Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of CFRP Reinforced Concrete Bridges

This paper presents a life cycle cost analysis of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforced concrete highway bridges. This study shows that despite the higher initial construction cost of CFRP reinforced bridges, they can be cost effective when compared to traditional steel reinforced bridges. The analysis considers the cost items of initial construction, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and demolition activities and the associated user costs as determined by traffic volume, speed, operation and crashes. The analysis is performed for a 100-year service life. The cost information has been obtained from the literature, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Michigan Department of Transportation (DOT). The most cost efficient alternative for side-by-side box beam bridges was a medium span CFRP bridge located in a high traffic area. Depending on traffic volume and bridge geometry, a probabilistic analysis revealed that there is greater than a 95% probability that the CFRP reinforced bridge will become the least expensive option between 20 and 40 years of service. The break-even year for the CFRP reinforced bridge is typically at the time of the first major repair activity, a shallow deck overlay, on the steel reinforced bridge.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Jensen, Elin Alstrup
  • Eamon, Christopher
  • Shi, Xiuwei
  • Matsagar, Vasant
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2010-1-10 to 2010-1-14
• Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: TRB 89th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbon fibers; Cost effectiveness; Fiber reinforced polymers; Life cycle analysis; Material reinforcement; Reinforced concrete bridges; Steel bridges; Structures
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01151262
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 10-1103
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 26 2010 9:06AM