Life-cycle costing of metallic structures

Structural material selection has traditionally been based on initial material cost. However, growing pressure on the construction industry to consider the longer-term financial and environmental implications of projects is encouraging a more holistic view. Thus, materials with higher initial costs, but which offer cost savings over the life cycle of a structure, are gaining increasing recognition. The life-cycle costs of structures of two such metallic materials, namely aluminium alloy and stainless steel, are compared with those of ordinary structural carbon steel in the present study. Two structural applications—a typical office building and a bridge—are analysed, while offshore applications are briefly discussed. The ratio of initial material cost per tonne was assumed to be 1·0:2·5:4·0 (carbon steel:aluminium alloy:stainless steel). Following a preliminary structural design to current European design standards taking due account of the material densities and structural properties (principally strengt...

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