Lifecycle assessment analysis of recycled concrete aggregate incorporating fly ash and hemp fiber

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 523 - 534, 30.09.2025

Seda Nur Alkan , Gamze Doğdu Yücetürk , Özkan Şengül

https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1538648

Abstract

The critical roles of recycling are increasing depending on depleted natural resources and its devastating consequences. Concrete has been one of the most used building materials for many years to response the basic need of human beings for shelter. The studies on the recycling of concrete are crucial to minimize negative effects of both the high amount of energy consumed during the production phase and the limited recycling opportunities after destruction. Considering the amount of construction and demolition waste (CDW) after the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye, it is clear that recycling concrete (RC) may make a positive contribution to environmental sustainability and natural resources usage. In addition, as a result of the ongoing urban transformation projects throughout Türkiye, especially in Istanbul, there is a need to recycle CDW, the majority of which consists of concrete. This paper examines the equivalent CO2 emissions of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) incorporation of various proportion fly ash and hemp fiber based on previous studies by applying the Excel-based GreenConcrete LCA software developed at the University of California Berkeley Campus (UC Berkeley). As a result of the investigations, it is seen that the use of RCA, which is generated in large quantities both as a result of earthquakes and urban transformation projects, reflects positively on the environmental impacts in the LCA analysis. In addition, the use of concrete mixtures that contribute to the recycling of wastes such as fly ash and hemp fiber used as admixtures contributes to reducing the environmental damage of these wastes and improving the concrete content such as thermal and structural performances.

Keywords

Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) , fly ash , hemp fiber , lifecycle assessment analysis (LCA) , recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) , Türkiye

