Life-Cycle Cost and Life-Cycle Assessment of a Monumental Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Reinforced Concrete Structure
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148, Issue 9
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the economic and environmental appeal of the world’s largest glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) RC flood mitigation channel, which was built in Jazan (Saudi Arabia). The Jazan flood mitigation channel (JFMC) is a 21.3-km-long channel completed recently in the southwest area of Saudi Arabia on the outskirts of the new Jazan Economic City (JEC), which is an advanced industrial zone and encompasses an important network of high-end facilities. A deterministic approach is applied to a comparative life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis, and sensitivity analyses are used to predict the impact of uncertain factors, such as discount rate and maintenance periods, on the LCC analysis of JFMC. Additionally, the environmental credentials of the GFRP-RC channel are investigated through a life-cycle assessment (LCA) analysis. The LCA analysis is performed from cradle to gate and from cradle to grave, specifically from product stage (or resource extraction) to end of life (EoL). The JFMC is designed for a 100-year service life, and the LCC and LCA analysis performed are in compliance with the international standards ISO 15686-5, ISO 14040:2006, and ISO 14044:2006. The obtained economic and environmental results are compared to the results obtained from an epoxy-coated steel (ECS)-RC channel alternative that was originally designed. The results show the significant life-cycle benefits of the preferred GFRP-RC alternative from both an economic and environmental perspective, advancing the body of knowledge available for LCC and LCA of flood control and mitigation concrete channels reinforced with FRP materials.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors kindly acknowledge Al-Yamama Company for Trading and Contracting (AYC) for their tremendous effort in providing cost and scheduling data and Saudi Aramco Consulting Services Department (CSD) and the Saudi Aramco project management team for Jazan Complex Projects (PMT-JCP) for providing access to design plans. The data provided by Mr. Jihad Sakr, Senior Project Manager (AYC), and Mr. Eduardo A. Villen Salan, Member PMT-JCP, are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also acknowledge the three GFRP suppliers Pultron (Dubai), Galen (Russia), and Dextra (China) for the invaluable transportation data provided.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148 • Issue 9 • September 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 23, 2021
Accepted: Apr 14, 2022
Published online: Jul 5, 2022
Published in print: Sep 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Dec 5, 2022
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Business management
- Channels (waterway)
- Concrete
- Economic factors
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Fiber reinforced polymer
- Fibers
- Glass fibers
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic structures
- Life cycles
- Materials engineering
- Polymer
- Practice and Profession
- Reinforced concrete
- Sensitivity analysis
- Synthetic materials
- Water and water resources
- Waterways
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