Serviceability reliability of corroded steel bridges

In the present study, the serviceability reliability of corroded steel highway bridges is investigated by means of a simulation technique. At each sampling point with given values of corrosion parameters, slab thickness and elastic moduli of materials, the penetration of corrosion and the effective cross-section are calculated based on Kayser's observations. Then, a finite strip analysis of the bridge under design trucks is carried out to compute the maximum deflection of the bridge deck. If this deflection exceeds the code requirement, serviceability failure is assumed to occur, and the failure probability is determined. After the failure probability is integrated over all sampling points, the serviceability reliability of the bridge is obtained. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the proposed methodology and to investigate the serviceability reliability of corroded steel bridges according to the AASHTO specification and Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code.Key words: serviceability reliability, corrosion, steel highway bridges, simulation, finite strip method.