IDENTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CATEGORIES FOR MARKOVIAN DETERIORATION MODELS OF BRIDGE DECKS

In general, state-of-the-art bridge management systems have adopted Markov-chain models to predict the future condition of bridge elements and networks in different environments when various maintenance actions are implemented. However, the categories used to describe the various possible environments for a bridge element are neither accurately defined nor explicitly linked to the external factors affecting the element deterioration. In this paper, a new approach is proposed to provide transportation agencies with an effective decision support tool to identify the categories that best define the environmental and operational conditions specific to their bridge structures. This approach is based on genetic algorithms to determine the combinations of deterioration parameters that best fit each environmental category. The proposed approach is applied to develop Markovian deterioration models for concrete bridge decks using actual data obtained from the Ministre des Transports du Qubec. This application illustrates the ability of the proposed approach to correlate the definition of environmental categories to parameters, such as highway class, region, average daily traffic, and percentage of truck traffic, in an accurate and efficient manner.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/32947845
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Morcous, G
  • Lounis, Z
  • Mirza, M S
• Publication Date: 2003-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 353-361
• Serial:
  • Journal of Bridge Engineering
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1084-0702
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/beo

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Average daily traffic; Bridge decks; Bridge management systems; Concrete bridges; Decision support systems; Deterioration by environmental action; Environment; Genetic algorithms; Highway bridges; Maintenance; Markov chains; Optimization; Regions; Truck traffic
• Geographic Terms: Quebec (Province)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00964753
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 2003 12:00AM