Scholarly record
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF STRUCTURALLY OPTIMIZED GFRP TANKS: A LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT APPROACH SUPPORTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY STRATEGIES
Abstract
Horizontal composite tanks represent critical components in industrial applications where achieving an optimal balance between mechanical performance, material efficiency, and environmental impact is essential. This study investigates the environmental performance of structurally optimized glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) horizontal tanks featuring progressive rib thickness configurations. The composite laminate optimization was carried out through advanced numerical simulations in ANSYS Mechanical 2024 R1, combined with parametric optimization in OptiSlang 2024 R1 to achieve significant weight reduction while ensuring structural integrity. While structural optimization facilitates material savings, this work also evaluates how increased laminate design complexity influences manufacturing feasibility, production cost, and overall environmental footprint. A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using Sphera GaBi and the Ecoinvent 3.9 database to quantify environmental burdens across the full product lifecycle. The findings confirm that appropriately optimized composite structures can deliver notable reductions in environmental impact and material consumption while remaining economically viable, aligning with circular economy goals focused on resource efficiency and reduced environmental burden. This contribution supports the SGEM Conference section -Recycling, Waste Management, and Circular Economy- by demonstrating how structural optimization, eco-design strategies, and performance-driven lightweighting approaches can synergistically enhance the sustainability of large-format wound composite components.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References7
M. A. Sadiq and G. Kovacs, �Optimization of Composite Sandwich Structures: A Review�, Machines, vol. 13, no. 7, p. 536, July 2025, DOI: 10.3390/machines13070536.
X. Mart�nez, J. Pons-Prats, F. Turon, M. Coma, L. G. Barbu, and G. Bugeda, �Multi-Objective Multi-Scale Optimization of Composite Structures, Application to an Aircraft Overhead Locker Made with Bio-Composites�, Mathematics, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 165, Jan. 2023, DOI: 10.3390/math11010165.
A. Zieminska-Stolarska, M. Sobulska, M. Pietrzak, and I. Zbicinski, �Application of Life Cycle Assessment to Analysis of Fibre Composite Manufacturing Technologies in Shipyards Industry�, Processes, vol. 12, no. 3, p. 461, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.3390/ pr12030461. DOI: 10.3390/pr12030461
G. Koronis, A. Silva, and M. Ong, �Comparison of Structural Performance and Environmental Impact of Epoxy Composites Modified by Glass and Flax Fabrics�, Journal of Composites Science, vol. 6, no. 10, p. 284, Oct. 2022, DOI: 10.3390/jcs6100284.
Comparative life cycle assessment of composite structures incorporating uncertainty and global sensitivity analysis�, American Composites Manufacturers Association. Accessed: Nov. 13, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://acmanet. org/ resources/ comparative-life-cycle-assessment-of-composite-structures-incorporating-uncertainty-and-global-sensitivity-analysis/
A. �zdemir and A. �nder, �An environmental life cycle comparison of various sandwich composite panels for railway passenger vehicle applications�, Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, vol. 27, no. 36, pp. 45076�45094, Dec. 2020, DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10352-8.
J. Suer, M. Traverso, and N. J�ger, �Review of Life Cycle Assessments for Steel and Environmental Analysis of Future Steel Production Scenarios�, Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 21, p. 14131, Jan. 2022, DOI: 10.3390/su142114131.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.