Life-cycle cost assessment of climate change adaptation measures to minimise carbonation-induced corrosion risks

The paper describes a reliability-based approach that predicts the probability of corrosion initiation and damage (severe cracking) for RC structures subjected to corrosion resulting from concrete carbonation when atmospheric CO₂ concentration and temperature increases with time over the next 100 years based on the latest IPCC report for climate change. Increasing design cover is a suggested climate change adaptation strategy. A life-cycle cost analysis is then conducted that considers costs associated with extra design cover and expected maintenance/repairs for typical RC structures and elements over the next 100 years considering several IPCC atmospheric CO₂ emission scenarios. If the proposed increases in design cover produce a minimum life-cycle cost then increasing design cover will be a costeffective measure to mitigate the effects of carbonation-induced corrosion damage. It was found that life-cycle costs for the current situation (‘do nothing’ – use existing covers) are lower than life-cycle costs for proposed increases in design cover. This suggests that although enhanced greenhouse conditions will lead to increased carbonation-induced corrosion of RC structures it may not be cost-effective to increase design covers.