This research program was created with the goal of improving bridge safety and reliability while also improving the allocation of bridge inspection resources. The research reported herein was completed as a part of a larger project with the objective of developing a recommended bridge inspection practice for bridges within the United States. Traditionally, bridges in the United States are inspected at fixed time intervals of 24 months, with special programs in place to either extend or lessen this interval, based on certain conditions. This fixed inspection interval results in newer bridges, with little or no damage, being inspected with the same frequency as older, possibly more deteriorated bridges. This creates a situation where bridge inspection resources are allocated evenly across an inventory even though the inspection needs of certain bridges may be greater than others. Through this research program, a bridge inspection planning methodology has been developed which is based on reliability theory and incorporates the knowledge and expertise of bridge owners to more rationally determine bridge inspection needs. The methodology is based on the determination of the likelihood of failure for specific bridge components based on design, loading, and condition characteristics and the perceived consequence of failure, based on an owner's expertise and experience. By combining these expressions of likelihood and consequence for each component, a maximum inspection interval for the entire bridge can be determined through the use of risk matrices.

"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 782: Proposed Guideline for Reliability-Based Bridge Inspection Practices presents a proposed guideline for reliability-based bridge inspection practices and provides two case studies of the application of the proposed guideline. The guideline describes a methodology to develop a risk-based approach for determining the bridge inspection interval according to the requirements in Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21)."--Publisher description.

Increasing demand on improving the resiliency of modern structures and infrastructure requires ever more critical and complex designs. Therefore, the need for accurate and efficient approaches to assess uncertainties in loads, geometry, material properties, manufacturing processes, and operational environments has increased significantly. Reliability-based techniques help develop more accurate initial guidance for robust design and help to identify the sources of significant uncertainty in structural systems. Reliability-Based Analysis and Design of Structures and Infrastructure presents an overview of the methods of classical reliability analysis and design most associated with structural reliability. It also introduces more modern methods and advancements, and emphasizes the most useful methods and techniques used in reliability and risk studies, while elaborating their practical applications and limitations rather than detailed derivations. Features: Provides a practical and comprehensive overview of reliability and risk analysis and design techniques. Introduces resilient and smart structures/infrastructure that will lead to more reliable and sustainable societies. Considers loss elimination, risk management and life-cycle asset management as related to infrastructure projects. Introduces probability theory, statistical methods, and reliability analysis methods. Reliability-Based Analysis and Design of Structures and Infrastructure is suitable for researchers and practicing engineers, as well as upper-level students taking related courses in structural reliability analysis and design.

Over 140 experts, 14 countries, and 89 chapters are represented in the second edition of the Bridge Engineering Handbook. This extensive collection highlights bridge engineering specimens from around the world, contains detailed information on bridge engineering, and thoroughly explains the concepts and practical applications surrounding the subject. Published in five books: Fundamentals, Superstructure Design, Substructure Design, Seismic Design, and Construction and Maintenance, this new edition provides numerous worked-out examples that give readers step-by-step design procedures, includes contributions by leading experts from around the world in their respective areas of bridge engineering, contains 26 completely new chapters, and updates most other chapters. It offers design concepts, specifications, and practice, as well as the various types of bridges. The text includes over 2,500 tables, charts, illustrations, and photos. The book covers new, innovative and traditional methods and practices; explores rehabilitation, retrofit, and maintenance; and examines seismic design and building materials. The fifth book, Construction and Maintenance contains 19 chapters, and covers the practical issues of bridge structures. What’s New in the Second Edition: Includes nine new chapters: Steel Bridge Fabrication, Cable-Supported Bridge Construction, Accelerated Bridge Construction, Bridge Management Using Pontis and Improved Concepts, Bridge Maintenance, Bridge Health Monitoring, Nondestructive Evaluation Methods for Bridge Elements, Life-Cycle Performance Analysis and Optimization, and Bridge Construction Methods Rewrites the Bridge Construction Inspection chapter and retitles it as: Bridge Construction Supervision and Inspection Expands and rewrites the Maintenance Inspection and Rating chapter into three chapters: Bridge Inspection, Steel Bridge Evaluation and Rating, and Concrete Bridge Evaluation and Rating; and the Strengthening and Rehabilitation chapter into two chapters: Rehabilitation and Strengthening of Highway Bridge Superstructures, and Rehabilitation and Strengthening of Orthotropic Steel Bridge Decks This text is an ideal reference for practicing bridge engineers and consultants (design, construction, maintenance), and can also be used as a reference for students in bridge engineering courses.

As the emphasis in construction moves from building new bridges to maintenance and rehabilitation of existing stock, bridge management is becoming an increasingly important subject. This is the definitive, single volume reference for professionals and postgraduates, covering the whole gamut of bridge management topics. Highly illustrated and in ful

Safety and Reliability – Theory and Applications contains the contributions presented at the 27th European Safety and Reliability Conference (ESREL 2017, Portorož, Slovenia, June 18-22, 2017). The book covers a wide range of topics, including: • Accident and Incident modelling • Economic Analysis in Risk Management • Foundational Issues in Risk Assessment and Management • Human Factors and Human Reliability • Maintenance Modeling and Applications • Mathematical Methods in Reliability and Safety • Prognostics and System Health Management • Resilience Engineering • Risk Assessment • Risk Management • Simulation for Safety and Reliability Analysis • Structural Reliability • System Reliability, and • Uncertainty Analysis. Selected special sessions include contributions on: the Marie Skłodowska-Curie innovative training network in structural safety; risk approaches in insurance and fi nance sectors; dynamic reliability and probabilistic safety assessment; Bayesian and statistical methods, reliability data and testing; oganizational factors and safety culture; software reliability and safety; probabilistic methods applied to power systems; socio-technical-economic systems; advanced safety assessment methodologies: extended Probabilistic Safety Assessment; reliability; availability; maintainability and safety in railways: theory & practice; big data risk analysis and management, and model-based reliability and safety engineering. Safety and Reliability – Theory and Applications will be of interest to professionals and academics working in a wide range of industrial and governmental sectors including: Aeronautics and Aerospace, Automotive Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Energy Production and Distribution, Environmental Engineering, Information Technology and Telecommunications, Critical Infrastructures, Insurance and Finance, Manufacturing, Marine Industry, Mechanical Engineering, Natural Hazards, Nuclear Engineering, Offshore Oil and Gas, Security and Protection, Transportation, and Policy Making.