Advanced Bridge Solutions with Low Life-Cycle Costs

Abstract

<p>Today’s bridge construction projects face new challenges. Public, regulators and authorities demand new structures which are cost effective during their planning, execution, lifetime and dismantling. This translates into a higher relevance to the life cycle costs, and the so-called external costs associated with the execution and maintenance of the structure. A recent independent study has shown that choosing steel sheet pile abutments over the traditional concrete ones leads to a reduction of up to 15% the economic impact during the service life of the structure. The combination of sheet piles with either hot-dip galvanized or weathering-steel rolled sections can further reduce the life cycle costs. The durability of steel and composite bridges can be enhanced by using these alternative protection systems, as they offer crucial advantages over traditional coating systems when considering the bridge’s entire life cycle; They do not need any maintenance.</p>