Value engineering analysis of RC roadway bridges assimilating environmental impact

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bridges construction is one of the most challenging industries around the world as it necessitates a lot of experience, equipment and high budgets. Selection process of bridges’ structural system is mainly based on skill, knowledge base and experience that needs specified references helping in this process. There is a crucial need to manipulate a holistic Value e Engineering (VE) framework into the structural analysis/design of roadway bridges taking into consideration construction cost, construction time and environmental impacts. Unfortunately, the reported work on such an important field is still ecologically limited. The present research has two folds: (1) organize survey on VE related to structural-ecological prospective in bridge construction and (2) conduct a parametric study on analysis and design factors influencing VE outputs. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared to determine the extent of VE awareness among stakeholders and to test the controlling parameters. This survey has targeted a focus group of professional engineers in bridge engineering companies satisfying pre-determined characteristics. Setting the main VE parameters, study cases have been accounted for medium to large span simply supported and continuous roadway bridges with several cross sections using particular international code provisions. The VE included Embodied Carbon Emission (ECE) resulting from all activities thus estimating the cost of the carbon capture system. The total cost of each design case is estimated and compared to reach the minimum cost approach, thus enabling to recommend the most efficient structural system for Roadway Bridge. Hence, filling the gap between previous researches and bridge engineering practice.