Sustainable Evaluation of Highway Pavement Materials Using Life Cycle Assessment Technique

Abstract

The pursuit of sustainable pavement construction necessitates careful consideration of selecting appropriate materials due to their significant impact on road investments. Therefore, this study aims to analyze and assess the environmental effects of four distinct pavement materials including A main road, Plain concrete (PC), and three equivalent alternative roads: reinforced concrete (RC), fibrous concrete (FRC), and Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). The study assesses various pavement alternatives by considering their cumulative energy demand and damages across different categories. The life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool is used by implementing LCIA ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) V1.07 / World (2010) H/A methodology and Simapro software. A case study of the Cairo-Suez Desert Road in Egypt is selected to apply the study to it. The damages are measured in two categories: human health and ecosystem quality. The results indicate that RC pavement has the highest damage effect in both categories, with values of 94.20 and 36.99 respectively. Both PC and FRC pavements exhibit damage but to a lesser extent. HMA shows a relatively lower damage effect in both categories. These findings can enhance the comprehension of environmental implications associated with various pavement materials, offering valuable insights to decision-makers in the process of selecting sustainable pavement options.