Accelerating Decarbonization in Infrastructure Through Hybrid Composite Concrete Reinforcements
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With the deployment of 11,000 km of nonmetallic rebars in the unique Jizan Flood Mitigation Channel project, Saudi Aramco has become a major adopter of composite rebars and a global player in the value chain of nonmetallic technologies for the construction sector. Owing primarily to their corrosion-free nature and their competitive lifecycle costs, fiber reinforced polymer rebars are gaining great deal of attention in regards to the emerging regulations aiming to accelerate the decarbonization of our industry. Saudi Aramco seeks to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s endeavor to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 through the circular carbon economy approach. This entails the development of a unique civil and industrial infrastructure where low carbon construction materials will play a crucial role. While fiber reinforced polymer rebar technologies penetrate the construction sector, their benefit in terms of carbon footprint remains relatively limited compared to steel reinforcements due to their lack of recyclability. In this context, the present work details some recent advancements performed by Saudi Aramco aiming to expand the usage of nonmetallic rebars while improving their carbon and energy footprint. The presented technology consists of a new type of composite rebar comprising several reinforcing fibers and some significant amount of recycled material that constitutes a new step towards the effective decarbonization of the building & construction sector.
