ABSTRACT
Carbon steel reinforcement is vulnerable to corrosion, degrading the structure with time, and has large economic implications for aging infrastructures. CFRP is an alternative in reinforced and prestressed concrete, not prone to corrosion. However, its cost is considerably larger than steel, and its mechanical properties enforce different design criteria. Therefore, it is not evident when CFRP is a convenient solution. In this paper, benefits of CFRP reinforcement are investigated in LCC context. An archetype prestressed-concrete bridge is designed with the two types of reinforcement. Two environment scenarios are analyzed, representative of current and increased chloride concentration in coastal regions. The costs investigated include routine inspections, major repairs and users’ affectation. Although requiring less maintenance cost, the design with CFRP has a higher LCC that the steel-reinforced alternative, in the current chloride scenario close to the coast. However, in scenarios of larger chloride exposure, the CFRP solution may be more competitive.
