Amir Ramezani, Raymond Pepera, Behrouz Shafei
This study investigated the main mechanical, environmental, and economic characteristics of the fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) mixtures that contained polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and alkali-resistant glass (ARG) fibers in a range of dosages. The primary objective was to enhance performance attributes, while assessing each fiber’s impact on sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Various FRC mixtures were designed, including individual and hybrid fiber alternatives, with fiber dosages from 0.125% to 0.500% (by volume). Mechanical properties were evaluated through compressive strength, flexural strength, and residual load-carrying capacity, while microstructural details were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In parallel, a holistic life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed, encompassing production, service life, and end-of-life phases. Economic evaluation then considered initial material costs and long-term maintenance needs under different deterioration scenarios. Based on the wealth of original results, four indices were utilized to integrate mechanical performance, environmental impact, and cost. They included the environmental sustainability index, flexural sustainability index, compressive sustainability index, and economic-mechanical performance index (EMP). The EMP, in particular, enabled a direct evaluation of strength requirements relative to long-term cost implications. Among the tested mixtures, the mixtures that exhibited the highest overall performance were identified, reflecting superior mechanical properties, durability-driven sustainability, and life-cycle cost efficiency. The findings revealed that careful selection of fiber contents (in terms of choice and dosage) can be instrumental in offering proper mixture designs, facilitating their use in applications where long-term performance and environmental considerations are critical.