Technical service life prediction of deteriorating structures

Abstract

The technical service life as a quantitative durability parameter of deteriorating structural members is studied. The probabilistic analysis and prediction of durability of deteriorating structures subjected to recurrent extreme service and climate actions is discussed. The strategy of this prediction is based on the concept that not only a performance but also a safety margin of deteriorating members of load-carrying structures are time-dependent random variables. The effect of coincident recurrent extreme actions on their survival probabilities is analysed. The instantaneous and time-dependent survival probabilities of particular members may be assessed by the method of transformed conditional probabilities. The technical service life as a quantitative durability parameter of deteriorating members is related with the target value of generalized reliability index. The presented methodology on durability prediction of structures may help engineers to calculate the technical service life of deteriorating structures.