Structural robustness as an extended status indicator in bridge maintenance management systems

Abstract

In infrastructure assessment in Germany, the main structural inspections classify damage according to intensity, type and influence on stability, traffic safety and durability. The structural capability of bridge structures and parts thereof to react to these damages in a vulnerable or robust manner is a key indicator for the failure probability. The structural robustness of the structure is thus an addi- tional initial information for a qualified condition assessment in maintenance management and for the prioritisation of measures. Originally designed for traffic water structures, the newly developed method for determining the structural robustness and its linkage of damage processes to a "condi- tion class" is transferred to bridge structures. This enables a typological clustering of similar types of structures with regard to damage processes as well as the prioritisation of repair measures in the structure portfolio.