Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional, Glass Powder, and Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete and Mortar
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 20, Issue 4
Abstract
This study compares the cradle-to-gate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), energy use, water use, and potential environmental toxicity of conventional (Conv), glass powder (GP), and alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete and mortar. The comparison is based on of concrete/mortar with similar 28-day compressive strength, so the same concrete/mortar member with same dimensions may be manufactured from Conv, GP, or AAS materials and used for same applications. The result shows that compared to a 35-MPa Conv concrete, a 35-MPa GP concrete has, on average, 19% lower GHGs, 17% less energy, 14% less water, and 14–21% lower environmental toxicity. A 35-MPa AAS concrete has 73% lower GHGs, 43% less energy, 25% less water, and 22–94% lower effects for all environmental toxicity categories except an 72% higher ecotoxicity effect. Environmental impact reductions are also found for using GP as a cement replacement in concrete with lower strengths and replacing cement with GP or AAS in mortars with different strengths. The paper concludes that using alternative cementitious materials GP and AAS as cement replacements could significantly reduce the environmental impacts of cement-based products.
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Acknowledgments
The writers wish to thank Hamed Maraghechi and Christopher Cartwright of Pennsylvania State University for providing helpful information regarding concrete and mortar compositions and Bill Shaker of Potters Industries Inc.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grants No. CMMI-1030708 and CMMI-1255847. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
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Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 20 • Issue 4 • December 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 19, 2013
Accepted: Jan 22, 2014
Published online: Feb 27, 2014
Discussion open until: Jul 27, 2014
Published in print: Dec 1, 2014
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