LCA and LCC analysis applied to reinforcement strategies under marine exposure

Abstract

Residential buildings located in marine environments are exposed to aggressive conditions that accelerate the corrosion of steel reinforcement, representing one of the main causes of premature deterioration and increased maintenance costs throughout the service life of buildings. Despite this, structural reinforcement systems are commonly selected based primarily on structural resistance and initial construction cost, without integrating long-term environmental and economic evaluations during the design phase.This study analyses the influence of alternative reinforcement strategies on the environmental and economic performance of a residential building designed as a reinforced concrete structure. Three scenarios are defined (1) conventional steel reinforcement, (2) full replacement with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement, and (3) a hybrid strategy based on selective use of CFRP reinforcement in structural elements exposed to marine conditions.A combined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) methodology is applied considering service life horizons of 50, 75 and 100 years. Structural equivalence between steel and CFRP reinforcement is established in terms of load-bearing capacity, allowing significant reduction of reinforcement mass in composite-based solutions.Results demonstrate that decisions taken during early design stages influence both accumulated environmental and long-term economic stability. The study proposes LCA and LCC as active decision-support tools capable of integrating durability considerations into architectural and structural design processes in coastal environments.