Exploitable results Expert systems for concrete structure assessment Optimal strategies for inspection, maintenance and repair of prestressed concrete bridges and other structures were defined. Two prototype computer codes were prepared: BRIDGE1 deals with the strategies for inspection, relating the observed defects of concrete and/or steel reinforcement with inspecting techniques and with the probable causes; BRIDGE2 is a sophisticated code that executes the reliability assessment. This takes into account the selection of the more appropriate repair technique, economic data on repair and maintenance, economic impact on traffic, structural safety and specific data on the bridge being analysed. As result the program calculates the reliability index and defines an inspecting plan. The programs use optimization, expert system, reliability and structural analysis methods to relate the several databases involved. Although the 2 codes were prepared for concrete bridges, BRIDGE1 has wide applicability and brings helpful guidance in the observation of any concrete structure. This, in particular, stands for consulting activity on maintenance of buildings and other types of constructions. BRIDGE2 is mainly addressed to the owners of bridges, but the methodology that is used is general and can be adapted to solve reliability assessment of problems of a different nature. BRIDGE1 is close to be marketable and has economic potential due to its wide applicability in guidance of the maintenance of concrete structures. A lot of consulting civil engineering companies as well as local authorities may be interested in this code. Some construction companies and manufacturers of repairing materials may also be interested. BRIDGE2 has a restricted field of application but on the other hand has the ability of solving a very difficult problem of high social and economic relevance. Assessment of performance and optimal strategies for inspection and maintenance of concrete structures using reliability based expert systems A new expert system has been developed which can assist the inspector during the inspection on the site of the bridge and will supply information on the causes of observed defects, appropriate diagnosis methods and related defects. A second expert system has also been developed which is used as a decision tool for the inspection after the inspection is completed and after testing in the laboratories has taken place. A number of FORTRAN modules, MISDAT, BETAEQ, RELIAB and INSPEC has been developed and implemented on basis of existing software. These modules are used in the expert systems, but can also be used independently (eg to estimate the reliability of any structure). New stochastic models for corrosion, inspection, maintenance and repair are used in the expert systems, but are also of great interest in other connections. New experimental results on corrosion, repair materials, strength of damaged structural elements and long time behaviour of concrete structural elements have been found. Searching for OpenAIRE data... There was an error trying to search data from OpenAIRE No results available
