A comparative life cycle assessment of recycled tire rubber applications in sustainable earthquake-resistant construction

• Published in: Resources, conservation and recycling Vol. 211; p. 107860
• Main Authors: Akhtar, Ahmed Yar, Tsang, Hing-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Carbon emissions; Life cycle assessment (LCA); Recycling; Sustainable; Waste tire rubber; Life cycle assessment (LCA); Recycling; Sustainable; Carbon emissions; Waste tire rubber
• ISSN: 0921-3449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107860

•Life cycle assessment for sustainable earthquake-resistant construction.•Recycling waste tire rubber and PU-coated tire rubber for building foundations.•RuC as a sustainable alternative to conventional concrete foundations.•153.50 MJ/m3 energy conservation in the case of RSM-30 % layer.•227.12 MJ/m3 energy, 134.76 kg CO2 eq/m3 conservation in the case of PUcR-30 %. Traditional construction practices consume significant energy, emit carbon, and generate waste—prompting a shift towards sustainable earthquake-resistant systems. Nonetheless, a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of such systems remains scarce. This research bridges the gap by evaluating the environmental impact of repurposing waste tire rubber and polyurethane-coated rubber (PUcR) for cost-efficient seismic isolation. To this aim, a comparative LCA of conventional concrete slabs, natural soil foundations, rubberized concrete (RuC) slabs, rubber-soil layers, and PUcR-soil layers revealed key insights. Firstly, RuC is proven to be more sustainable than conventional concrete. Secondly, integrating 30 % recycled tire rubber in the foundation soil cut energy use by 153.50 MJ/m3 and carbon emissions by 30.75 kg CO2 eq/m3. Thirdly, incorporating 30 % waste PUcR in the foundation soil preserved 227.12 MJ/m3 energy and slashed emissions by 134.76 kg CO2 eq/m3. This underscores the significance of sustainable earthquake-resistant construction approaches and LCA-driven decision-making to bolster conservation and recycling endeavors. [Display omitted]