A new computational platform for damage-index-based reliability assessment of bridges in conjunction with finite element analysis

Abstract

In this paper, a new computation platform is developed to evaluate the reliability of bridges based on a recently-proposed damage index. To perform reliability analysis in conjunction with finite element analysis, Finite Element Reliability Using MATLAB (FERUM), is integrated with Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology (RCAHEST). The damage index enables the performance assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge considering the nonlinear behavior of concrete and steel, and FERUM repeatedly calls for RCAHEST to obtain the damage index values during reliability analysis. The proposed platform was applied to a corroded RC bridge example, and it was confirmed to successfully evaluate the reliability of the target structure with varying corrosion levels.