Life-cycle cost assessment of conventional and self-centering steel frames in seismic zones: An extra focus on environmental impacts

This study develops a life-cycle cost assessment framework that integrates seismic loss and environmental costs (carbon pricing). The analysis covers initial construction, operation and maintenance, seismic loss, end-of-life costs, environmental costs, and recycling benefits, demonstrated through a case study of five 9-story steel frames, including buckling-restrained braced frame (BRBF), conventional concentrically braced frame (CBF), and three self-centering braced frames (SCBFs) employing various self-centering technologies. Combining fragility and damage assessments, the probability of exceedance of seismic loss at a given ground motion intensity measures (IM) can be obtained by Monte Carlo simulations. Then, the total seismic loss of the structure over the lifespan is obtained based on site-specific hazard curves. Results show that seismic losses for the buildings range from $5.75 million to $12.3 million, with embodied carbon (EC) emissions from 1291 to 4167 tons. SCBFs have higher initial costs and emissions than conventional frames but reduce seismic-related emissions by up to 61.6 %. Seismic and environmental costs contribute significantly to the life-cycle cost, and all SCBFs outperform conventional frames in terms of collapse probability, post-earthquake losses, and emissions. Material recycling could reduce emissions by up to 1374.9 tons. •Develop a framework integrating seismic environmental and economic impacts.•Stochastic EC emission calculation methods for SMA self-centering structures are proposed.•Uncertainties of seismic loss and EC emissions are considered.•The gap between environmental impacts and seismic resilience is filled.