LCA and Sustainability Assessment for Selecting Deep Foundation System for High-Rise Buildings

This study focuses on selecting the most sustainable foundation system based on life-cycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability assessment of alternate deep foundation systems, specifically piles and caissons, over their design life. Sustainability evaluation of alternate deep foundations is performed using triple bottom line—environmental, economic, and social impacts—and by considering various life-cycle stages that cover raw material extractions, construction, maintenance, and demolition efforts. For design purposes, subsurface soils, factor of safety against bearing capacity and allowable settlement for both foundations are considered to be the same. Technical designs of both systems are developed based on bearing capacity, both primary and secondary settlements and structural integrity. The LCA is conducted to assess potential environmental impacts, such as global warming, acidification, and smog associated with the concrete and steel production, along with the diesel used for transportation and on-site machinery due to mineral extraction and refining, and required energy inputs for processing. Subsequently, economic evaluation and social impact analyses are performed and the results of analyses are compared. For the site-specific conditions considered, it is concluded that a caisson is more sustainable foundation option than a pile foundation in terms of environmental, economic, and social aspects over its design life.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784478745.057
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784478745
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Giri, Rajiv K
  • Reddy, Krishna R
• Conference:
  • International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure 2014
  • Location: Long Beach California, United States
  • Date: 2014-11-6 to 2014-11-8
• Publication Date: 2014-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: pp 621-630
• Monograph Title: ICSI 2014: Creating Infrastructure for a Sustainable World

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic impacts; Environmental impacts; Foundations; Life cycle analysis; Multistory structures; Social impacts; Sustainable development
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01549056
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784478745
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Dec 29 2014 11:10AM