Multi-Criteria Analysis of a Developed Prefabricated Footing System on Reactive Soil Foundation

Bertrand Teodosio, Francesco Bonacci, Seongwon Seo, Kasun Shanaka Kristombu Baduge and Priyan Mendis
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Bertrand Teodosio: Institute of Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia
Francesco Bonacci: Cardno, Melbourne 3000, Australia
Seongwon Seo: Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
Kasun Shanaka Kristombu Baduge: Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
Priyan Mendis: Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-31

Abstract: The need for advancements in residential construction and the hazard induced by the shrink–swell reactive soil movement prompted the development of the prefabricated footing system of this study, which was assessed and compared to a conventional waffle raft using a multi-criteria analysis. The assessment evaluates the structural performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability using finite element modelling, life cycle cost analysis, and life cycle assessment, respectively. The structural performance of the developed prefabricated system was found to have reduced the deformation and cracking by approximately 40%. However, the cost, GHG emission, and embodied energy were higher in the prefabricated footing system due to the greater required amount of concrete and steel than that of the waffle raft. The cost difference between the two systems can be reduced to as low as 6% when prefabricated systems were installed in a highly reactive sites with large floor areas. The life cycle assessment further observed that the prefabricated footing systems consume up to 21% more energy and up to 18% more GHG emissions. These can significantly be compensated by reusing the developed prefabricated footing system, decreasing the GHG emission and energy consumption by 75–77% and 55–59% with respect to that of the waffle raft.

Keywords: prefabricated footing system; reactive soil foundation; finite element model (FEM); life cycle assessment (LCA); green house gases (GHG); life cycle cost (LCC) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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