Sustainability Enhancement and Evaluation of a Concrete Dam Using Recycling
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methodology
2.1. Design of Concrete Gravity Dams
2.2. LCA Method
2.3. CFA Method
2.4. LCC Method
3. Model Description
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Construction Stage
4.1.1. Environmental Impacts
4.1.2. LCC Results of the Construction Stage
4.2. The Effects of Demolition
4.3. The Effects of Recycling
4.3.1. CFA Results
4.3.2. LCC Results of Recycling
4.4. The Effects of Compressive Strength of the Concrete
5. Conclusions
- Cement is the largest contributor to the carbon footprint of concrete due to its energy-intensive production. Aggregates and admixtures contribute smaller but meaningful emissions, while transportation and batching also add to the total footprint.
- The findings highlight the significant environmental impact of concrete production and fuel usage, which are the primary contributors to carbon emissions in construction of 1 m width of the dam, with total CO2 eq emissions reaching 355 ton/m. Concrete alone accounts for over 305 ton CO2 eq/m. The project’s non-renewable energy consumption exceeds 5,700,000 MJ/m, largely driven by concrete and fuel.
- Climate change and human health rank as the top environmental concerns, with concrete consistently emerging as the dominant factor in these categories. These findings reinforce the importance of addressing material production and energy consumption to mitigate environmental impacts, particularly in large-scale construction projects such as dam construction.
- The total estimated cost for the dam’s construction phase is approximately USD 0.195 million, with concrete being the most significant contributor, accounting for USD 0.0959 million. Excavation is the second-largest cost at USD 0.0384 million, followed by oil usage at USD 0.0270 million. The overall cost for the decommissioning of the dam is estimated at around USD 0.138 million. Integrating the recycling of concrete and steel leads to an augmentation in the overall cost of dam demolition. To illustrate, if all the employed steel and concrete are recycled, the total cost for the dam’s demolition escalates to USD 0.142 million.
- The carbon footprint resulting from the decommissioning process, excluding recycling, was assessed using CFA and amounted to around 735 ton CO2 eq/m. The outcomes underscore the considerable influence of material recycling on the carbon footprint, demonstrating a notable 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling concrete as RCA not only reduces waste and conserves natural resources, but also significantly lowers the carbon footprint by decreasing the demand for virgin aggregate extraction. Recycled steel, similarly, can be repurposed in various construction applications, promoting a circular economy approach. These practices contribute to environmental and economic benefits by minimizing landfill usage, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and aligning with sustainable development goals.
- While lower compressive strength requires more concrete, its total carbon footprint remains lower due to its reduced cement content. Conversely, increasing compressive strength reduces concrete volume, but significantly raises carbon emissions, as cement consumption is the primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Author Contributions
Funding
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
CFA | Carbon footprint analysis |
GHGs | Greenhouse gases |
LCA | Life cycle assessment |
LCC | Life cycle costs |
LCI | Life cycle inventory |
RCA | Recycled concrete aggregate |
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Material or Operation | Value (ton) | Transportation (km) |
---|---|---|
Concrete | 2142 | 30 |
Steel and rebar | 0.35 | 550 |
Blasting | 4.14 | 620 |
Fuel oil | 66.3 | 150 |
Wood | 27 | 150 |
Earth and rock excavation | 192 | 25 |
Construction Material or Operation | Unit Cost ($) |
---|---|
Concrete (USD/ton) | 45 |
Wood (USD/ton) | 345 |
Fuel oil (USD/ton) | 407 |
Steel and Rebar (USD/ton) | 1050 |
Earth and rock excavation (USD/ton) | 200 |
Transportation (USD/ton.km) | 0.25 |
Blasting materials (USD/ton) | 599 |
Landfill (USD/ton) | 23 |
Recycling concrete (USD/ton) | 55 |
Impact Category | Total |
---|---|
Carcinogens (ton C2H3Cl eq) | 2.405 |
Non-carcinogens (ton C2H3Cl eq) | 5.059 |
Respiratory inorganics (ton PM2.5 eq) | 0.269 |
Ionizing radiation (Bq C-14 eq) | 2,384,000 |
Ozone layer depletion (ton CFC-11 eq) | 0.00006 |
Respiratory organics (ton C2H4 eq) | 0.126 |
Aquatic ecotoxicity (ton TEG water) | 58,727 |
Terrestrial ecotoxicity (ton TEG soil) | 16,074 |
Terrestrial acid (ton SO2 eq) | 6.253 |
Land occupation (m2org.arable) | 62,759 |
Aquatic acidification (ton SO2 eq) | 1.348 |
Aquatic eutrophication (ton PO4 P-lim) | 0.042 |
Global warming (ton CO2 eq) | 355 |
Non-renewable energy (MJ primary) | 5,700,000 |
Mineral extraction (MJ surplus) | 5215 |
Damage Category | Total |
---|---|
Human health (DALY) | 0.210 |
Ecosystem quality (PDF m2 r) | 205,000 |
Climate change (kg CO2 eq) | 355 |
Resources (MJ primary) | 5,700,000 |
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Mostafaei, H.; Chamasemani, N.F.; Mashayekhi, M.; Hamzehkolaei, N.S.; Santos, P. Sustainability Enhancement and Evaluation of a Concrete Dam Using Recycling. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 2479. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052479
Mostafaei H, Chamasemani NF, Mashayekhi M, Hamzehkolaei NS, Santos P. Sustainability Enhancement and Evaluation of a Concrete Dam Using Recycling. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(5):2479. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052479
Chicago/Turabian StyleMostafaei, Hasan, Niyousha Fallah Chamasemani, Mohammadreza Mashayekhi, Naser Safaeian Hamzehkolaei, and Paulo Santos. 2025. "Sustainability Enhancement and Evaluation of a Concrete Dam Using Recycling" Applied Sciences 15, no. 5: 2479. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052479
APA StyleMostafaei, H., Chamasemani, N. F., Mashayekhi, M., Hamzehkolaei, N. S., & Santos, P. (2025). Sustainability Enhancement and Evaluation of a Concrete Dam Using Recycling. Applied Sciences, 15(5), 2479. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052479