WEIGHT VERSUS COST: LIGHT-WEIGHT MATERIALS IN CABLE-STAYED BRIDGES. TECHNICAL NOTE

The weight advantage of lightweight construction materials such as steel or fiber-reinforced plastics is usually accompanied by the disadvantage of greater costs when compared with materials such as reinforced concrete. This cost disadvantage makes lightweight materials uneconomical for many kinds of structures, because the advantage of reduced weight cannot efficiently be transformed into a cost benefit. For certain kinds of structures, however, weight reduction at the right locations conveys cost savings large enough to compensate for the higher material cost. Typical examples are high-rise buildings and long-span bridges, where lightweight materials can result in overall cost savings when used in the upper floors of the building or in the midspan region of the bridge. The weight-versus-cost problem is analytically investigated for a fan-type, cable-stayed bridge. A breakeven point is determined that indicates the extension of the main-span center part that should be made of lightweight material to minimize overall costs. Results of example calculations are presented.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339445
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Starossek, U
• Publication Date: 1998-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 1359-62
• Serial:
  • Journal of Structural Engineering
  • Volume: 124
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9445
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/loi/jsendh

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Cable stayed bridges; Cost effectiveness; Costs; Fiber reinforced plastics; Lightweight materials; Long span bridges; Reinforced concrete; Savings; Steel; Weight
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Economics; Finance; Highways; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00758585
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: DTFH-61-96-C-00029, 09450207, R717
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 24 1999 12:00AM