References

• H. Dahanni, A. Ventura, L. Le Guen, M. Dauvergne, A. Orcesi and C. Cremona, “Life cycle assessment of cement: Are existing data and models relevant to assess the cement industry's climate change mitigation strategies? A literature review,” Construction and Building Materials, 411, 134415, 2024.
• S. Fernando, C. Gunasekara, D.W. Law, , M. C. M. Nasvi, S. Setunge and R. Dissanayake, “Life cycle assessment and cost analysis of fly ash–rice husk ash blended alkali-activated concrete,” Journal of environmental management, 295, 113140, 2021.
• The PwC Türkiye, Available: https://www.pwc.com.tr/dunyada-ve-turkiyede-cimento-sektoru, (accessed 11 July 2024)
• TÜRKÇİMENTO, Available: https://www.turkcimento.org.tr/tr/haber_detay/turkcimento-67-nci-yilini-kutluyor, (accessed 12 July 2024)
• P.K. Mehta, P. K. and P. Monterio. Concrete: Microstructure, Properties, and Materials. Berkeley: McGraw-Hill. 2006.
• The PwC Türkiye, Available: https://www.sanayi.gov.tr/assets/pdf/birimler/turkiye-cimento-sektoru-icin-dusuk-karbonlu-yol-haritasi.pdf, (accessed 11 July 2024)
• Türkiye Sera Gazı Envanteri, 1990-2021, Available: https://enerji.gov.tr//Media/Dizin/EVCED/tr/%C3%87evreVe%C4%B0klim/%C4%B0klimDe%C4%9Fi%C5%9Fikli%C4%9Fi/UlusalSeraGaz%C4%B1EmisyonEnvanteri/Belgeler/Ek-1.pdf, (accessed 12 July 2024)
• G. Kara, A. İbiç and E. Yağcıoğlu, “Çimento sektöründen kaynaklanan sera gazı emisyonları,” Ulusal Çevre Bilimleri Araştırma Dergisi, Vol. 1 (2), pp. 87–90, 2018.
• H.Z. Aligholi and A.K. Yıldırım, “Properties of recycled aggregates and their effects on concrete,” International Journal of Engineering Science and Application, Vol. 7 (3), pp. 48-55, 2023.
• C. A. İpekçi, N. Coşgun and T. T. Karadayı, “İnşaat Sektöründe Geri Kazanılmış Malzeme Kullanımının Sürdürülebilirlik Açısından Önemi,” TÜBAV Bilim Dergisi, Vol. 10(2), 43-50, 2017.
• M. Behera, S.K. Bhattacharyya, A.K. Minocha, R. Deoliya, S. Maiti, “Recycled aggregate from C&D waste & its use in concrete – A breakthrough towards sustainability in construction sector: A review,” Construction and Building Materials, 68, pp. 501-516, 2014.
• B.A. Tayeh, D.M. Al Saffar and R. Alyousef, “The Utilization of Recycled Aggregate in High Performance Concrete: A Review,” Journal of Materials Research and Technology, Vol. 9(4), pp. 8469-8481, 2020. [CrossRef]
• F. de Andrade Salgado and F. de Andrade Silva, “Recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste towards an application on structural concrete: A review,” Journal of Building Engineering, Vol. 52 (2022) 104452, 2022. [CrossRef]
• S. Ektaş, “Beton atıklarının asfalt betonu üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesi,” M. Eng. Thesis, Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi, Eskişehir, Türkiye, 2011.
• M. Vural, “Bina beton atıklarının karayollarında bitümlü temelde agrega olarak kullanılabilirliğinin araştırılması,” M. Eng. Thesis, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Isparta, Türkiye, 2019.
• D. Yılmaz, “Kentsel dönüşüm sürecinde yıkılan binalardan dolayı ortaya çıkan beton atıklarının granüler yol tabakasında agrega olarak kullanımı,” M. Eng. Thesis, Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Antalya, Türkiye, 2019.
• Ö. Savaş, “Atık betonların geri kazanımı,” M. Eng. Thesis, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Isparta, Türkiye, 2002.
• D.D. Altınışık, “Sürdürülebilirlik kavramı bağlamında geri kazanılmış agregalı beton,” PhD Thesis, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2013.
• S. İnce, “Utilization of recycled concrete in structural members,” M. Eng. Thesis, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2015.
• İ. Sarıbaş, “Geri dönüşüm agregası içeren çevreci betonun yapısal eleman üretiminde kullanılması,” PhD Thesis, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2018.
• J. Pacheco and J. de Brito, “Recycled Aggregates Produced from Construction and DemolitionWaste for Structural Concrete: Constituents, Properties and Production,” Materials, 2021, 14, 5748, 2021. [CrossRef]
• H. Hosseınnezhad, “Beton geri dönüşüm iri agregasının karakterizasyonu, iyileştirilmesi ve beton üretiminde kullanılması,” PhD Thesis. Ege Üniversitesi, İzmir, Türkiye, 2022.
• M. Limbachiya, M.S.Meddah and Y.Ouchagour, “Use of recycled concrete aggregate in fly-ash concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 27 (1), pp. 439-449, 2012. [CrossRef]
• P. Saravanakumar and G. Dhinakaran, “Strength characteristics of high-volume fly ash–based recycled aggregate concrete,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 25(8), pp. 1127-1133, 2012. [CrossRef]
• S. Kou and C. Poon, “Long-term mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete prepared with the incorporation of fly ash,” Cement & Concrete Composites, Vol. 37 (2013), pp. 12–19, 2013. [CrossRef]
• R. Kurad, J.D. Silvestre, J. de Brito and H. Ahmed, “Effect of incorporation of high volume of recycled concrete aggregates and fly ash on the strength and global warming potential of concrete,” Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 166, 10 November 2017, pp. 485-502, 2017. [CrossRef]
• B. Ali, L.A. Qureshi, M.A. Nawaz and H.M.U. Aslam, “Combined ınfluence of fly ash and recycled coarse aggregates on strength and economic performance of concrete,” Civil Engineering Journal, Vol. 5 (4), pp. 832-844, 2019. [CrossRef]
• O. Şimşek, H. Pourghadri Sefidehkhan and H.S. Gökçe, “Performance of fly ash-blended Portland cement concrete developed by using fine or coarse recycled concrete aggregate,” Construction and Building Materials, 357, 129431, 2022. [CrossRef]
• L. Zhang, D. Ding, J. Zhao, G. Zhou and Z. Wang, “mixture design and mechanical properties of recycled mortar and fully recycled aggregate concrete incorporated with fly ash,” Materials, Vol. 15(22), 8143, 2022. [CrossRef]
• İ. Kılıç, “Geri dönüştürülmüş atık betonların bazı fiziksel ve mekanik özelliklerinin katkı kullanımı ile iyileştirilmesi,” M. Eng. Thesis, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Isparta, Türkiye, 2006.
