Embodied Energy and Cost Optimization of RC Beam under Blast Load

Abstract

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures not only consume a lot of resources but also cause continuing pollution. However, sustainable design could make RC structures more environmental‐friendly. One important index for environmental impact assessment is embodied energy. The aim of the present study is to optimize the embodied energy and the cost of RC beam subjected to the blast loads. First, a general optimization procedure was described. Then, the optimization procedure was used to optimize the embodied energy and the cost of RC beams. Optimization results of the cost and the embodied energy were compared. It was found that the optimization results were influenced by the cost ratio n C (ratio of price of steel to price of concrete per unit volume) and the embodied energy ratio n E (ratio of embodied energy of steel to embodied energy of concrete per unit volume). An optimal design that minimized both embodied energy and cost simultaneously was obtained if values of n C and n E were very close.