Author(s)

FATIMA EL HAJJ CHEHADE, RAFIC YOUNES, HUSSEIN MROUEH, FADI HAGE CHEHADE

Abstract

This paper proposes a methodology for the time-dependent reliability assessment of reinforced-concrete bridges, taking into account the combined effect of steel corrosion due to the aggressive environment, creep and shrinkage under realistic traffic. For this purpose, traffic is simulated over time according to weight in motion, data recorded in Europe, then time-dependent deflection is calculated by considering the cyclic creep effect due to traffic load in addition to shrinkage and tension stiffening. So, the time-dependent bending moment can be deduced using the finite element method; this moment is then introduced into the limit state function with the nominal resistance (flexure) which decreases over time due to the reduction of steel section under corrosion, the reliability index and the probability of failure are then calculated using the first-order reliability method. This procedure is illustrated through an example for a simply supported reinforced-concrete bridge.

Keywords

corrosion, creep, shrinkage, realistic traffic, reliability, reinforced-concrete bridge