- Author
- Ehlen, M. A.
- Title
- Life-Cycle Costs of New Construction Materials.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- 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.