Time-dependent reliability-based charts to evaluate the structural safety of RC wharf decks exposed to corrosion and freeze-thaw effect

Abstract

User-friendly time-dependent reliability-based evaluation charts are developed in this research to help practitioners assess the structural safety of existing steel reinforced concrete wharf decks exposed to chloride-induced corrosion and freeze–thaw effect. The research methodology consists of developing a time-dependent reliability-based algorithm using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, conducting a sensitivity analysis to identify influential parameters that affect the wharf reliability, and calibrating user-friendly evaluation charts. Design examples were provided to demonstrate the use of the evaluation charts for predicting the structural safety of wharves subjected to gravity loads. The margin of error of using the developed charts was found to be less than 2.5% as compared to rigorous time-dependent crude MC simulation.