Round-Robin modelling of the load-bearing capacity of slender columns by using classical and advanced non-linear numerical and analytical prediction tools

Non-linear finite element analyses have intrinsic model and user factors that influence the results of the analyses. However, non-linear finite element analysis can provide a tool to assess safety using realistic descriptions of material behaviour with actual material properties. A realistic estimation of the existing safety and capacity of slender column elements can be achieved by means of "true" material properties. Nevertheless, it seems that for some structural components, such as slender columns, non-linear finite element analyses can, due to its complexity and its various setting parameters, cause the risk of overestimating the real performance of analysed components or systems. Hence, an invited expert group has carried out an investigation into the experimental testing and the prediction of the bearing capacity of slender columns by performing independent non-linear finite element analyses in order to determine the practical applicability, and its inconsistencies, with respect to the stability failure of slender columns. This work aims the characterization of modelling uncertainties, concerning the prediction of slender columns stability when forecasted by non-linear finite element analysis.This paper was partly carried out during research exchanges at TU Brno (BUT), Lehigh University (LU). The authors acknowledge also the financial support provided by the SAFEBRIDGE ATCZ190 EU Interreg project, the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic, the Slovak Academy of Sciences VEGA No. 1/0696/14, and Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-150658. The computational results presented have been achieved [in part] using the Vienna Scientific Cluster (VSC)

Quantifying the Value of B-WIM: Assessing costs and benefits for Value of Information Analysis

Implementation of Bridge weigh-in-motion (B-WIM) measurements and probabilistic approaches in bridge assessment may reveal hidden bridge reserves and changes in reliability levels over their projected service life, providing a key input for optimized bridge management. But, as scientists and engineers and at the same time vendors of our own ideas, we need to be in position to present the results of our sophisticated methods and algorithms, expressed mostly in terms of safety or reliability indexes, probabilities of failures and similar indicators, with expected monetary savings which are decisive for an owner or an investor. In previous research, as presented at the COST TU1402 special session in Nantes 2018, in order to define the optimal management bridge strategy, a decision tree encompassing three B-WIM strategies (no B-WIM, short term B-WIM, long term B-WIM), two possible activities (no action, bridge repair/strengthening) and two possible outcomes (bridge is safe, bridge may experience failure) have been formulated. In this paper, a further development of the decision and Value of B-WIM Information analysis in the context of assessing road bridges are discussed. The focus in the present paper is directed on a detailed assessment and modelling of costs, benefits and associated indicators related to the probability of bridge failure. Costs required for the Value of Information analysis encompass: (i) the initial cost of the new bridge CBV, (ii) direct costs of bridge repair/strengthening Crep, (iii) indirect costs of bridge non-availability due to repair measures CN/A, and costs of B-WIM measurements (iv) CB-WIM,1 and (v) CB-WIM 2, applying short- or long-term monitoring respectively

Performance indicators for road bridges: overview of findings and future progress

One of the main objectives of COST Action TU 1406 is to build a performance indicator database, in order to develop technical recommendations which will specify the performance goals, aiming to provide a methodology with detailed step-by-step explanations for establishment of QC plans for different bridge types. This paper presents the main findings of Working Group 1: Performance Indicators (PI), based on analysis of documents related to bridge maintenance, assessment and management from different European countries through surveying, clustering, homogenization and categorization. In addition, further steps in order to correlate with the objectives of the Working Group 2, whose work is dedicated to revealing Performance Goals (PG), and the Working Group 3, dedicated to the establishment of Quality Control (QC) plans, if is foreseen.Postprint (published version

Performance indicators for road bridges: overview of findings and future progress

One of the main objectives of COST Action TU 1406 is to build a performance indicator database, in order to develop technical recommendations which will specify the performance goals, aiming to provide a methodology with detailed step-by-step explanations for establishment of QC plans for different bridge types. This paper presents the main findings of Working Group 1: Performance Indicators (PI), based on analysis of documents related to bridge maintenance, assessment and management from different European countries through surveying, clustering, homogenization and categorization. In addition, further steps in order to correlate with the objectives of the Working Group 2, whose work is dedicated to revealing Performance Goals (PG), and the Working Group 3, dedicated to the establishment of Quality Control (QC) plans, if is foreseen.Postprint (published version

Performance indicators for road bridges: overview of findings and future progress

One of the main objectives of COST Action TU 1406 is to build a performance indicator database, in order to develop technical recommendations which will specify the performance goals, aiming to provide a methodology with detailed step-by-step explanations for establishment of QC plans for different bridge types. This paper presents the main findings of Working Group 1: Performance Indicators (PI), based on analysis of documents related to bridge maintenance, assessment and management from different European countries through surveying, clustering, homogenization and categorization. In addition, further steps in order to correlate with the objectives of the Working Group 2, whose work is dedicated to revealing Performance Goals (PG), and the Working Group 3, dedicated to the establishment of Quality Control (QC) plans, if is foreseen

