Title: Condition and Reliability Assessment of Constructed Facilities

Author(s): A. E. Aktan and D. N. Farhey

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 162

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 73-92

Keywords: bridges (structures); deterioration; dynamic tests; nondestructive tests; structural analysis; structures; tests; Structural Research

DOI: 10.14359/1424

Date: 8/1/1996

Abstract:
Presents nondestructive and destructive dynamic field testing and structural identification studies on actual constructed facilities. The specimens discussed here include a 27-story reinforced concrete (RC) flat-slab building, an RC slab bridge, two 80-year-old steel truss bridges, and three RC slab on steel girder bridges of various ages. The seismic vulnerability of the mid-rise building was evaluated and the test bridges rated by code procedures as well as by field-calibrated comprehensive 3-D FE models developed by structural identification. Experimentally measured and analytically simulated modal flexibilities of the bridges were correlated with deflections obtained under proof-load-level truck-load tests. The rating factors obtained by filed- calibrated models exceeded the corresponding operating rating factors by two and a half to four times for all of the test bridges. These studies revealed our capabilities for evaluating vulnerability or reliability of different classes of facilities. The bridge rating efforts helped to identify and conceptualize a number of unresolved important issues that influence bridge rating and management. Serviceability aspects that emerged as critical were studied through the relative contributions of different mechanisms to bridge deflections.