Analysis of lifetime losses of low-rise reinforced concrete buildings attacked by corrosion and earthquakes using a novel method

In the estimation of the losses caused by an earthquake for a reinforced concrete (RC) building, the effect of corrosion of the reinforcing steel incurred by environmental conditions, e.g. carbonation and chloride ions, is seldom mentioned because of the corrosion with uncertainty and time dependence. However, because the structural capacity of a corroded RC building declines over time, one must apply an appropriate method that estimates the structural capacity of an RC building in a corrosive environment. Therefore, this work integrated degradation factors into the structural properties of a corroded RC building. Additionally, by considering life-cycle earthquake events, lifetime losses resulting from earthquakes and corrosion can be derived. This work can help both owners and investors to identify lifetime losses of RC buildings due to seismic structural damage, including the corrosion effect, within a specified service life. Although the case study only addresses a selection of the most appropriate concrete cover depth for an RC building corroded by chloride ions, the proposed procedure can be utilised when making decisions about whether to prevent building deterioration based on economic considerations.     

既有RC桥梁时变可靠性分析

为了研究构件抗力劣化和车辆荷载对既有RC桥梁服役期间的可靠度影响,首先分析讨论了抗力的衰减模型,并将车辆荷载率视为随机变量。在此基础上,分析了不同的抗力衰减模型和车辆荷载对结构可靠性的敏感性。结果表明,行车道板抗弯失效模式的失效概率最大,车辆荷载对结构可靠性影响较大,抗力按不同的规律衰减导致结构的可靠指标降低趋势表现出不同的规律。     

Lifetime seismic performance assessment for chloride-corroded reinforced concrete buildings

The main aim of this paper was to build an estimating procedure based on the static nonlinear analysis (pushover analysis) such that structural engineers can evaluate the seismic performance of a deteriorating reinforced concrete (RC) building. For engineers' convenience, this paper suggests the probabilistic deterioration prediction model and the visual estimation of deterioration degree to evaluate corrosion-induced weight loss of reinforcing steel bars. In addition, flexural and shear capacity models for a corroded column or beam are proposed and verified by full-scale corroded beam specimens, allowing engineers to simulate its nonlinear mechanical behaviour. This paper incorporates these mechanical models of corroded members into the static nonlinear analysis to construct a procedure for assessing the seismic performance of a deteriorating RC building. An elementary school at Lanyu Island, Taitung, Taiwan, is used as an example and its lifetime seismic performance is identified utilising the proposed approach.     

A probability model for investigating the trend of structural deterioration of wastewater pipelines

Canada’s infrastructure is aging and deteriorating. New legislation requires the municipalities to estimate operating and capital expenditures for running the systems into the future and to develop financial sustainability plans. Wastewater pipelines deterioration is currently not well understood and realistic deterioration models need to be developed.This paper demonstrates how the condition assessment data from trenchless visual inspections of wastewater pipelines can be used to understand the performance of wastewater pipelines. A new ordinal regression model for the deterioration of wastewater pipelines based on cumulative logits is elaborated. The model is presented using the Generalized Linear model formulation and takes into account the interaction effect between the explanatory variables. The new model is demonstrated and validated using the City of Niagara Falls high quality wastewater collection network condition assessment data for reinforced concrete (RC) and vitrified clay (VC) pipes.This new model is found to represent the City of Niagara Falls RC and VC pipes’ deterioration behavior for pipes in service for up to 110 years. RC pipes deterioration is found to be age dependent while VC pipes deterioration is not age dependent. This finding is contrary to other deterioration model studies that indicate that VC deterioration is age dependent. The service life for RC pipes is estimated to be approximately 75 years while VC pipes are found to have an indefinite service life if installed without structural damage.The cumulative logit model can be used to determine wastewater pipelines’ service life, predict future condition states, and estimate networks’ maintenance and rehabilitation expenditures. The latter is critical if realistic wastewater networks’ future maintenance and operation budgets are to be developed for the life of assets and to meet new regulatory reporting requirements. Further research is required to validate this new methodology for other networks and the deterioration modeling of pipe materials other than RC and VC.     

