Innovating for a Greener Future: Steel Fiber Reinforcement as a Key to Low-Carbon Concrete Construction

Authors: Ahmad Mandalawi
Journal:  Emirati Journal of Civil Engineering and Applications
Volume: Vol 4 Issue 1
Keywords: Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC), Embodied Carbon, Sustainable Construction, Environmental Product Declaration, Structural Optimization, High Ductile Concrete, Crack Control

Abstract:

The construction industry in GCC experiences continuous challenges in achieving sustainability targets toward net zero emissions by 2030 in alignment with the universal sustainable development goals. Concrete structures specifically contribute to most upfront carbon dioxide emissions that resulted from the clinker production of ordinary cement which generates high amounts of carbon emissions and uses high rates of energy which is against the sustainable development initiatives to lower the energy consumption in GCC. Having concrete is weak in resisting tensile stresses, most concrete applications are reinforced with steel mesh, and the steel reinforcement has high environmental product declared values as the process of production is energy intensive. Steel fiber concrete is strongly introduced as a sustainable solution and alternative to the steel reinforcement in concrete. Its high ability to heal and control the cracks in concrete by enhancing the ductility of concrete. Considering its lower declared values of carbon emissions compared to the normal steel mesh, the steel fiber has positioned itself as a promising solution to decarbonize different applications such as residential slab on grades. Additionally, the hybrid effect of adding steel fiber with steel reinforcement as combined increases the tensile resistance of concrete lowering the required amount of basic steel reinforcement to control crack widths. Steel fiber also improves the shear resistance of concrete which significantly reduces the element thickness under high concentrations of loads giving more alternative to architectural intents, cutting cost of materials and lowering the upfront carbon emissions.
This paper investigates the environmental impacts of using steel fiber in residential slab on grades presenting a case study of project (Expo the Valley) in UAE where the steel fiber Dramix® had been utilized to optimize the thickness of slab on grades and replaced the steel mesh saving significant levels of carbon dioxide emissions. The findings clearly demonstrate that steel fiber can significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions considering its effects in design optimization and its low Environmental Product Declared Values.