Comparative study of different bridge concepts based on lifecycle cost analyses and life-cycle assessment

Sustainable development has gained increasing interest in the bridge industry in the recent years, with special regard to economic and environmental impacts. In line with this, holistic approaches considering all costs and environmental impacts in a life-cycle perspective are needed. The aim of this study is to conduct a life-cycle cost analysis and life-cycle assessment of four different bridge design alternatives; a conventional steel-concrete composite bridge and three steel bridges with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) deck. The results reveal that two design alternatives for steel-FRP bridges are competitive in terms of costs and environmental impacts compared with the conventional bridge option.