A model for earthquake risk management based on the life-cycle performance of structures

Over 50 years of design life, buildings are exposed to different magnitudes and frequencies of earthquakes that require consideration of life-cycle cost (LCC). The LCC entails quantifying the building performance under seismic hazard and investments throughout the life of the structures. Traditional LCC utilises probabilities of being in different damage states. However, for buildings with inherent irregularities (e.g. vertical irregularity and plan irregularity), these probabilities are not readily available. In this paper, a system-based approach, utilising fuzzy set theory, is used to quantify the possibility of being in different damage states. The analysis is limited to study the effect of seismic exposure on the building LCC. The proposed method is illustrated with two case studies, a six-storey reinforced concrete (RC) building located in Vancouver, Canada, and vulnerability of an urban centre with 1000 RC buildings. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is carried out to highlight the impact of different building performance modifiers on the LCC.     

Ultimate strength reliability analysis of corroded steel-box girder bridges

Structural reliability theory is a useful tool for estimating the risks associated with deteriorating structures. The aim of this study is to develop and demonstrate a procedure for the assessment of box girder bridge ultimate strength reliability with the degradation of plate members due to general corrosion taken into account. A probabilistic model for ultimate steel-box girder strength is established on the basis of an analytic formula that considers corrosion-related, time-dependent strength degradation. The study involves the selection of representative structures, formulation of limit state functions, development of resistance models for corroded steel-box girders, development of load models, development of a reliability analysis method, reliability analysis of the selected bridges and development of the time-dependant reliability profiles, including deterioration due to corrosion. The results of this study can be used for the better prediction of the service life of deteriorating steel-box girder bridges and the development of optimal reliability-based maintenance strategies.     

Seismic fragility increment functions for deteriorating reinforced concrete bridges

Fragility increment functions are developed to estimate the seismic fragility of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges subject to deterioration due to the onset and progression of corrosion of the reinforcement. For each mode of failure considered, the fragility at time t of a deteriorating bridge is obtained by multiplying the initial fragility of the undeteriorated bridge by a corresponding increment function expressed in terms of the environmental conditions, the original material properties, time, a measure of the seismic demand, and a set of unknown model parameters. The developed increment functions account for the effects on the fragility estimates of the loss of the reinforcement and of the increasing uncertainty over time. As an application, the developed increment functions are used to estimate the seismic fragility of an example RC bridge. The proposed fragility increment functions are useful to estimate the fragility of deteriorating bridges without any extra reliability analysis once the fragility of the undeteriorated bridge is known. In particular, the proposed fragility increment functions can be used to assess the time-variant fragility of bridges for applications such as reliability-based design, life-cycle cost analysis, and risk analysis.     

基于变形的土石坝地震易损性分析

地震易损性分析是地震风险分析的重要组成部分,可以预测结构在遭受不同等级地震荷载作用下发生各级破损的概率。土石坝在地震作用下易发生不同程度的破坏,对其进行易损性分析可以为土石坝地震风险分析及评价提供有效途径。考虑土石坝材料参数及地震动输入不确定性因素的影响,提出了基于变形的土石坝地震易损性分析方法。采用正交设计法选取材料参数样本组合,分别施加不同地震峰值加速度进行地震反应分析,基于坝顶相对沉陷破损评价指标,给出了大坝的易损性曲线。以云鹏心墙土石坝为例进行了地震易损性分析,得到大坝不同震损等级的风险概率,对土石坝地震风险评估和抗震设计优化、维修加固决策等具有重要意义和应用价值。     

Influence of the exposure scenario and spatial correlation on the probabilistic life-cycle seismic performance of deteriorating RC frames

The probabilistic life-cycle seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frames under chloride-induced corrosion is investigated considering the influence of the environmental aggressiveness and exposure scenario and the role of spatial correlation of the random variables. Chloride ingress and corrosion damage are described at cross-sectional level by two-dimensional concentration maps and damage indices. At the structural level, the seismic performance is evaluated in terms of lateral load response of the deteriorating structural system by means of time-variant non-linear analysis over the structural lifetime. The uncertainties involved in the problem are taken into account in probabilistic terms by Monte Carlo simulation. The procedure is applied to life-cycle assessment of a three-storey RC frame under different exposure scenarios, defined by varying both the concentration level and the spatial distribution of chlorides on the external surface of the columns, as well as different correlation levels of the random variables involved in the probabilistic analysis.     

