Toward an expert system for damage assessment of structural concrete elements

Abstract

AbstractThe assessment of damage of structural concrete elements relies on the engineering judgment of the person in charge of the inspection and evaluation. This paper describes a rule-based prototype expert system developed to assist an engineer engaged in the task of assessing postearthquake damage to structural concrete elements in the task of providing guidance for inspection as well as criteria for evaluation and courses of action to take afterwards. The expert system, called DASE, identifies the most likely failure modes that may be developed by columns or beams of a damaged building, determines the severity of damage and, suggests immediate actions to take afterwards, such as rehabilitation procedures or tests, to maintain an acceptable local safety level. Floor damage classification and restoration guidelines can also be provided, assuming that all of the structural components in a building's floor have been inspected. The Analytic Hierarchy Process has been implemented as the overall framework to determine the severity of damage, since it allows judgments and personal values to be represented in a systematic and rational manner. DASE provides graphics that customize the user interface and an explanation facility. The knowledge acquisition process consisted primarily of the analysis of documented knowledge found through literature research.