Applications of Taguchi Methods in Prestressed Concrete Structures

Abstract

Prestressed concrete (PSC) structures are fundamental to bridges, buildings, and other critical infrastructure, requiring design approaches that balance mechanical performance, durability, and cost throughout the service life. Because PSC systems involve numerous interacting variables—from material properties to construction practices and long-term environmental effects—their optimization demands methods capable of studying many factors simultaneously and identifying robust combinations. The Taguchi method, a branch of design of experiments (DoE), offers an efficient framework for this purpose, yet its application to PSC remains limited and not well established. This paper addresses that gap by outlining the principal potential applications of the Taguchi methodology throughout the PSC structures life cycle—covering Design and Material Dosage, Production and Prefabrication, Construction and Erection, Service and Operation, and Rehabilitation and End-of-Life stages—highlighting opportunities for future research and practical implementation. Building on this context, an illustrative cost-optimization case study is presented in which a Taguchi orthogonal array is applied to the design of an industrial precast PSC building. In this example, four key design factors—Distance Between Frames, Beam Type, Purlin Type, and Pillar Section—are analyzed to identify the most influential parameters and to determine the configuration that minimizes production and transportation costs. This study encourages researchers to apply Taguchi methods throughout the PSC life cycle.

Keywords

prestressed concrete / orthogonal arrays / taguchi method / precast building / life-cycle applications

Conflict of interest

All the authors disclosed no relevant relationships.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Xia, upon reasonable request.

Funding

The authors extended their sincere gratitude for the support of the project PID20242024-161115OB-C21 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE, and the Key Science, and Technology Project of Ministry of Emergency Management of the People’s Republic of China (2024EMST050503).

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