Integrating fibre-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete in functionally graded pavements: a sustainability perspective

This study investigates the integration of fibre-reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (FRRAC) in functionally graded concrete (FGC) slabs for rigid pavements from a sustainability perspective. A sustainability analysis model was developed to evaluate the environmental, economic and social performance of various concrete slab alternatives. A case study of rigid pavements was conducted to compare these alternatives, with a focus on FGC slabs composed of Portland cement concrete (PCC) and FRRAC. The results reveal that while FGC slabs with FRRAC achieve the second-highest score for environmental sustainability, their overall sustainability index is limited by lower economic and social scores. The key factors influencing sustainability include construction and repair/maintenance costs, which account for over 14.3% of the global weight, while admixture and connecting element consumption have minimal impacts. This study highlights the potential for FGC slabs to become an environmentally friendly solution for rigid pavements through process optimizations, such as improving construction methods and reducing transportation distances for recycled aggregates.