CO2 Emissions in Structural Applications: Comparative Study of GFRP and Steel in Structural Components and Systems

Overview

This study presents a comparative life-cycle assessment of CO2 emissions between glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and steel across diverse structural applications and systems. The research addresses a documented knowledge gap regarding the sustainability performance of FRP composites under practical loading conditions relative to conventional materials. The analysis employed multiple metrics including total CO2 emissions, unit service life CO2 emissions, and unit volume CO2 emissions, with sensitivity analysis to account for variability in primary input parameters.

Methods and approach

The study employed a comparative life-cycle assessment framework to evaluate CO2 emissions across GFRP and steel structural applications. Total CO2 emissions were calculated for various structural components and systems, with unit performance measures normalized by service life and material volume. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess robustness across variations in primary input data. The methodology incorporated practical loading conditions and long-term structural performance considerations to ensure relevance across diverse applications.

Key Findings

GFRP demonstrated lower total CO2 emissions than steel in the majority of structural applications examined. Unit life-cycle CO2 emission ratios revealed favorable sustainability profiles for GFRP structural components and systems when evaluated over extended service periods. Unit volume CO2 emission ratios further supported GFRP's sustainability advantage, though meaningful comparisons require consideration of material use efficiency, transportation logistics, and spatial optimization. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of GFRP's sustainability advantage across most structural applications and systems relative to steel.

Implications

The findings provide quantitative evidence supporting the adoption of GFRP in infrastructure applications from a carbon emissions perspective. Explicit GFRP-to-steel ratios for total CO2 emissions and unit performance metrics furnish data-driven guidance for engineering and design practice. The research establishes that GFRP sustainability benefits become increasingly pronounced over extended service life, suggesting particular suitability for long-duration structural applications.