological approach will help to define the most influential parameters (elastic modulus, stress-strain law, thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, fracture energy) on the performances of refractory materials used in tundish for steel continuous casting. Furthermore, the simulation of engineering problems related to refractories through dedicated software such as Abaqus has demonstrated the ability to solve complicate problems and improve refractories performances. Hence, taking into account experimentally derived parameters, through finite element analysis can be possible to individuate materials’ criticalities in function of working lifetime and conditions. This strategy would allow to define the best approach to prevent failure and improve circularity of refractory materials. The aim of the present study is to compare prior- and post- use materials’ properties to model and simulate in-use properties predictions for stronger reliability and possible reuse of refractories by reducing costs and increasing efficiency of the materials.