Bridge Reliability Analysis Based on a Global Safety Methodology

Abstract

Many reinforced concrete existing structures need to be re-evaluated due to the loss of its structural capacity, new design requirements or new loads to be considered. For this, new probabilistic analysis tools have been developed. Some of these methods intend to consider more realistic situations near to collapse than the ones defined in the current design following the Ultimate Limit States. In this paper, a methodology based on the concepts of the Global Resistance Format, as defined in fib Model Code 2010, with a step-by-step evaluation of the reliability coefficients is presented. The proposed methodology is applied in the re-evaluation of an existing bridge. Bayesian updating of the material properties is also applied in the analyses. With the proposed method it is possible to evaluate the need for rehabilitation or not, from the point of view of structural safety, directly depending on the reliability of the structure in view of new regulatory requirements.