• B. Erdal, “Geri kazanılmış agrega ile üretilen polipropilen lif katkılı betonların özellikleri,” M. Eng. Thesis, Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2011.
• S. Kou, C. Poon and F. Agrela, “Comparisons of natural and recycled aggregate concretes prepared with the addition of different mineral admixtures,” Cement & Concrete Composites, Vol. 33 (2011), pp. 788–795, 2011. [CrossRef]
• Ö.Ö Sofyanlı, “Silis dumanı katkılı geri kazanılmış agregalı betonların özelliklerinin incelenmesi,” M. Eng. Thesis, Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2015.
• O.C. Boyacı, “Geri dönüştürülmüş beton agregası içeren betonların özelikleri,” M. Eng. Thesis, Ege Üniversitesi, İzmir, Türkiye, 2018.
• M. Aybastı, “Metakaolinin geri dönüştürülmüş agregalı betonların özelliklerine etkisi,” M. Eng. Thesis, Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Trabzon, Türkiye, 2020.
• M.R.A. Albanna, “Investigation the strength of recycled concrete with recycled aggregate and glass fiber in building structure application,” M. Eng. Thesis, Altınbaş Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2023.
• O. Yavan, “Geosentetik donatılı duvarlarda geri dolgu malzemesi olarak beton atıklarının kullanım,” PhD Thesis, İstanbul Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2023.
• E. Awwad, M. Mabsout, B. Hamad, M.T. Farran and H. Khatib, “Studies on fiber-reinforced concrete using industrial hemp fibers,” Construction and Building Materials, 35, pp. 710-717, 2012.
• S. Ghosn and B. Hamad, “Durability Evaluation of Hemp Fibers and Recycled Aggregates Concrete,” in XV International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components DBMC 2020, Barcelona C. Serrat, J.R. Casas and V. Gibert (Eds), 2020.
• S. Ghosn, N. Cherkawi and B. Hamad, “Studies on Hemp and Recycled Aggregate Concrete,” International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, Vol. 14 (54), 2020. [CrossRef]
• S. Ghosn, B. Hamad and E. Awwad, “Structural and life cycle assessments of recycled aggregate concrete beams incorporating industrial hemp fibers,” Structural Concrete, Vol. 24 (6), pp. 7742–58, 2023. [CrossRef]
• G. Doğdu and S.N. Alkan, “Deprem sonrası oluşan inşaat ve yıkıntı atıklarının değerlendirilmesi: 6 Şubat 2023 Kahramanmaraş Depremleri,” Artvin Çoruh Üniversitesi Mühendislik ve Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, Vol. 1 (1), pp. 38-50, 2023.
• H. Sezgin, S. C. Duru and C. Candan, “Evaluation of acoustic performance of hemp and cotton fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites,” Uludağ Üniversitesi Mühendislik Fakültesi Dergisi, Vol. 27(1), 151-162, 2022.
• N. Asghari and A. M. Memari, “State of the Art Review of Attributes and Mechanical Properties of Hempcrete,” Biomass, Vol. 4(1), 65-91, 2024.
• F. Ahmed, M. Z. Islam, M. S. Mahmud, M. E. Sarker and M. R.slam, M. R., “Hemp as a potential raw material toward a sustainable world: A review,” Heliyon, Vol. 8(1), 2022.
• W. Xing, V.W. Tam, K.N. Le, J.L. Hao and J. Wang, J., “Life cycle assessment of recycled aggregate concrete on its environmental impacts: A critical review,” Construction and Building Materials, 317, 125950, 2022.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Life Cycle Assessment: Principles and Practice, EPA/600/R-06/060, May 2006, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 2006.
• P. Yılmaz, Available: https://webdosya.csb.gov.tr/db/dongusel/icerikler/yasam-dongusu-anal-z--yda-ned-r__tr-20231213163833.pdf, (accessed 10 July 2024)
• G.N. Demirer, Available: https://rec.org.tr/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/yda.pdf, (accessed 10 July 2024)
• Özdemir, “Yaşam Döngüsü Değerlendirmesi Ve Sürdürülebilirlik İlişkisi Bağlaminda Sosyal Yaşam Döngüsü Değerlendirmesinin (S-Lca) Yeri,” Eskişehir Teknik Üniversitesi Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi B-Teorik Bilimler, Vol. 7 (2), pp. 166-183, 2019.
• A.P. Gursel and A. Horvath, “GreenConcrete LCA Tool,” Berkeley, 2012.
• S.A. Miller, “The role of data variability and uncertainty in the probability of mitigating environmental impacts from cement and concrete,” Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 16 (5), 054053, 2021.
• Witte and N. Garg, “Quantifying the global warming potential of low carbon concrete mixes: Comparison of existing life cycle analysis tools,” Case Studies in Construction Materials, Vol. 20, 2024, e02832
• P. Gürsel, “Life-Cycle Assessment of Concrete: Decision-Support Tool and Case Study Application,” PhD Thesis, University of California. Berkeley, USA, 2014.
• P. Gürsel, and C. Ostertag, “Life‐Cycle Assessment of High‐Strength Concrete Mixtures with Copper Slag as Sand Replacement,” Advances in civil engineering, Vol. 2019(1), 6815348, 2019.
• P. Gürsel, H. Maryman and C. Ostertag, “A life-cycle approach to environmental, mechanical, and durability properties of “green” concrete mixes with rice husk ash,” Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 823-836, 2016.
• M. Tangüler, P. Gürsel and Ç. Meral, “Türkiye’de uçucu küllü betonlar için yaşam döngüsü analizi,” in Ulusal Beton Kongresi, pp. 431-441, 2015.
• Türkiye Elektrik İletim A.Ş (TEİAŞ), Available: https://www.teias.gov.tr/turkiye-elektrik-uretim-iletim-istatistikleri, (accessed 11 July 2024)
• EVÇED Planlama ve Denetim Daire Başkanlığı, Available: https://enerjiverimliligi.enerji.gov.tr/template/dist/pdf/2021%20Y%C4%B1l%C4%B1%20%C3%87imento%20Sekt%C3%B6r%C3%BC%20K%C4%B1yaslama%20Raporu%20Y%C3%B6netici%20%C3%96zeti.pdf, (accessed 11 July 2024)
• Ö. Babalık, “Geri dönüştürülmüş agrega kullanımının çevresel etkilerinin yaşam döngüsü değerlendirme (YDD) yöntemi ile değerlendirmesi,” M. Eng. Thesis, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, İstanbul, Türkiye, 2022.
• https://www.milliyet.com.tr/ekonomi/sifir-atik-katkisiyla-kentsel-donusum-7112299, (accessed 25 July 2024)