Environmental impact and performance evaluation of asphalt pavements: integrating life cycle assessment and the international roughness index

• Ano de defesa: 2024
• Autor(a) principal: Wintruff, Natalia Cavero
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Biblioteca Digitais de Teses e Dissertações da USP
• Palavras-chave em Português: análise do ciclo de vida (ACV); asphalt pavements; desempenho de pavimentos; índice de irregularidade internacional (IRI); international roughness index (IRI); life cycle assessment (LCA); pavement performance; pavimentos asfálticos
• Link de acesso: https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/18/18143/tde-04022025-111658/

 In the pursuit of sustainable infrastructure, environmental assessments have gained significant attention, particularly in regions like Brazil, where road transport dominates the transportation sector. In such contexts, low-emission and long-lasting pavements are essential for achieving sustainability goals. This study employs Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts and performance of various asphalt pavement scenarios. The research examines five distinct pavement designs, which vary in surface layer thickness and base material composition. By analyzing the life cycle of these pavements, from material extraction through construction and maintenance, the study identifies key phases and materials that considerably contribute to environmental degradation and assesses how these factors correlate with long-term pavement performance. The material extraction and transportation phases were major contributors to emissions. Reducing the materials required for construction initially lowers emissions. However, it was observed that this reduction led to more frequent interventions, resulting in higher overall emissions. The study also emphasizes the significant impact of cement, a high-emission material. When used in appropriate ratios, cement can reduce emissions by up to 30% in overall Abiotic Depletion Potential. This effect was noted when comparing a pavement with granular base to one with gravel aggregate treated base, which required fewer interventions due to its increased bearing capacity. The results indicate that pavements demonstrating better performance over a 10-year period, despite having higher initial environmental footprints, can ultimately have lower overall impacts due to fewer required rehabilitation interventions. This research underscores the critical need for a holistic approach in evaluating pavement sustainability, one that balances environmental concerns with the long-term performance and durability of the infrastructure. Integrating LCA with performance metrics such as the IRI (International Roughness Index) provides a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable pavement design, offering valuable insights for policymakers and engineers aiming to develop resilient and environmentally responsible road networks.