• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.87-99
• /
• 1982

This study proposes a reliability based design criteria for the R.C. superstructures of highway bridges. Uncertainties associated with the resistance of T or rectangular sections are investigated, and a set of appropriate uncertainties associated with the bridge dead and traffic live loads are proposed by reflecting our level of practice. Major 2nd moment reliability analysis and design theories including both Cornell's MFOSM(Mean First Order 2nd Moment) Methods and Lind-Hasofer's AFOSM(Advanced First Order 2nd Moment) Methods are summarized and compared, and it has been found that Ellingwood's algorithm and an approximate log-normal type reliability formula are well suited for the proposed reliability study. A target reliability index (${\beta}_0=3.5$) is selected as an optimal value considering our practice based on the calibration with the current R.C. bridge design safety provisions. A set of load and resistance factors is derived by the proposed uncertainties and the methods corresponding to the target reliability. Furthermore, a set of nominal safety factors and allowable stresses are proposed for the current W.S.D. design provisions. It may be asserted that the proposed L.R.F.D. reliability based design criteria for the R.C. highway bridges may have to be incorporated into the current R.C. bridge design codes as a design provision corresponding to the U.S.D. provisions of the current R.C. design code.