Environmental impact of steel/concrete composite bridges and reinforced concrete bridges: a comparative analysis through Life Cycle Assessment

Impacto Ambiental de pontes mistas de aço/concreto e pontes de concreto armado: uma análise comparative por meio da Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida

Abstract

Climate change presents a challenge for the construction industry to develop modern building materials that must not only meet functional performance criteria but also reduce the environmental impact associated with their production. In this context, the primary objective of this study is to apply the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique to the superstructures of steel/concrete composite bridges and reinforced concrete bridges, aiming to identify potential environmental impacts and opportunities for enhancing environmental performance, especially concerning the use of materials and services. The study was based on the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 guidelines and employed the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD); Evah OzLCI2019 database; data collected by the Construction Environmental Performance Information System (SIDAC); OpenLCA software version 2.0, and the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method. The results indicated that, in general, reinforced concrete bridges had a lower environmental impact compared to composite bridges, with the exception of some indicators such as freshwater eutrophication and ionizing radiation. Therefore, the use of steel in composite bridges has proven to be a significant source of environmental impact, especially when used as a substitute for concrete.

Keywords
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Bridges; Environmental impact