Tail-End Evaluation Based on the Cost-Effectiveness of Bridge Life Cycles

• Published in: Sustainability 2024-12, Vol.16 (23), p.10557
• Main Authors: Zhao, Shiyu, Meng, Xiaolin, Bao, Yan, Hu, Liangliang, Li, Jinpei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Bridges; Carbon; Cost analysis; Decision making; Demolition; Economic aspects; Highway construction; Maintenance costs; Monitoring systems; Optimization; Performance evaluation; Repair & maintenance; Sensors
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su162310557

The number of bridges in China is increasing year by year. The contradiction between the declining performance of bridge structures and the increasing traffic volume in China is becoming increasingly prominent, causing a concentrated upsurge in operation and maintenance needs during the service life of the bridges. In accordance with the goal and vision of the comprehensive construction of the Bridge Structural Health Monitoring (BSHM) system, the study of bridge cost-effectiveness now focuses on the installation, operation, and maintenance costs of the BSHM system, the renovation costs of bridge structure repair and maintenance, and the benefits of the BSHM system in assisting in expansion of the service life of bridges. In this study, a new cost-effectiveness framework is proposed that could be used for the operation and maintenance period. The cost-effectiveness framework is constructed from five perspectives: installation, operation, and maintenance costs of the BSHM system; repair and renovation costs during the operation and maintenance period; demolition costs; operation benefits during the operation and maintenance period; and the recovery benefits. The difference between costs and benefits is calculated to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, the service life, and the structural reliability of bridges, in order to provide auxiliary decision making for bridges. A bridge in China is used as an example; the difference between the reliability and operation of the bridge and the maintenance benefits and costs corresponding to different operating times is calculated, and maintenance decision analysis is performed. This can greatly extend the service time of the bridge without major repairs when the bridge reliability meets the requirements. Therefore, the BSHM operation and maintenance cost-effectiveness framework reduces resource waste, reduces operation and maintenance costs, and maximizes resource utilization and benefits, while ensuring the safety of the bridge structure and extending the service life of the bridge.