Sustainability and economic evaluation of non-metallic fiber and reed fiber concrete materials in Belarus
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Published in Vol. 1 No. 3 (2026) of Sustainable Management Review.
Sustainable Management Review (SMR) is a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed international journal dedicated to advancing research on sustainable management and sustainable development across disciplines. SMR welcomes sustainability-oriented studies from diverse academic fields, including but not limited to economics and management, public administration, culture, education, sociology, communication, law, environmental studies, biology, chemistry, materials science, engineering, water resources management, and other STEM-related areas. The journal encourages scholars to examine the application, transformation, and development of sustainability principles from organizational, social, technological, ecological, and institutional perspectives, thereby providing theoretical support and practical insights for more responsible, resilient, and future-oriented models of management and development.
ISSN3106-5805 eISSN3106-5813
About the JournalAbstract
To address the issues of weak tensile strength, susceptibility to nanocracks, and insufficient durability in ordinary cement-based concrete, carbon nanofiber concrete and alkali-modified reed fiber concrete were prepared based on local Belarusian building material resources. The fiber content ranged from 0% to 6%. 28-day compressive and tensile mechanical tests were conducted. The environmental load of the two types of fiber-reinforced concrete was quantified using the ISO 14040/14044 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) system. Durability performance was compared using data from dry-wet cycles, carbonation, and sulfate attack. Mechanical test results show that both types of fibers can improve the mechanical properties of concrete. At the optimal nanofiber content of 4%, the compressive failure load was 52.1 kN and the tensile failure load was 5.3 kN, representing increases of approximately 15% and 25% respectively compared to the baseline concrete. At the optimal reed fiber content of 4%, the compressive strength was 50.7 kN and the tensile strength was 5.9 kN, representing increases of approximately 10% and 17.5% respectively. Using 1 m³ of concrete as a functional unit, LCA (Limited Carbon Concrete) calculated the Global Warming Potential (GWP), Primary Energy Consumption (PED), and Acidification Potential (AP). Reed fiber significantly reduces life-cycle carbon emissions due to its plant carbon sequestration effect; nanofibers offer more prominent reinforcement, but their raw material preparation consumes more energy and has a higher environmental impact. Durability analysis shows that carbon nanofiber concrete exhibits superior fatigue resistance, erosion resistance, and carbonation resistance compared to reed fiber concrete. Reed fiber is a natural and renewable material with significant advantages in thermal insulation, energy saving, and low carbon emissions. Considering overall mechanical, durability, and environmental benefits, carbon nanofiber modified concrete is the preferred choice for high-durability, high-load-bearing projects; reed fiber concrete is suitable for low-carbon green civil buildings and thermal insulation projects, providing data support for the development and engineering application of sustainable fiber concrete in Belarus.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Xianpeng Wang, Fanmiao Gao, Yifan Wang, Junshu Wang, Xiaohong Guo
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