Maintenance and repair scheme for corroded stiffened steel box girder bridges based on ultimate strength reliability and risk assessments

Abstract

The aims of this study are to investigate the effect of corrosion on the load-carrying capacity of stiffened steel box girder bridges and to formulate a repair schedule using reliability-based approaches for such bridges as they age. A credible scenario for a corroded steel box section is estimated. Corrosion rates and their probabilistic characterization are calculated based on the available data. A probabilistic model of ultimate box girder strength is established based on an analytical formula that considers corrosion-related time-dependent strength degradation. The results generated with this model may be useful in the development of an optimized and accurate maintenance and repair schedule for existing steel box girder bridges.