Life-Cycle Performance of Civil Structure and Infrastructure Systems: Survey

Structural engineering is undergoing a profound change toward a life-cycle-oriented design philosophy. An effort is ongoing within SEI/ASCE to promote the transition toward this new design paradigm by using life-cycle cost analysis in conjunction with the Grand Challenge of reducing life-cycle costs of civil infrastructure projects by 50% by 2025. A Special Project approved by the SEI Technical Activities Division Executive Committee is part of this effort and includes a survey on the life-cycle performance of civil structure and infrastructure systems. The main results of the survey are presented by addressing life-cycle concepts and methods, deterioration and damage evaluation, life-cycle performance indicators, inspection and maintenance procedures, life-cycle cost analysis, and implementation in design practice. These results are expected to complement information on the state-of-research and -practice, promote a better understanding of life-cycle concepts in the structural engineering community, and foster methodologies and tools to incorporate life-cycle concepts into structural design codes and standards.