• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• v.1 no.4
• /
• pp.357-369
• /
• 2014

In the existing bridge management systems, assessment of the structural behavior is based on the results of visual inspections in which corresponding condition states are assigned to individual elements. In this process, limited attention is given to the correlation between bridge elements from structural perspective. Also, the uncertainty of parameters which affect the structural capacity is ignored. A system reliability-based assessment model is potentially an appropriate replacement for the existing procedures. The aim of this research is to evaluate the system reliability of existing conventional Steel-Reinforced bridge decks over time. The developed method utilizes the reliability theory and evaluates the structural safety for such bridges based on their failure mechanisms. System reliability analysis has been applied to simply-supported concrete bridge superstructures designed according to the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC-S6) and the deterioration pattern is achieved based on the reliability estimates. Finally, the bridge condition index of an old existing bridge in Montreal has been estimated using the developed deterioration pattern. The results obtained from the developed reliability-based deterioration model and from the evaluation done by bridge engineers have been found to be in accordance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.80-87
• /
• 2013

Heat transfer analysis and thermal stress analysis for the concrete bridge was performed in order to investigate the damage of the concrete bridge by the fire of the vehicle. Changes in material properties, such as thermal conductivity, specific heat, density, elasticity, caused by temperature rise were considered. Heat transfer analysis and thermal stress analysis were performed according to the various location of the fire by ABAQUS. From the comparison of the numerical results, the degree of structural damage for the concrete bridge was investigated and considerations for the design of a concrete bridge against fire were identified.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2000.10b
• /
• pp.1285-1290
• /
• 2000

The inspection of bridge condition is of extreme importance. Current inspection codes for bridge inspection are vague and uncertain. So, the results are highly subjective and different from person to person and even day to day for a given person. To circumvent possible inconsistencies in inspection and rating of bridge components, the revised inspection guidelines have been proposed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.455-464
• /
• 2002

There is a growing demand to assess the remaining strength and endurance of existing composite steel and concrete bridge beams due to the aging infrastructure, increases in permissible vehicle weights and increases in their frequencies. As codes are generally dedicated to the design of new structures, new procedures are required to aid in the assessment of existing bridges to ensure that they are utilised to the full. In this paper, simple expressions are presented to perform partial-interaction analyses directly from full-interaction analyses, so that the beneficial effect of partial-interaction on the shear forces on the shear connectors can be utilised in assessment to extend the fatigue life of simply supported bridge beams and to determine the effect of remedial work if necessary. Use of the assessment technique is described by way of an illustrative example.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2001.05a
• /
• pp.547-552
• /
• 2001

This research was conducted to investigate the seismic behavior and capacity assessment of circular spiral reinforcement concrete bridge piers used in high strength concrete. The displacement ductility, response modification factor(R), effective stiffness and plastic hinge region etc. was used to assess the seismic behavior and capacity of circular spiral reinforcement concrete bridge piers. The experimental variables of bridge piers test consisted of amount and spacing, different axial load levels. From the quasi-static tests on 9 bridge piers and analysis, it is found that current seismic design code specification of transverse confinement steel requirements and details may be revised.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.26 no.2A
• /
• pp.339-349
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of circular reinforced concrete bridge piers with confinement steel and to provide the data for developing improved seismic design criteria. Fourteen circular reinforced concrete bridge piers were tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. The accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process may be enhanced by the use of sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program. A computer program, named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. In the companion paper, the proposed numerical method for the seismic performance assessment of circular reinforced concrete bridge piers with confinement steel is verified by comparison with experimental results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.259-278
• /
• 2008

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element procedure accounting for the effects of geometric as well as material nonlinearities for reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings. Reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings and carrying a cyclic load were analyzed by using a special purpose, nonlinear finite element program, RCAHEST. For reinforced concrete, the proposed robust nonlinear material model captures the salient response characteristics of the bridge piers under cyclic loading conditions and addresses with the influence of geometric nonlinearity on post-peak response of the bridge piers by transformations between local and global systems. Seismic isolator element to predict the behaviors of laminated rubber bearings is also developed. The seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings is assessed analytically. The results show good correlation between the experimental findings and numerical predictions, and demonstrate the reliability and robustness of the proposed analytical model. Additionally, the studies and discussions presented in this investigation provide an insight into the key behavioral aspects of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of hollow reinforced concrete bridge column systems with reinforcement details for material quantity reduction and to provide the details and reference data. Five hollow reinforced concrete bridge columns were tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. The accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process can be enhanced by using a sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program. The adopted numerical method gives a realistic prediction of seismic performance throughout the loading cycles for several the investigated test specimens. This study documents the testing of hollow reinforced concrete bridge column systems with reinforcement details for material quantity reduction and presents conclusions based on the experimental and analytical findings.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.101-107
• /
• 2000

In this study, the Ground Penetrating Radar(GPR) was tested to evaluate the condition of concrete decks. Test results obtained by CPR were compared with values measured from drilled cores and damage mapping by the visual survey. It is shown that GPR can provide highly accurate measurements of layer properties of concrete decks and can map areas of deterioration in bridge decks by dielectric constants. The deck condition can be grouped into categories of "good" or "distressed". The ground penetrating radar data shows promise for producing rapid and accurate condition assessment for bridge decks. And these data can be used to evaluate highway bridge condition and make cost-effective bridge deck rehabilitation by accurately estimating the quantity of deteriorated concrete.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2000.04a
• /
• pp.369-374
• /
• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the seismic behavior assessment of circlular-tied bridge piers, particularly with regard to assessing the displacement ductility. The experimental variables of bridge piers test consisted of transverse steel details, amount and spacing different axial load levels etc. The test results indicated that reinforcement concrete bridge piers with confinement steel by the code specification exhibited sufficient ductile behavior and seismic performance. Aldo, it is found that current seismic design code specification of confinement steel requirements may be revised.