journal article·2026-05-10Open access

A Multi-objective Optimization-based Novel Design Framework for Permanent Formwork-integrated Reinforced Concrete Beams balancing Structural, Economic, and Environmental Criteria

Hoang Nam Phan, Minh Hai Nguyen, Cong Chanh Doan, Manh Hung Ho, Viet Hai Do

Abstract

The use of precast concrete permanent formwork systems in reinforced concrete (RC) construction can deliver meaningful benefits only when their design is optimized by balancing structural, economic, and environmental objectives. This study proposes a multi-objective optimization framework for RC beams with permanent formwork, simultaneously considering flexural performance, material cost, and CO2 emissions. A case study is conducted in which key geometric and material parameters are treated as variables and the results are compared with those of reference RC beams using reusable steel formwork. Parametric and sensitivity analyses reveal trade-offs among cracking resistance, flexural capacity, cost, and emissions, with formwork thickness, concrete strength, and reinforcement ratio identified as dominant factors. The multi-objective optimized solutions achieve up to 250% higher cracking moment and over 30% increases in yield and ultimate capacities while maintaining comparable or lower material cost and CO2 emissions than reference beams.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials · BIM and Construction Integration · Topology Optimization in Engineering

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

The University of Danang - University of Science and Technology, 54 Nguyen Luong Bang, Danang City, Vietnam.

College of Engineering and Technology, Tra Vinh University, Vinh Long, Vietnam.

References (37)

