Comparative study of frame-corewall and frame tube structural systems based on environmental cost

摘要

Arising from people's concern on global warming, structural engineers have to pay close attention to the environmental cost component in their structural designs. The structural framework contributes about 20% of the total emissions of the building in the life cycle according to a study in the United Kingdom. In the actual design process, there is no effective method of calculating the environmental cost for structural engineers and structural engineers ignore environmental effects of the structure at most times. This paper introduces the environmental cost index of embodied carbon as well as research and engineering applications. The comprehensive structural system selection method proposed by the paper, which combines life cycle assessment method, Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE) database and abatement model, considers both economic and environmental costs that take emission reduction cost into account. The method is applied to a high-rise building in Xi'an to compare structural schemes of frame-corewall and frame tube based on environmental cost, and conclusion is drawn that structural system of frame tube is better than the frame-corewall one when emission reduction cost is considered. This paper provides not only a reference for similar projects to compare different structural systems in the comprehensive perspectives of environment and economy, but also a guide for structural engineers to contribute to a more sustainable building and environment.