6. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS DISCUSSION The comparative benchmark developed in this study demonstrates that graphene reinforced GFRP anchors can achieve structural performance comparable to conventional steel systems under a consistent Eurocode 7 aligned design framework. The global Factor of Safety obtained for the composite system (F.S. = 1.5) remains within commonly accepted geotechnical design margins when compared to the steel reference (F.S. = 1.6). The difference does not alter the stabilization mechanism nor the geometry of the critical slip surface. The most significant distinction lies in tensile verification and geometric demand. The required tendon cross sectional area decreases from 106 mm² for steel to 73 mm² for graphene reinforced GFRP, representing a reduction of approximately 31 percent. Despite this reduction, the bond length requirement remains nearly identical, with 3.7 m for steel and 3.8 m for GFRP, confirming equivalent load transfer capacity under the same boundary conditions. From an operational perspective, the 75 percent reduction in material density, 1.83 g/cm³ for GFRP compared to 7.85 g/cm³ for steel, suggests potential advantages in transportation, handling and installation efficiency, particularly in constrained underground environments. In addition, the corrosion resistance and chemical inertness of composite reinforcement directly address one of the primary durability limitations of permanent steel anchoring systems in aggressive hydrogeological conditions. Beyond mechanical efficiency, material optimization also has environmental implications. Conventional steel production is associated with emissions of approximately 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of material. Therefore, reductions in required steel mass at scale may contribute to lowering the embodied carbon of large anchoring programs in mining infrastructure. While a full life cycle assessment is beyond the scope of this study, the presented benchmark indicates that material efficient composite solutions may support decarbonization strategies without compromising geotechnical safety criteria. Although the benchmark is based on a surface slope configuration, the implications for underground mining applications, where durability, accessibility and lifecycle performance are critical, remain particularly relevant. CONCLUSIONS - Graphene reinforced GFRP anchors demonstrate structural feasibility comparable to conventional Freyssinet 500E steel anchors within accepted geotechnical safety margins. - The composite system achieves approximately 31 percent reduction in required cross sectional area and 75 percent reduction in material density while maintaining similar bond length requirements and global stability performance. - The reduction in global Factor of Safety from 1.6 to 1.5 remains within commonly accepted design limits and does not modify the overall stabilization mechanism under the analyzed conditions.
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