Optimizing high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites for improving bridge resilience and sustainability

Abstract

High-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) have shown benefits in improving infrastructure resilience but often compromises sustainability due to the higher upfront cost and carbon footprint compared with conventional concrete. This paper presents a framework to optimize HPFRCC for improving bridge resilience and sustainability. This research considers ultra-high-performance concrete and strain-hardening cementitious composite featuring high mechanical properties, ductility, and damage tolerance. This paper establishes links between resilience, sustainability, mechanical properties of HPFRCC, and HPFRCC mixtures. The investigated mechanical properties include the first crack stress, ultimate tensile strength, and ultimate tensile strain. With the established links, sustainability is maximized while resilience is retained by optimizing HPFRCC mixtures. The framework is implemented into a case study of a bridge that collapsed during construction. Results show that use of HPFRCC enhances resilience, and HPFRCC mixtures can be engineered to minimize the material cost and carbon footprint while retaining high resilience. ● A practical framework is presented to improve bridge resilience and sustainability. ● High-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites are tailored in the framework. ● Effects of mechanical strength and ductility of materials on bridge resilience are evaluated. ● Material cost and carbon footprint are minimized while bridge resilience is improved.