Decision-Support Software for Life Prediction and Rehabilitation of Concrete Bridge Decks

Objective

To develop analytical models and decision support software for the effective life cycle maintenance management and life cycle design of reinforced concrete highway bridge decks that are built in corrosive environments.

User Interface of SLAB-D Software

Background

In order to select the most cost-effective strategy for maintenance and design of concrete bridge decks, owners must predict the service life and total life-cycle costs of bridge decks, which depends on reliable predictions of chloride ingress into concrete, of corrosion of reinforcing steel and of damage initiation and accumulation in concrete decks. These in turn depend on several factors with considerable uncertainty. The development of decision support tools for service life prediction and life cycle cost analysis will therefore yield considerable benefits.

Results

• Developed analytical service life models that predict the time-varying probability of damage initiation and accumulation in bridge decks, which includes: (i) Chloride contamination of concrete cover; (ii) Corrosion of the reinforcing steel; (iii) Internal cracking; (iv) Surface cracking; (v) Delamination; and (vi) Spalling of concrete.
• Developed a life cycle cost analysis model that predicts the total costs incurred over the life cycle of bridge decks, including the costs of design, construction and maintenance, as well as the user costs due to traffic delays, accident costs, and vehicle operating costs.
• Developed the SLAB-D -- Service Life Analysis of concrete Bridge Decks -- decision support software, which integrates the developed service life prediction and life cycle cost analysis models.

Outcomes

• A comprehensive report describing the developed models for service life prediction and life cycle cost analysis of bridge decks was delivered to the partners.
• SLAB-D Version 1.0 was delivered to the partners in December 2007.

Partners

Alberta Transportation, Cement Association of Canada, Cities/Regions of Hamilton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Durham, Engineered Management Systems Inc., Federal Bridge Corporation Ltd., Manitoba Transportation and Government Services, Ministère des Transports du Québec, Nova Scotia Transportation and Public Works, Public Works and Government Services Canada

Start/Completion Dates

This project began in 2002 and was completed in 2007.

Publications

Environmental benefits of life cycle design of concrete bridges
Lounis, Z. Daigle, L.
3rd International Conference on Life Cycle Management (Zurich, Switzerland, 2007-08- 27)
pp. 1-6.
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Project to provide risk-based life-cycle management of aging highway bridge decks
Lounis, Z. Daigle, L.
Construction Innovation, 12 (1)
pp. 6. 2007-03-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Aging highway bridges
Lounis, Z.
Canadian Consulting Engineer, 48 (1)
pp. 30, 34. 2007-01-01
[ Full citation / Référence complète]


Risk-based maintenance optimization of aging highway bridge decks
Lounis, Z.
Sustainable Infrastructure: Techniques, Tools & Guidelines - Building Science Insight 2006
2006-09-01
[Full citation / Référence complète]


Management of bridge decks using stochastic deterioration models and multi- criteria optimization
Morcous, G. Lounis, Z.
7th International Conference on Short & Medium Span Bridges (Montreal, QC., 2006-08- 23)
pp. 1-10.
[Full citation / Référence complète]

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Institute for Research in Construction