Life-Cycle Costs of New Construction Materials.
Life-Cycle Costs of New Construction Materials.
(1563 K)
Ehlen, M. A.
Journal of Infrastructure Systems, Vol. 3, No. 4,
129-133, December 1997.
Keywords:
construction materials; life cycle cost analysis;
building economics; economic analysis; FRP composites;
high performance construction materials
Abstract:
New high-performance construction materials are being
developed for transportation structures. Economic
methods are needed for assessing the life-cycle cost
advantages and disadvantages of these new materials
relative to conventional meterials. This paper provides
a step-by-step, project-based approach based on life
cycle costing, minimum performance requirements, and a
cost classification scheme that organizes a construction
material's life cycle cost advantages and disadvantages.
A case study example of the method analyzes the cost
effectiveness of fiber-reinforced-polymer bridge decks
relative to reinforced concrete decks.