Collapse safety margin-oriented seismic retrofit strategy for corroded reinforced concrete frames using fibre reinforced plastics

Considering residual service life, this paper presents a collapse safety margin-oriented seismic retrofit strategy for corroded reinforced concrete (RC) frames using fibre reinforced plastics (FRP). With the assumed uniform corrosion model, corrosion-induced initial damage combined with subsequent earthquake-induced damage is identified by the multi-mode-based global damage model developed previously. The collapse-level earthquake intensity determined by incremental dynamic analyses (IDA) with the damage model and the maximum considered earthquake (MCE)-level intensity considering residual service life are combined to generate the time-variant collapse safety margin assessment of corroded RC structures. Based on this assessment, the collapse safety margin-oriented FRP seismic retrofit strategy is proposed and demonstrated on a 4-storey frame. The damage model originally developed for earthquake scenarios has also exhibited its rationality for characterising corrosion-induced initial damage and its influence on coupled damage development with subsequent earthquake excitation. Seismic retrofitting with FRP composites should consider the effects of the corrosion development stage, target collapse safety margin and residual service life. FRP retrofits can cause decreases in the MCE-level collapse probability and increases in the collapse resistance of corroded RC structures. Retrofitting carried out at different times achieves different efficiencies and different time-variant collapse safety margins within the residual service life.     

A novel lifetime cost-benefit analysis method for seismic retrofitting of low-rise reinforced concrete buildings

This article presents a novel simplified method for assessing seismic damage to low-rise reinforced concrete (RC) buildings by using the hazard curve of response spectral acceleration. Moreover, the occurrence of an earthquake is assumed to follow a Poisson process when analysing the occurrence probability of a specified damage state in the remaining service life and expected losses induced by seismic damage. Then, a novel procedure for estimating lifetime costs and benefits of seismic retrofitting is proposed. In the case study, 16 practical design projects for seismic retrofitting of RC school buildings in Taipei are subjected to lifetime cost-benefit analysis using the proposed method. It can be found that not only lifetime cost-benefit ratios but also the financial return period for each dollar invested seismic retrofitting can be identified conveniently. Additionally, they are useful information for making decisions about whether to retrofit a building or not.     

Time-variant reliability profiles for steel girder bridges

Evaluation of existing steel bridges becomes more important due to natural aging, increasing load spectra, deterioration caused by corrosion, and other problems. In the result, bridge structures exposed to aggressive environmental conditions are subjected to time-variant changes of resistance. Therefore, there is a need for evaluation procedures for an accurate prediction of the load carrying capacity and reliability of bridge structures, in order to make rational decisions about repair, rehabilitation, and expected life-cycle costs. The objective of this paper is to develop time-variant reliability models for steel girder bridges. Traditional methods based on deterministic analysis do not reveal the actual load carrying capacity of the structure. The proposed approach is based on reliability analysis of components and structural systems. The study involves the selection of representative structures, formulation of limit state functions, development of load models, development of resistance models for corroded steel girders, development of the reliability analysis method, reliability analysis of selected bridges, and development of the time-dependant reliability profiles including deterioration due to corrosion. The results of the study can be used for a better prediction of the service life of deteriorating steel girder bridges, and development of optimal reliability-based maintenance strategies.     

采用光圆钢筋配筋的锈蚀RC框架结构#br# 抗震性能分析：以新西兰结构为例

该文对光圆钢筋配筋RC框架结构在锈蚀环境下的抗震性能进行分析,提出一种可以考虑光圆钢筋锈蚀引起的材料性能退化及钢筋-混凝土黏结滑移性能退化的节点宏单元模型。通过对已有试验结果进行模拟,验证所提出节点模型的合理性。以新西兰奥克兰市的一栋光圆钢筋配筋的锈蚀RC结构为例,基于SeismoStruct有限元软件,采用所提出的节点模型建立算例结构完好及锈蚀后的有限元模型。分别采用静力Pushover方法及动力时程分析法对算例结构的抗震性能进行分析。分析结果表明：光圆钢筋锈蚀引起的RC框架结构抗震性能退化幅度要高于变形钢筋。     

