Time-dependent interaction between load rating and reliability of deteriorating bridges

2004-10-01
Prioritization and allocation of federal funds for nationwide bridge replacements and rehabilitations are based on ratings listed in the National Bridge Inventory database. Distribution of funds is based on the sufficiency rating, represented by a formula considering structural safety, functional obsolescence, and essentiality for public use. Possessing the highest weight in sufficiency rating formula, load rating is a crucial measure for bridge management. While load rating represents the current practice in bridge evaluation, reliability methods, taking into account live load increase and material deterioration models, are more commonly used for lifetime bridge assessment. In this paper, time-dependent relationship between the reliability-based analysis results, representing the future trend in bridge evaluation, and the load ratings is investigated for different types of bridges located within an existing bridge network. The comparisons between live load rating factors and reliability indices are made over the lifetime of each bridge in the network. The rating-reliability profile and rating-reliability interaction envelope concepts are introduced. Furthermore, the rating-reliability profiles are collectively examined in order to evaluate the time-dependent performance of the overall bridge network.
ENGINEERING STRUCTURES

Suggestions

Lifetime Performance Analysis of Existing Reinforced Concrete Bridges. II: Application
Akgül, Ferhat (American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2005-06-01)
This study, being the second part of a two-part paper, presents the application of a lifetime performance analysis methodology to three reinforced concrete bridges located in an existing bridge network in Colorado. The focus of this paper is on reinforced concrete slabs and girders of these bridges. The limit state equations were previously derived in the companion paper by grouping the random variables, deterministic parameters, and constant coefficients in such a way that the formulas are applicable to re...
Lifetime Performance Analysis of Existing Reinforced Concrete Bridges. I: Theory
Akgül, Ferhat (American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2005-06-01)
In this first part of a two-part paper, a general methodology for lifetime performance analysis of existing reinforced concrete bridges is presented. The framework for the methodology is established by identifying four distinct categories: limit state equations, random variables, deterministic parameters, and constant coefficients. The limit state equations are derived by strictly adhering to the load and capacity formulas and requirements set forth in AASHTO specifications. Generality is pursued by establi...
Health monitoring of Ironton-Russell bridge for rating purposes
Lenett, MS; Hunt, VJ; Helmicki, AJ; Türer, Ahmet (SAGE Publications, 2001-01-01)
The Ironton-Russell truss bridge spanning the Ohio River between the cities of Ironton, Ohio, and Russell, Kentucky, consists of a three-span cantilever through truss with a suspended truss in the center span and a fourth span that is essentially a simple-span through truss. Visual inspections of this bridge revealed that recent welded repairs and modifications to various truss members reduced their fatigue classification as well as modified original design and construction details. When the visual inspecti...
Rating and reliability of existing bridges in a network
Akgül, Ferhat (American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2003-11-01)
Currently, the load rating is the method used by State DOTs for evaluating the safety and serviceability of existing bridges in the United States. In general, load rating of a bridge is evaluated when a maintenance, improvement work, change in strength of members, or addition of dead load alters the condition or capacity of the structure. The AASHTO LRFD specifications provide code provisions for prescribing an acceptable and uniform safety level for the design of bridge components. Once a bridge is designe...
Lifetime performance analysis of existing prestressed concrete bridge superstructures
Akgül, Ferhat (American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2004-12-01)
A general methodology for lifetime performance analysis of existing prestressed concrete girder bridges is presented. Only the superstructure components (slab and girders) are considered. The framework for the methodology is established by identifying four distinct categories: limit state equations, random variables, deterministic parameters, and constant coefficients. The limit state equations are derived by strictly adhering to the load and capacity formulas and requirements set forth in AASHTO specificat...
Citation Formats
F. Akgül, “Time-dependent interaction between load rating and reliability of deteriorating bridges,” ENGINEERING STRUCTURES, pp. 1751–1765, 2004, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/39754.