Show source-provided references
1. 1) Asdrubali, F., Grazieschi, G., Roncone, M., Thiebat, F., & Carbonaro, C. (2023). Sustainability of building materials: Embodied energy and embodied carbon of masonry. Energies, 16(4), 1846.10.3390/en16041846 ↗
2. 2) AzariJafari, H., Rangelov, M., Gregory, J., & Kirchain, R. (2023). Suitability of EPDs for supporting life cycle and comparative analysis of concrete mixtures. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(19), 7321-7327.10.1021/acs.est.2c05697 ↗
3. 3) Babaei, M., & Mollayi, M. (2016). Multi-objective optimization of reinforced concrete frames using NSGA-II algorithm. Engineering Structures and Technologies, 8(4), 157-164.10.3846/2029882X.2016.1250230 ↗
4. 4) Cabeza, L. F., Barreneche, C., Miró, L., Morera, J. M., Bartolí, E., & Fernández, A. I. (2013). Low carbon and low embodied energy materials in buildings: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 23, 536-542.10.1016/j.rser.2013.03.017 ↗
5. 5) CEN. (2012). Sustainability of construction works—Environmental product declarations—Core rules for the product category of construction products (EN 15804). Brussels: European Committee for Standardization.
6. 6) Du, G., & Karoumi, R. (2014). Life cycle assessment framework for railway bridges: Literature survey and critical issues. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 10(3), 277-294.10.1080/15732479.2012.749289 ↗
7. 7) Durão, V., Silvestre, J. D., Mateus, R., & de Brito, J. (2020). Assessment and communication of the environmental performance of construction products in Europe: Comparison between PEF and EN 15804 compliant EPD schemes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 156, 104703.10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104703 ↗
8. 8) Finkbeiner, M., Inaba, A., Tan, R., Christiansen, K., & Klüppel, H.-J. (2006). The new international standards for life cycle assessment: ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 11(2), 80-85.10.1065/lca2006.02.002 ↗
9. 9) Fraile-García, E., Ferreiro-Cabello, J., Martínez-Cámara, E., & Jiménez-Macías, E. (2016). Optimization based on life cycle analysis for reinforced concrete structures with one-way slabs. Engineering Structures, 109, 126-138.10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.12.001 ↗
10. 10) Furuta, H., Kameda, T., Nakahara, K., Takahashi, Y., & Frangopol, D. M. (2006). Optimal bridge maintenance planning using improved multi-objective genetic algorithm. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 2(1), 33-41.10.1080/15732470500031040 ↗
11. 11) Gervásio, H., & Simões da Silva, L. (2008). Comparative life-cycle analysis of steel-concrete composite bridges. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 4(4), 251-269.10.1080/15732470600627325 ↗
12. 12) Ghayeb, H. H., Abdul Razak, H., & Sulong, N. H. R. (2020). Evaluation of the CO2 emissions of an innovative composite precast concrete structure building frame. Journal of Cleaner Production, 242, 118567.10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118567 ↗
13. 13) Hai, N. M., Fujikura, S., Rin, T. V., Shinoda, Y., Nam, P. H., Tuan, N. D., Thuy, M. T. T., Huong, N. V., & Phuong, P. N. (2025). Experimental and finite element analysis of permanent formwork impacts on flexural failures of reinforced concrete beams. Engineering Failure Analysis, 168, 109069.10.1016/j.engfailanal.2024.109069 ↗
14. 14) Hauschild, M. Z. (2017). Introduction to LCA methodology. In: M. Z. Hauschild, R. K. Rosenbaum, & S. I. Olsen, Eds. Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and Practice. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Cham, 59-66.10.1007/978-3-319-56475-3_6 ↗
15. 15) Jiang, B., Li, H., Dong, L., Wang, Y., & Tao, Y. (2018). Cradle-to-site carbon emissions assessment of prefabricated rebar cages for high-rise buildings in China. Sustainability, 11(1), 42.10.3390/su11010042 ↗
16. 16) Kien, T. T. (2023). Comparison of energy consumption and CO2 emissions between normal concrete and UHPC in rural bridge application. Journal of Science and Technology in Civil Engineering (JSTCE), 17(2), 168-179.10.31814/stce.huce2023-17(2)-15 ↗
17. 17) Kildashti, K., Samali, B., Malik, A., & Alamdari, M. M. (2021). Computational simulation of eccentrically loaded reinforced concrete walls formed with modular thin-walled permanent formwork system. Journal of Building Engineering, 36, 102131.10.1016/j.jobe.2020.102131 ↗
18. 18) Li, Q.-H., Huang, B.-T., & Xu, S.-L. (2016). Development of assembled permanent formwork using ultra high toughness cementitious composites. Advances in Structural Engineering, 19(7), 1142-1152.10.1177/1369433216634495 ↗
19. 19) Li, S., Han, G., Du, B., Jiang, Z., & Sun, L. (2025). Carbon emissions assessment of ultra-high performance concrete in construction industry: Calculation method and case study. Energy and Buildings, 329, 115260.10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115260 ↗
