Predicting long-term service performance of a prestressed concrete bridge using a probabilistic method and remote bridge inspection technologies

The bridge structures are exposed to numerous live loads and environmental cycles during their service, which can cause degradation, defects, and reduction of the bridge capacity. As the capacity of the bridge reduces over time, the reliability index also reduces, which indicates the safety of bridge operation is compromised. Fitness for Service (FFS) assessment, which uses probabilistic methods and is supplemented by and consistent with detailed technical inspections of the structures, provides most accurate assessment of the expected bridge service. This article presents a probabilistic method used for the forecasting FFS of existing railway bridges and viaducts. The methodology is presented on a prestressed concrete viaduct that serves as a crucial link to the Pirâmides bridge and forms a railway extension to the coastal maritime port of Aveiro, Portugal. The FFS assessment accounted for the finding from remote bridge inspection.