Performance based design and assessment—levels of indicators

Quality control management of structural concrete, as well as of concrete road bridges shows a lot of differences within European countries. This article provides not only an overview of the state of the art, but presents also a holistic approach for the performance evaluation of structural concrete.To standardize the method of quality controls in Europe and consequently the decision making of maintenance measures, the purpose of the project COST Action TU1406 was the development of a guideline for the establishment of quality control plans for roadway bridges. It deals with the survey of the relevant performance indicators for the condition assessment of road bridges. To identify data concerning performance indicators, the member countries of the COST Action were asked to extract all information from documents already used by operators, as well as from research documents. The procedure for the collection and documentation of the data and their evaluation is discussed in detail. A major part of the process deals with the homogenization and categorization of the results from the survey, in order to subsequently identify performance indicators and to reduce them to the relevant terms. Furthermore, on the basis of the reduced performance indicators, an evaluation system was developed for the assessment of the condition of road bridges. In order to be able to assess the current state of structures and to estimate the necessary investment costs for its preservation, the grades of the individual performance indicators are used to calculate the overall grades for the so-called key performance indicators. These contents represent a basis and an important step for the further work stages for the development of a standardized guideline for the establishment of quality control plans for roadway bridges in Europe.Postprint (published version

Performance-Indikatoren für die Bewertung von Strukturen aus Konstruktionsbeton auf europäischer Ebene nach COST TU1406

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Strauss, A., Ivankovic', A. M., Mold, L., Bergmeister, K., Matos, J. C. and Casas, J. R. (2018), Performance-Indikatoren für die Bewertung von Strukturen aus Konstruktionsbeton auf europäischer Ebene nach COST TU1406. Bautechnik, 95: 123–138. doi:10.1002/bate.201700104], which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bate.201700104/full. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Quality control management of structural concrete, as well as of concrete road bridges shows a lot of differences within European countries. This article provides not only an overview of the state of the art, but presents also a holistic approach for the performance evaluation of structural concrete. To standardize the method of quality controls in Europe and consequently the decision making of maintenance measures, the purpose of the project COST Action TU1406 was the development of a guideline for the establishment of quality control plans for roadway bridges. It deals with the survey of the relevant performance indicators for the condition assessment of road bridges. To identify data concerning performance indicators, the member countries of the COST Action were asked to extract all information from documents already used by operators, as well as from research documents. The procedure for the collection and documentation of the data and their evaluation is discussed in detail. A major part of the process deals with the homogenization and categorization of the results from the survey, in order to subsequently identify performance indicators and to reduce them to the relevant terms. Furthermore, on the basis of the reduced performance indicators, an evaluation system was developed for the assessment of the condition of road bridges. In order to be able to assess the current state of structures and to estimate the necessary investment costs for its preservation, the grades of the individual performance indicators are used to calculate the overall grades for the so-called key performance indicators. These contents represent a basis and an important step for the further work stages for the development of a standardized guideline for the establishment of quality control plans for roadway bridges in Europe.Peer Reviewe

Performance based design and assessment—levels of indicators

Quality control management of structural concrete, as well as of concrete road bridges shows a lot of differences within European countries. This article provides not only an overview of the state of the art, but presents also a holistic approach for the performance evaluation of structural concrete.To standardize the method of quality controls in Europe and consequently the decision making of maintenance measures, the purpose of the project COST Action TU1406 was the development of a guideline for the establishment of quality control plans for roadway bridges. It deals with the survey of the relevant performance indicators for the condition assessment of road bridges. To identify data concerning performance indicators, the member countries of the COST Action were asked to extract all information from documents already used by operators, as well as from research documents. The procedure for the collection and documentation of the data and their evaluation is discussed in detail. A major part of the process deals with the homogenization and categorization of the results from the survey, in order to subsequently identify performance indicators and to reduce them to the relevant terms. Furthermore, on the basis of the reduced performance indicators, an evaluation system was developed for the assessment of the condition of road bridges. In order to be able to assess the current state of structures and to estimate the necessary investment costs for its preservation, the grades of the individual performance indicators are used to calculate the overall grades for the so-called key performance indicators. These contents represent a basis and an important step for the further work stages for the development of a standardized guideline for the establishment of quality control plans for roadway bridges in Europe

Bridge case studies on the assignment of partial safety factors for the assessment of existing structures

Aging bridges in combination with an ever-growing traffic volume are a matter of concern all over the world. Consequently, the reassessment of existing bridges is gaining importance rapidly. This paper presents two bridge case studies considered within the IABSE Task Group 1.3 “Calibration of Partial Safety Factors for the Assessment of Existing Bridges”. The so-called design value method (DVM) and adjusted partial factor method (APFM), introduced in fib Bulletin 80 and both relying on a partial factor format, are considered in this paper. The objectives are (i) to illustrate how DVM and APFM can be used when specifying partial safety factors for assessment of existing bridges, and (ii) to discuss some of the assumptions that are implied by these methods. Two case studies are considered for illustration in this paper: a single span reinforced concrete slab and a 3-span continuous reinforced concrete slab

Probabilistic and semi-probabilistic analysis of slender columns frequently used in structural engineering

The stability of slender columns is a topic that has been dealt with in research and practice for many years. The importance of this topic also increases with the possibility of using non-linear modeling approaches to determine the stability and with the increasingly complex safety formats. In order to show the complexity and the variability associated with the non-linear models, two previous contributions discussed and compared (a) the results of the Round Robin Non-Linear Modeling, and (b) the existing international associated standard specifications and safety concepts with respect to experimental results. The aim herein is to determine the reliability level (safety index) on the basis of these investigations and findings and to examine the existing safety formats of classical and extended probabilistic analyses and to derive any necessary adjustments. In addition, the method of the safety format Estimation of Coefficient of Variance of resistance (ECOV) is used for the determination of the global safety resistance factors based on the non-linear analyses' findings of the Round Robin modeling partners