20. 20) Lin, Z., Lyu, G., & Fang, K. (2025). Carbon emissions assessment of concrete and quantitative calculation of CO2 reduction benefits of SCMs: A case study of C30–C80 ready-mixed concrete in China. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 22, e04287.10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04287 ↗
21. 21) Marler, R. T., & Arora, J. S. (2004). Survey of multi-objective optimization methods for engineering. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 26(6), 369-395.10.1007/s00158-003-0368-6 ↗
22. 22) Nguyen, M. H., Nguyen, M. H., Huynh, T. M. T., Huynh, P. N., Mai, A. D., Nguyen, V. H., Nguyen, D. T., & Do, V. H. (2026). A mix design–supporting multi-objective optimization framework for ultra-high-performance concrete balancing mechanical strength, workability, cost efficiency, and carbon emission criteria. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 24, e06043.10.1016/j.cscm.2026.e06043 ↗
23. 23) Nguyen, M. H., Phan, H. N., Doan, C. C., Fujikura, S., & Visal, T. (2025a). A quantitative evaluation of structural efficiency and CO2 emission reduction of permanent formwork for reinforced concrete beams. Construction and Building Materials, 499, 144066.10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144066 ↗
24. 24) Nguyen, M. H., Phan, H. N., Fujikura, S., Visal, T., Nguyen, V. H., Pham, N. P., & Mai, T. T. T. (2025b). Experimental and theoretical analyses for flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams using ultra-high-performance concrete permanent formwork panels embedded with reinforcement grids [online]. Structural Concrete. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/suco.70392.10.1002/suco.70392 ↗
25. 25) Palacios-Muñoz, B., Gracia-Villa, L., Zabalza-Bribián, I., & López-Mesa, B. (2018). Simplified structural design and LCA of reinforced concrete beams strengthening techniques. Engineering Structures, 174, 418-432.10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.07.070 ↗
26. 26) Pan, Z., Zhu, Y., Qiao, Z., & Meng, S. (2020). Seismic behavior of composite columns with steel reinforced ECC permanent formwork and infilled concrete. Engineering Structures, 212, 110541.10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110541 ↗
27. 27) Qiao, Z., Pan, Z., Xue, W., & Meng, S. (2019). Experimental study on flexural behavior of ECC/RC composite beams with U-shaped ECC permanent formwork. Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering, 13, 1271-1287.10.1007/s11709-019-0556-0 ↗
28. 28) Rabczuk, T., Akkermann, J., & Eibl, J. (2005). A numerical model for reinforced concrete structures. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 42(5-6), 1327-1354.10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2004.07.019 ↗
29. 29) Santos, J., Ferreira, A., Flintsch, G., & Cerezo, V. (2018). A multi-objective optimisation approach for sustainable pavement management. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 14(7), 854-868.10.1080/15732479.2018.1436571 ↗
30. 30) Tran, V. R., Nguyen, M. H., Phan, P. H. N., Nguyen, V. H., Pham, N. P., Mai, T. T. T., & Fujikura, S. (2024). Analytical study of flexural behavior of various components utilizing formwork panels made of high-strength concrete. The University of Danang - Journal of Science and Technology, 22(11B), 21-27.10.31130/ud-jst.2024.512E ↗
31. 31) Vukadinović, A., Radosavljević, J., Đorđević, A., Protić, M., & Petrović, N. (2021). Multi-objective optimization of energy performance for a detached residential building with a sunspace using the NSGA-II genetic algorithm. Solar Energy, 224, 1426-1444.10.1016/j.solener.2021.06.082 ↗
32. 32) Wang, Z., Liang, X., Wang, Y., & Zhai, T. (2022). Experimental and theoretical investigations on the flexural behavior of RC slabs with steel-PVA hybrid fiber reinforced cementitious composite (HFRCC) permanent formwork. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 17, e01432.10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01432 ↗
33. 33) Wirojjanapirom, P., Matsumoto, K., Kono, K., & Niwa, J. (2013). Experimental study on shear behavior of RC beams using U-shaped UFC permanent formwork with shear keys and bolts. Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Ser. E2 (Materials and Concrete Structures), 69(1), 67-81.10.2208/jscejmcs.69.67 ↗
34. 34) Xu, A., Zhu, Y., Wang, Z., & Zhao, Y. (2023). Carbon emission calculation of prefabricated concrete composite slabs during the production and construction stages. Journal of Building Engineering, 80, 107936.10.1016/j.jobe.2023.107936 ↗
35. 35) Yang, Y., Chen, B., Chen, Y., Zhou, H., Liu, F., Xie, X., Chen, J., Guo, W., & Wang, H. (2023). Performances of concrete columns with modular UHPC permanent formworks under axial load. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, 17(1), 38.10.1186/s40069-023-00608-1 ↗
36. 36) Yin, S., Cong, X., Wang, C., & Wang, C. (2021). Research on flexural performance of composited RC beams with different forms of TRC permanent formwork. Structures, 29, 1424-1434.10.1016/j.istruc.2020.12.034 ↗
37. 37) Zhang, X., Gerada, D., Xu, Z., Zhang, F., & Gerada, C. (2024). A review of carbon emissions from electrical machine materials. Electronics, 13(9), 1714.10.3390/electronics13091714 ↗