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The Life-Cycle Costs of Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer Bridge Decks

Published

Author(s)

M A. Ehlen

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are currently being developed and integrated into bridge structures. This report examines the life-cycle cost effectiveness of three FRP bridge decks, using an economic method specifically tailored to comparing new materials like FRPs to more conventional construction materials. The method includes a cost classification scheme for capturing all project-related costs and for comparing in cost terms the design and constructability advantages of different materials. Analysis indicates that one of the FRP decks is life-cycle cost effective for a particular class of bridges and traffic levels.
Citation
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume
11
Issue
3

Keywords

bridge decks, bridge desing, building economics, building technology, economic analysis, FRP composites, high-performance construction materials, life-cycle cost analysis

Citation

Ehlen, M. (1999), The Life-Cycle Costs of Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer Bridge Decks, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860012 (Accessed October 14, 2025)

Issues

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Created August 1, 1999, Updated February 17, 2017
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