Probability‐Based Bridge Inspection Strategy
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 119, Issue 12
Abstract
Current inspection requirements for several countries are reviewed. Observations and modeling of general corrosion of steel‐girder bridges are described. A highway steel‐girder bridge is assumed to be subjected to dead load and heavy‐truck traffic load. Three failure modes of the steel girders are considered, i.e., bending, shear, and failure of the stiffened web at the supports. The safety margins for each failure mode and an event margin for repair are described, and the reliability index is defined. The three failure modes are modeled as a series system, and expressions for the failure probability after inspections have taken place are shown. The optimization problem is formulated, with an objective function and constraints, to select an optimal inspection strategy. For example, a typical highway steel‐girder bridge is investigated. The reliability indices are calculated for each girder as a function of time. Based on this an inspection strategy is proposed.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Albrecht, P., and Naeemi, A. H. (1984). “Performance of weathering steel in bridges.” Report 272, Nat. Cooperative Highway Res. Program, Transp. Res. Board, Washington, D.C.
2.
Hong, Y. K. (1990). “Live load models for girder bridges.” PhD thesis, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
3.
Kayser, J. R. (1988). “The effects of corrosion on the reliability of steel girder bridges,” PhD thesis, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
4.
Komp, M. E. (1987). “Atmospheric corrosion ratings of weathering steels—Calculation and significance.” Mater. Perf. 26(7), 42–44.
5.
Madsen, H. O. (1988). “Probability‐based optimization of design, inspection and maintenance—PRODIM, theoretical manual.” A. S. Veritas Research Report No. 88‐2029, Dr. Norske Veritas, Hovik, Norway.
6.
Madsen, H. O., Skjong, R., Tallin, A. G., and Kirkemo, F. (1987). “Probabilistic fatigue crack growth analysis of offshore structures, with reliability updating through inspection.” Proc. Marine Struct. Reliability Symp., Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 45–56.
7.
Manual for maintenance inspection of bridges. (1983). Am. Assoc. of State Highway and Transp. Officials, Washington, D.C.
8.
Nowak, A. S. (1992). “Calibration of LRFD bridge design code.” Report UMCE 92‐25, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
9.
Nowak, A. S., and Absi, E., eds. (1987). Bridge evaluation, repair and rehabilitation (Proc. 1st U.S.‐European Workshop), Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
10.
Nowak, A. S., Hong, Y. K., and Hwang, E. S. (1990). “Calculation of load and resistance factors for OHBDC 1990.” Report UMCE 90‐06, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
11.
Ontario highway bridge design code. (1983). Ministry of Transp. and Communications, Downsview, Ontario.
12.
PROBAN‐2, user's manual. (1989). A. S. Veritas Research Report No. 892024, Dr. Norske Veritas, Hovik, Norway.
13.
Salmon, C. G., and Johnson, J. E. (1990). Steel Structures: Design and behavior. 3rd Ed., Harper & Row, New York, N.Y.
14.
Shinozuka, M. (1990). Relation of inspection findings to fatigue reliability. (Final report). Modern Analysis, Inc., Ridgewood, N.J., Dec.
15.
Soerensen, J. D., Faber, M. H., Rackwitz, R., and Thoft‐Christensen, P. (1991). “Modeling in optimal inspection and repair.” Proc. Offshore Mech. and Arctic Engrg. 1991, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 281–288.
16.
Soerensen, J. D., and Thoft‐Christensen, P. (1988). “Inspection strategies for concrete bridges.” Proc. Conf. on Reliability and Optimization of Struct. Systems, P. Thoft‐Christensen, ed. Springer‐Verlag, New York, N.Y., 325–335.
17.
Sommer, A. M., and Thoft‐Christensen, P. (1990). “Inspection and maintenance of marine steel structures—State‐of‐the‐art.” Structural reliability theory, Univ. of Aalborg, Aalborg, Denmark.
18.
Specification for the design, fabrication and erection of structural steel for buildings. (1978). Am. Inst. of Steel Constr., Chicago, Ill.
19.
Standard specifications for highway bridges. (1989). 14th Ed., Am. Assoc. of State Highway and Transp. Officials, Washington, D.C.
20.
Thoft‐Christensen, P., and Murotsu, Y. (1986). Application of structural systems reliability theory. Springer‐Verlag, New York, N.Y.
21.
Vejbroer, Vejregler for eftersyn af bygvaerker. (1980). Broteknik, Vejdirektoratet, Road Directorate, Lyngby, Denmark.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 13, 1991
Published online: Dec 1, 1993
Published in print: Dec 1993
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.