A Framework for Concrete Mixture Selection Based on Life Cycle Cost (LCC)

Abstract

Life cycle cost (LCC) of buildings in the construction sector is an integrated method which is nowadays, the most common method to estimate the whole building cost through the life cycle. The LCC in construction projects is an economic decision analysis process, which assists designers and decision-makers on investments in new construction. Early design decisions determine the building's overall efficacy. Depending on local data from the construction field for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), concrete is the most used construction material with about 25% of the construction cost. This research aims at developing a cost model and database for three different concrete mixtures, including all cost elements from construction, operation, maintenance, and end of life. The three concrete mixtures considered are a standard concrete mixture, green concrete with Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) composition, and green concrete with fly ash composition. The LCC allows improving the overall performance of buildings and other structures, particularly in the early phases of the project. Furthermore, the typically used construction cost reduction strategy should be replaced by LCC optimization to achieve sustainable design. In order to gain the maximum value for money, all costs incurred throughout the entire life span must be included. To conclude, LCC analysis can monitor the cost performance throughout the economic lifetime, control the design development within the capital and operational cost budgets in the early phases of projects.