2026-06-10T20:47:19Zhttps://riubu.ubu.es/oai/request

oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/118252026-06-10T00:05:33Zcom_10259_6171com_10259_5086com_10259_2604col_10259_6172

Revilla Cuesta, Víctor Manso Morato, Javier Espinosa González, Ana Belén Skaf Revenga, Marta 2026-06-09T10:54:38Z 2026-06-09T10:54:38Z 2026-05 0301-4797 1095-8630 https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11825 10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130075 The recycling and valorization of decommissioned wind turbine blades represent a pressing environmental challenge. This study explores a recycling route in which the blades were not selectively crushed, thus yielding Wind Turbine Blade Waste (WTBW) composed of balsa wood, polymers, and fibers and microfibers from Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). This by-product was subsequently incorporated as a partial replacement (20% by volume) of natural aggregates in concrete. The fresh, mechanical, deformational, and sustainability performance of the resulting concrete was evaluated. 20% WTBW inclusion slightly reduced workability, though concrete maintained a slump class S2 thank empirical adjustment of water and plasticizer contents, in principle ensuring placement by conventional vibration. Mechanical properties were generally reduced due to the weak particles in WTBW. Nevertheless, flexural strength was preserved (5.59 MPa) owing to the three-dimensional reinforcement of the GFRP fibers. Such fiber network also enhanced post-failure performance, doubling the absorbed energy under bending and promoting more ductile failure modes characterized by reduced crack width and absence of surface spalling. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a proper orientation and crack stitching of GFRP microfibers, which also contributed to this improvement. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment showed reductions of approximately 6% in both abiotic depletion potential for fossil fuels and global warming potential, both in total terms and per unit of strength or absorbed energy under bending. These results, statistically validated by an analysis of variance, indicate that concrete incorporating 20% WTBW could, in theory, be sustainably used in elements with reduced mechanical requirements and predominantly bending stresses. This research work was supported by grant TED2021-129715B-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR; grant PID2023-146642OB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ERDF/EU; grant FPU21/04364 funded by MICIU; grants UIC-231 and BU033P23 funded by the Junta de Castilla y Le´on (Regional Government) and ERDF/EU; and grant SUCONS, Y135.GI funded by the University of Burgos. application/pdf eng Elsevier Journal of Environmental Management. 2026, V. 410, art. 130075 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130075 Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Concrete Wind turbine blade Glass fiber-reinforced polymer Mechanical property Energy absorption Life cycle assessment Aerogeneradores-Aspectos ambientales Residuos industriales-Reciclado Wind turbines-Environmental aspects Factory and trade waste-Recycling Technical feasibility of adding 20% wind turbine blade waste to concrete: Fresh, mechanical, deformational, and sustainability assessment info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Journal of Environmental Management 410