This paper presents an optimum deck and girder system design for minimizing the life-cycle cost(LCC) of steel box girder bridges. The problem of optimum LCC design of steel box girder bridges is formulated as that of minimization of the expected total...
This paper presents an optimum deck and girder system design for minimizing the life-cycle cost(LCC) of steel box girder bridges. The problem of optimum LCC design of steel box girder bridges is formulated as that of minimization of the expected total LCC that consists of initial cost, maintenance cost and expected retrofit costs for strength, deflection and crack. To demonstrate the cost effectiveness of LCC design of steel box girder bridges, the LCC optimum design is compared with conventional design method for steel box girder bridges. From the numerical investigations, it may be positively stated that the optimum design of steel box girder bridges based on LCC will lead to mote rational, economical and safer design.