New Research Evaluates Life Cycle Sustainability of Steel

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A recent research study conducted by the University of Wyoming provides an evaluation of life cycle sustainability of two functionally equivalent steel and concrete rural bridges. The study by Michael Barker, Ph.D., P.E., professor of civil and architectural engineering at the University of Wyoming, and research students Sarah Bridges, Ione Chandler and Peyton Smith analyzed the superstructures of the bridges in Whitman County, Washington.

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The sustainability of the two bridges were evaluated and compared based on four criteria. The outcome of the study suggests that concrete bridges result in 26.3% more embodied carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over the lifecycles of the two bridges. Also, it results in consumption of 8.7% more energy and recycling of 17.8% less material. In addition, the concrete bridge has a 23% higher life cycle cost than the steel bridge.

Dan Snyder, director of business development for the American Iron and Steel Institute and director of the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance noted that this is a first attempt to analyze a steel and concrete bridge in a life-cycle sustainability study, and the results may vary when making other bridge comparisons. However, it provides a positive first step toward developing a methodology to analyze future bridges, he added.