Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Recent investigations have shown that the mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete can be enhanced using fly ash (FA) and structural fibres. However, the financial viability of combining these products in concrete has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, this study assessed...

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Main Authors: Abdelrahman Abushanab, Vanissorn Vimonsatit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1167
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author Abdelrahman Abushanab
Vanissorn Vimonsatit
author_facet Abdelrahman Abushanab
Vanissorn Vimonsatit
author_sort Abdelrahman Abushanab
collection DOAJ
description Recent investigations have shown that the mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete can be enhanced using fly ash (FA) and structural fibres. However, the financial viability of combining these products in concrete has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, this study assessed the long-term cost-effectiveness of using recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), FA, and basalt fibres (BF) simultaneously in high-rise reinforced concrete buildings exposed to corrosive environments. A life cycle cost analysis was conducted using five variables, two design alternatives, and twelve design scenarios. The analysis followed ISO 15686–5:2017 using a discount rate of 0.5% and a construction-to-material cost ratio of 150%. The components considered in the life cycle cost model included materials, construction, maintenance, and disposal. The results demonstrated that employing RCA, FA, and BF in combination in concrete buildings located near the ocean achieved approximately 21% cost savings compared to buildings made with conventional materials over a lifespan of 50 years. The maintenance component exhibited the most significant cost savings, with an average reduction of about 76% in the maintenance costs for all buildings utilising RCA, FA, and BF. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the proposed building with RCA, FA, and BF remained more cost-effective than the conventional concrete building, even with an increasing RCA-to-natural-aggregate price ratio, construction-to-material cost ratio, and increasing the discount rate to 200%, 250%, and 10%, respectively.
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spelling doaj-art-f35ca8a73f4540898bf7fb8a73a9ca0a2025-08-20T02:17:00ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-04-01157116710.3390/buildings15071167Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost AnalysisAbdelrahman Abushanab0Vanissorn Vimonsatit1School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2113, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2113, AustraliaRecent investigations have shown that the mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concrete can be enhanced using fly ash (FA) and structural fibres. However, the financial viability of combining these products in concrete has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, this study assessed the long-term cost-effectiveness of using recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), FA, and basalt fibres (BF) simultaneously in high-rise reinforced concrete buildings exposed to corrosive environments. A life cycle cost analysis was conducted using five variables, two design alternatives, and twelve design scenarios. The analysis followed ISO 15686–5:2017 using a discount rate of 0.5% and a construction-to-material cost ratio of 150%. The components considered in the life cycle cost model included materials, construction, maintenance, and disposal. The results demonstrated that employing RCA, FA, and BF in combination in concrete buildings located near the ocean achieved approximately 21% cost savings compared to buildings made with conventional materials over a lifespan of 50 years. The maintenance component exhibited the most significant cost savings, with an average reduction of about 76% in the maintenance costs for all buildings utilising RCA, FA, and BF. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the proposed building with RCA, FA, and BF remained more cost-effective than the conventional concrete building, even with an increasing RCA-to-natural-aggregate price ratio, construction-to-material cost ratio, and increasing the discount rate to 200%, 250%, and 10%, respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1167concreterecycled concrete aggregatesfly ashfibreslife cycle cost analysisbasalt
spellingShingle Abdelrahman Abushanab
Vanissorn Vimonsatit
Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Buildings
concrete
recycled concrete aggregates
fly ash
fibres
life cycle cost analysis
basalt
title Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis
title_full Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis
title_fullStr Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis
title_short Cost-Effectiveness of Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete Structures with Fly Ash and Basalt Fibres Under Corrosion: A Life Cycle Cost Analysis
title_sort cost effectiveness of reinforced recycled aggregate concrete structures with fly ash and basalt fibres under corrosion a life cycle cost analysis
topic concrete
recycled concrete aggregates
fly ash
fibres
life cycle cost analysis
basalt
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/7/1167
work_keys_str_mv AT abdelrahmanabushanab costeffectivenessofreinforcedrecycledaggregateconcretestructureswithflyashandbasaltfibresundercorrosionalifecyclecostanalysis
AT vanissornvimonsatit costeffectivenessofreinforcedrecycledaggregateconcretestructureswithflyashandbasaltfibresundercorrosionalifecyclecostanalysis