Reliability-based capacity design for reinforced concrete bridge structures

In the seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge structures, there should be no brittle failures, such as shear failures, in the components, and a plastic hinge should be formed at the bottom of the bridge pier. These are important concepts in capacity design to guarantee the safety of bridges subjected to severe earthquakes. These concepts can maximise post-event operability and minimise the cost of repairing bridges after a severe earthquake. In this article, a reliability-based methodology to carry out capacity design with partial factors is proposed and applied to the seismic design of RC bridge structures. This ensures that (i) all of the components undergo the desired ductile failure mode, (ii) the damage due to an earthquake is induced only at the bottom of the bridge pier and (iii) the probability of failure is at most equal to a specified value.     

基于机器学习的钢筋混凝土柱失效模式两阶段判别方法增强出版（附加材料可在文章详情页“评审附件”下载）

钢筋混凝土柱在侧向地震力作用下具有弯曲、剪切和弯剪三种失效模式。不同的失效模式下钢筋混凝土柱具有不同的地震损伤特征。因此,准确地判别钢筋混凝土柱的失效模式对于准确评估钢筋混凝土结构的抗震性能具有重要意义。利用已有的钢筋混凝土柱滞回加载试验数据,采用机器学习方法,提出了一种钢筋混凝土柱失效模式两阶段判别方法。其中,第一阶段以钢筋混凝土柱的基本设计参数为输入变量,采用机器学习中的回归算法,建立钢筋混凝土柱的受弯承载力、受剪承载力、弯曲变形和剪切变形预测模型。第二阶段以钢筋混凝土柱的受弯承载力、受剪承载力、弯曲变形和剪切变形作为输入变量,采用机器学习中的分类算法,对钢筋混凝土柱的失效模式进行自动判别,实现了准确判别钢筋混凝土柱失效模式的目的。研究结果表明：极端随机树、AdaBoost、随机森林和梯度提升算法分别对受弯承载力、受剪承载力、弯曲变形和剪切变形的预测效果最佳;极端随机树、梯度提升算法和最近邻居法分别对弯曲失效、剪切失效和弯剪失效具有最佳的分类效果;相比已有的钢筋混凝土柱失效模式分类方法,提出的两阶段分类方法具有与真实失效模式最为接近的分类结果,分类精度可以达到96%。     

Seismic fragility analysis of reinforced concrete structures considering reinforcement corrosion

钢筋锈蚀是影响钢筋混凝土结构耐久性的一个重要因素，会引起结构的自振周期延长、地震需求变化及抗震能力衰减，使得锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构的地震易损性分析不同于未锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构。以一栋按我国规范设计的RC框架结构为研究对象，分别建立了未锈蚀和锈蚀结构的非线性有限元模型并进行了模型验证。分别采用云图法和条带法计算得到了钢筋混凝土结构在未锈蚀和锈蚀两种工况下的地震易损性曲线和函数参数，对锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性分析的特殊性及其对地震易损性分析结果的影响进行了分析。分析结果表明：不考虑钢筋锈蚀引起的结构自振周期延长会错误估计锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构的地震易损性水平。采用云图法分析锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构的地震易损性会出现锈蚀结构的极限状态失效概率低于未锈蚀结构的情况。而条带法比云图法可以更好地反映钢筋锈蚀对钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性的影响。忽略钢筋锈蚀引起的结构抗震能力衰减会低估锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性水平，建议在锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性分析中采用基于Pushover的极限状态定义方法。     

A machine-learning-based two-step method for failure mode classification of reinforced concrete columns

