Study on Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel Bridges for Life-Cycle Cost Model

Bridges play a crucial role in connecting two places. Therefore, it is an important subject for concerned agencies to maintain a bridge's functionality and safety after its completion. As we know, steel bridges possess the advantages of light weight, high strength, and high ductility. However, the corrosion problems caused by aging of the coating surface of steel bridges affect structural safety and increase the cost of maintenance at operation stage. Currently, many bridges have already induced huge costs for their repair and maintenance before reaching their designed life ends This shows a lack of technique and quality of bridge design and management. This paper compares the life-cycle costs of the traditional paint coating method and that of the hot-dip galvanization method on steel bridges. From a short-term cost perspective, the paint coating method is more cost effective, because its unit cost is lower. However, from a life-cycle cost perspective, hot-dip galvanization is more cost effective, because itdoes not require maintenance for a long period of time. By applying the concept of life cycle in bridge construction, maintenance cost could be lowered. Therefore, it is worthwhile to look into its potential.