A comparative life cycle assessment of recycled tire rubber applications in sustainable earthquake-resistant construction

Traditional construction practices consume significant energy, emit carbon, and generate waste—prompting a shift towards sustainable earthquake-resistant systems. Nonetheless, a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of such systems remains scarce. This research bridges the gap by evaluating the environmental impact of repurposing waste tire rubber and polyurethane-coated rubber (PUcR) for cost-efficient seismic isolation. To this aim, a comparative LCA of conventional concrete slabs, natural soil foundations, rubberized concrete (RuC) slabs, rubber-soil layers, and PUcR-soil layers revealed key insights. Firstly, RuC is proven to be more sustainable than conventional concrete. Secondly, integrating 30 % recycled tire rubber in the foundation soil cut energy use by 153.50 MJ/m ³ and carbon emissions by 30.75 kg CO ₂ eq/m ³. Thirdly, incorporating 30 % waste PUcR in the foundation soil preserved 227.12 MJ/m ³ energy and slashed emissions by 134.76 kg CO ₂ eq/m ³. This underscores the significance of sustainable earthquake-resistant construction approaches and LCA-driven decision-making to bolster conservation and recycling endeavors.