Calibration of partial safety factors for the assessment of existing bridges

Abstract

<p>The design codes use safety margins which, in general, exceed those that are reasonable to accept for the assessment of existing bridges. Knowledge about a structure can be improved by further investigations and this can justify modifying partial safety factors. In this context, the Technical Centre for Bridge Engineering (CTOA) of the Technical Department for Roads, Road Safety and Bridges (SETRA) has initiated in 2009 a large study for the calibration of partial factors adapted to the assessment of existing bridges. Based on the reliability theory, its objective is to provide modified partial factors based on tabulated experimental in-situ results. The study is performed on different families of standard bridges but the present paper will only highlight the preliminary results obtained for reinforced concrete slab bridges.</p>