Performance based life-cycle cost assessment of composites in construction

In the construction industry the acceptance of composite materials has been conspicuously slow, considering the many advantages that the application of composite materials have to offer over conventional materials. The main reason for this delay is the high initial cost of composites compared to conventional materials and the limited information on fife-cycle cost. The existing knowledgebase available from 20 years of aerospace experience in composite materials, although valid, is not directly applicable for civil engineering needs. To further enhance the application of fiber reinforced composites in construction, it will be important to assess the life-cycle costs of replacing conventional construction material with advanced composites. However, the lack of reference data or maintenance records for advanced composite applications in construction makes it difficult to make a credible assessment for fife-cycle costs. The only reference data available is limited performance data from recent applications, initial cost, and the material properties. Therefore, a practical method is required that would allow probable assessment of life-cycle cost of advanced composite applications in construction in relation to conventional materials. Where life-cycle cost is computed at various discount factors while integrating the available reference data. This paper presents a framework for a probable life cycle cost assessment model for composite materials in construction. The specifics of the model are illustrated through an example.