钢筋混凝土柱在侧向地震力作用下具有弯曲、剪切和弯剪三种失效模式。不同的失效模式下钢筋混凝土柱具有不同的地震损伤特征。因此，准确地判别钢筋混凝土柱的失效模式对于准确评估钢筋混凝土结构的抗震性能具有重要意义。利用已有的钢筋混凝土柱滞回加载试验数据，采用机器学习方法，提出了一种钢筋混凝土柱失效模式两阶段判别方法。其中，第一阶段以钢筋混凝土柱的基本设计参数为输入变量，采用机器学习中的回归算法，建立钢筋混凝土柱的受弯承载力、受剪承载力、弯曲变形和剪切变形预测模型。第二阶段以钢筋混凝土柱的受弯承载力、受剪承载力、弯曲变形和剪切变形作为输入变量，采用机器学习中的分类算法，对钢筋混凝土柱的失效模式进行自动判别，实现了准确判别钢筋混凝土柱失效模式的目的。研究结果表明：极端随机树、AdaBoost、随机森林和梯度提升算法分别对受弯承载力、受剪承载力、弯曲变形和剪切变形的预测效果最佳；极端随机树、梯度提升算法和最近邻居法分别对弯曲失效、剪切失效和弯剪失效具有最佳的分类效果；相比已有的钢筋混凝土柱失效模式分类方法，提出的两阶段分类方法具有与真实失效模式最为接近的分类结果，分类精度可以达到96%。     

Multiobjective optimisation algorithm for sewer network rehabilitation

Understanding of deterioration mechanisms in sewers helps asset managers in developing prediction models for estimating whether or not sewer collapse is likely. Effective utilisation of deterioration prediction models along with the development and use of life cycle maintenance cost analysis contribute to reducing operation and maintenance costs in sewer systems. This article presents a model for life-cycle maintenance planning of deteriorating sewer network as a multi-objective optimisation problem that treats the sewer network condition and service life as well as life-cycle maintenance cost (LCMC) as separate objective functions. The developed model utilises Markov chain model for the prediction of the deterioration of the network. A multi-objective genetic algorithm is used to automatically locate an appropriate maintenance scenario that exhibits an optimised tradeoff among conflicting objectives. Monte Carlo simulation is used to account for LCMC uncertainties. The optimisation algorithm provides an improved opportunity for asset managers to actively select near-optimum maintenance scenario that balances life-cycle maintenance cost, condition and service life of deteriorating sewer network. A case study is used to demonstrate the practical features of developed methodology.     

锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性分析

钢筋锈蚀是影响钢筋混凝土结构耐久性的一个重要因素,会引起结构的自振周期延长、地震需求变化及抗震能力衰减,使得锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构的地震易损性分析不同于未锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构。以一栋按我国规范设计的RC框架结构为研究对象,分别建立了未锈蚀和锈蚀结构的非线性有限元模型并进行了模型验证。分别采用云图法和条带法计算得到了钢筋混凝土结构在未锈蚀和锈蚀两种工况下的地震易损性曲线和函数参数,对锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性分析的特殊性及其对地震易损性分析结果的影响进行了分析。分析结果表明：不考虑钢筋锈蚀引起的结构自振周期延长会错误估计锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构的地震易损性水平。采用云图法分析锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构的地震易损性会出现锈蚀结构的极限状态失效概率低于未锈蚀结构的情况。而条带法比云图法可以更好地反映钢筋锈蚀对钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性的影响。忽略钢筋锈蚀引起的结构抗震能力衰减会低估锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性水平,建议在锈蚀钢筋混凝土结构地震易损性分析中采用基于Pushover的极限状态定义方法。     

Optimal seismic design for limited planning time horizon with detailed seismic hazard information

This study focuses on the optimal seismic design of buildings for the limited planning time horizon considering earthquakes generated from Poisson and non-Poisson processes. The analyses of the optimal design incorporate possible effects of the time elapsed since the last major earthquake, extended service period above the planning period and costs due to partial damage and collapse. An analysis algorithm is developed based on simulation technique, considering detailed seismic information; the evaluation of the linear/non-linear responses and different structural damage levels; and the assessment of the statistics of the damage cost. The algorithm is implemented and applied to simplified steel frame structures located in western Canada.Analysis results suggest that the optimal seismic design level is sensitive to the assumption of the cost of non-structural components. The analysis results also indicate that if the seismic hazard is dominated by earthquakes generated from a Poisson process, the impact of the extended service period after the planning period on the optimal design is not very significant. The impact of the elapsed time since the last major earthquake can be significant resulting in time-dependent optimal seismic design coefficients, if the seismic hazard is dominated by earthquakes generated from a non-Poisson process.