Balancing the Mechanical Performance and Environmental Sustainability of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

  • Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) can have improved durability and tensile properties, potentially enabling the more efficient use of concrete and lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, systematic quantifications of the environmental impacts of FRC, particularly when paired with changes to mechanical properties and the implications for material longevity, are limited. Herein, an assessment following the life-cycle assessment methodology for four common FRCs was performed, namely, those reinforced with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), steel (ST), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The analysis was bound to a cradle-to-gate scope, and solely virgin fiber material production was considered for the environmental impacts. Coupled changes in compressive and tensile strength, environmental impacts, and the role of material longevity and cost relative to unreinforced concrete were examined. Findings from this work show that, similar to unreinforced concrete, cement remainsFiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) can have improved durability and tensile properties, potentially enabling the more efficient use of concrete and lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, systematic quantifications of the environmental impacts of FRC, particularly when paired with changes to mechanical properties and the implications for material longevity, are limited. Herein, an assessment following the life-cycle assessment methodology for four common FRCs was performed, namely, those reinforced with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), steel (ST), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The analysis was bound to a cradle-to-gate scope, and solely virgin fiber material production was considered for the environmental impacts. Coupled changes in compressive and tensile strength, environmental impacts, and the role of material longevity and cost relative to unreinforced concrete were examined. Findings from this work show that, similar to unreinforced concrete, cement remains a key source of GHG emissions in FRC production. However, in FRCs fibers can drive additional emissions by up to 55%. Notably, PVA and ST led to the highest impacts and costs, which were minimal for inclusions of PP and PET. Yet ST contributed to the greatest benefits in flexural and compressive strengths. When the effects of longevity were integrated, FRC with PP reinforcement could offer desired emissions reductions with minimal increase in use period and cost, but the other fiber reinforcements considered may need to offer longer service life extension to reduce emissions compared with conventional concrete. These results indicate that FRC can enhance mechanical performance, but fiber type selections should be informed by the design life to achieve actual GHG emissions reductions.zeige mehrzeige weniger

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Metadaten
Autor*innen:C. SchultzORCiD, Patrick CunninghamORCiD, J. FanORCiD, S.A. MillerORCiD
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenartikel
Veröffentlichungsform:Verlagsliteratur
Sprache:Englisch
Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch):Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung:2025
Organisationseinheit der BAM:7 Bauwerkssicherheit
7 Bauwerkssicherheit / 7.4 Baustofftechnologie
Verlag:American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Verlagsort:Reston, VA
Jahrgang/Band:37
Ausgabe/Heft:7
Erste Seite:04025178-1
Letzte Seite:04025178-11
DDC-Klassifikation:Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Ingenieurbau
Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik
Freie Schlagwörter:Cement; Concrete; Durability; Fiber-reinforced concrete; Greenhouse gas emissions
Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM:Infrastruktur
Infrastruktur / Green Intelligent Building
Umwelt
Umwelt / Circular Economy
DOI:10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-19454
ISSN:0899-1561
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments:Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access")
Datum der Freischaltung:28.04.2025
Referierte Publikation:Ja
Datum der Eintragung als referierte Publikation:12.09.2025
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