Feasibility assessment of self-deicing concrete pavements with recycled CFRP reinforcement: Environmental and mechanical performance

Abstract

Electrically conductive concrete (ECC) with carbonaceous conductive elements has been studied for self-deicing pavements; however, carbon fiber production is costly and resource-intensive. Therefore, mechanically recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) scraps from plane manufacturing were evaluated as reinforcing and conductive elements for ECC.Evaluation of mechanical properties showed that 5%Vol rCFRP-ECC had approximately 20% higher flexural strength and twofold greater absorbed fracture energy than the reference plain concrete. In a -15 °C environment, this ECC melted ice at a heating rate of 0.05 °C/min and a 3.8 kWh/m2 power consumption.A life cycle assessment modeling of winter maintenance operations for one snowstorm in the Sierra Nevada Mountain regions in California showed that rCFRP-ECC and two other ECCs from the literature have a significantly higher global warming potential from energy consumption than snowplowing, sanding, and salting. Nevertheless, important advantages of ECCs in reducing chloride contamination in water and soil, corrosion in vehicles and infrastructure, and stronger and more durable fiber-reinforced infrastructure materials should be considered in decision-making.