Bridge reliability analysis based on discrete probability distributions

Abstract EN

Bridge reliability is defined as the probability that the bridge structure will perform satisfactorily for a specified period of time under a stated set of toad conditions.

To perform reliability analysis on a bridge structure, three problems were addressed in thte work.

The first one is the bridge loading model.

The necessary analysis was done based ora a statistical survey conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Jordan .

The second is the evaluation of the bridge ultimate load carrying capacity.

The third one is the extension of utilizing point distribution methods to model the ultimate resistance of a bridge structure.

A practical demonstration to the suggested method is presented on a major highway prestressed concrete bridge in Jordan.

It is concluded that point distributions can be used in the reliability analysis to estimate the bridgeioad carrying capacity with a prespecified target reliability index.