A model for assessing the priority of the bridges within their repair strategy

Abstract

The efficiency of the road network operation significantly depends on ensuring the durability and operational reliability of road bridges. To prevent accidents on bridges, ensure their reliability and durability, it is necessary to perform a set of measures, including the following: inspection of bridges, determination of their operational condition, calculation of residual life, development of recommendations for their further operation, and performance of operational measures. Considering the significant quantity of bridges in Ukraine, most of these activities have to be performed using modern information technology. Therefore, an Analytical Expert Bridge Management System Software Complex (AESUM) for bridges of Ukraine on public roads was developed and implemented. An important component of this software complex is the procedures for development of a strategy of repairs in the system of road bridges operation. One of the components of the mathematical model, which is the basis for justifying the repairing strategy, is a system of priorities for bridges repairs, taking into account their importance. This scientific paper considers the current system of priority, which takes into account the technical and operational condition of bridges and the category of roads on which they are located. A new model for evaluation of the priorities of repairs is proposed which takes into account such factors as importance of the bridge, technical and operational condition of the bridge, traffic capacity of the bridge and the cost-effectiveness of repairs. The factors mentioned above consist of a set of sub-factors. For example, the bridge importance factor consists of such sub-factors as the average daily traffic volume, the bypass influence, the bridge's affiliation with international transport corridors, etc.