•  
  •  
 

Abstract

In this paper, the relationship between reliability and engineering system construction cost for obtaining optimum reliability was studied. This proposed approach was applied to the repair alternatives of existing reinforced concrete (RC) bridges for acquiring the result of optimization analysis. According to the D(degree) E(extent) R (relevancy) evaluation method, which is widely used by civil engineers in Taiwan the existing RC bridges with and without stridden rivers can be divided into 21 and 17 substructures, respectively. The use of the weighting value and the cost relation is to attain the relationship between the total engineering system construction cost and the reliability of the existing RC bridges. The combination of the reliability and construction cost with the structural failure cost obtained from the expected cost is to gain the optimum reliability of the existing RC bridges. Moreover, the optimization repair alternative and the service life of the existing RC bridges are thus obtained. The result of present study shows that the more the cost of the RC bridge maintenance is, the more the whole profit of the weighting influence has. The failure loss cost also influences the optimum reliability. The present study results may offer the decision-making of the repair, strengthening, and demolition for the existing RC bridges.

Download
COinS