11.8. Service Life Design

Try these first

1. 1.

   What do performance-based specifications focus on?

   Hint

   Think about the time period that matters most for concrete.

2. 2.

   Why is life cycle costing important?

   Hint

   Consider all the ways you might spend money on a concrete structure.

3. 3.

   What do performance-based specifications emphasize?

   • Immediate strength
   • Short-term maintenance
   • Long-term behavior

   Hint

   Link specifications with what's most important for the future.

4. 4.

   True or False: Life Cycle Costing only considers initial construction costs.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Remember the full cost picture.

5. 5.

   Evaluate a project that uses standard concrete vs. one with high-performance concrete. Discuss cost implications over 30 years.

   Hint

   Consider maintenance schedules and potential failures.

6. 6.

   Design a strategy to incorporate life cycle costing into a new infrastructure project, including specific examples of evaluations.

   Hint

   Think about all phases from initial planning to long-term operations.