Evaluation of bridge structures
Rising CO2 emissions, scarcity of resources and the associated climate change require a change in our day-to-day working. At INROS LACKNER, we are dealing with this intensively. Our working group for “sustainable construction” researches and documents relevant information and shares knowledge throughout the company.
One current topic is the life cycle assessment of bridge structures. Compared to building construction, there are no firmly defined sustainability assessment systems with limit values for resource and energy consumption in bridge construction. Using the example of realised bridge construction projects, the working group has dealt with the topic of life cycle assessment of bridge structures and passes this knowledge on to employees in internal workshops on “Life cycle assessment in bridge construction”. The quantity calculations from the preliminary and design planning serve as the basis in each case. The results of the workshops provide an initial overview of the consumption of various planned bridge construction projects and highlight potential for optimisation.
The warming potential and resource consumption of renewable primary energy over the life cycle A-C (Cradle to Grave) and life cycle A-D (Cradle to Cradle) were analysed, graphically represented and evaluated in relation to the spans of the bridges. The results show a linear relationship between the span width and the ecological characteristics. This can be negatively influenced, for example, by difficult site characteristics and an as yet unexploited optimisation potential of the superstructure cross-section or positively influenced by a high recycling potential of the selected construction material. In comparison to building construction, an assessment should be made on a site-specific basis.
The existing database of the ecological characteristics of structures is being continuously expanded in order to further optimise future planning of structures on the basis of reference values.