Justifying Materials Selection for Reinforced Concrete Structures. II: Economic Analysis

Abstract

To optimize value, design engineers often need to make decisions on what materials should be used in a reinforced concrete (RC) bridge structure exposed to potentially corrosive environments. Part I of this paper series provided a methodology by which design engineers can easily identify sensitive variables affecting the service life of RC structures exposed to potentially corrosive environments. However, a material that significantly improves the resistance to corrosion may not add real value if the cost of the material is too high. The costs of materials that extend the service-life are not well established during the design process and designers are often in a quandary on how to select materials that optimize project value. Instead of estimating the costs of these durable materials that enhance the service life, this paper provides a methodology that examines the inverse question: How much more could a RC structure constructed with durable material cost, relative to the cost of the same structure constructed with conventional materials, and still be more economical?