Integration of Deterioration Modelling and Reliability Assessment for Reinforced Concrete Bridge Structures

Deterioration of reinforced concrete and the reliability of deteriorating structures have been, and still are, widely researched fields. A critical aspect of this research effort is the integration of deterioration modelling with reliability assessment. This paper focuses on this issue and illustrates how the integration of these techniques can lead towards more realistic predictions of the time dependent performance of reinforced concrete bridge structures. The introduction of spatial random fields into the proposed approach facilitates the identification of the type and quantity of data required to update models and improve predictions. This is an essential step in the rational prioritisation of maintenance actions for such structures. However, there are still important gaps both in understanding and modelling the deterioration process, as well as in assessing its influence on bridge performance. In this respect, the methodology presented in the paper can be developed further, and would benefit from additional case studies being undertaken using data from real structures.