Embodied energy and carbon emissions analysis of geosynthetic reinforced soil structures

Abstract

The significant role of geotechnical engineering in achieving sustainable development is often neglected. Geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) technology brings promising prospects for embracing sustainable practices. In this study, the embodied energy (EE) and embodied carbon (EC) of three design options for a hypothetical large retaining structure project in China are investigated. The purposes are (1) to capture the relative impact contributions of the process stages in each design; (2) to determine whether GRS technology has significant merits regarding environmental impact among various structures; (3) to understand the distribution characteristics of the environmental impact indicators of the collected materials; and (4) to compare the difference in environmental impacts caused by geographical factors of carbon coefficient (CC). Results show that the stage of raw material production for various design options has the greatest impact on the environment. GRS technology could reduce the total embodied energy (TEE) and TEC of large retaining structures by an average of 30% and 60%, respectively. The embodied energy coefficient (EEC) and CC values of geosynthetics exhibit significant variety. Recycled steel can drastically reduce its impact on the environment. The results of the assessment can be affected by the spatial variability of CC, but its influence is limited.