LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF JOINTED PLAIN CONCRETE PAVEMENTS WITH GFRP BARS

Tradicional building materials, such as concrete and steel, consume vast amounts of natural resources and energy. Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel bars are a non-corrodible alternative to conventional steel in jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCP). However, in order to promote the same load transfer efficiency between pavement slabs, it is necessary to use a greater number of GFRP bars with a larger diameter. Thus, to analyze FRP’s potential sustainability, a life-cycle assessment of JPCP with steel and GFRP dowels is performed. Finally, GFRP bars are a satisfactory alternative to steel considering the impacts associated with the construction and maintenance of JPC pavements.