Economic Life-Cycle Analysis of High-Performance Reinforced Concrete Systems

A substantial amount of research has been performed on the use of high performance construction materials and their effects on the anticipated frequency of maintenance and time to repair or replacement. However, practical implementation of this work has been restricted due to the difficulty of evaluating the cost-effectiveness and the life-cycle costs and benefits of alternative approaches in the preliminary design stages of projects, when decisions about materials are commonly made. The lack of simple methods for making quick life-cycle economic comparisons typically results in the use of conventional materials because they are well-known, although high-performance materials might actually be more cost-effective. This paper presents simple deterministic and probabilistic methodologies for evaluating comparative life-cycle costs for reinforced concrete bridge structures using conventional and high performance construction materials.