Lifetime structural robustness of concrete bridge piers under corrosion

The lifetime structural robustness of concrete bridge piers under environmental damage is investigated in deterministic and probabilistic terms. Criteria and methods for the definition of lifetime performance indicators and the quantitative evaluation of structural robustness are presented. The effects of damage on the structural performance are evaluated by using a methodology for life-cycle assessment of concrete structures in aggressive environments. The proposed approach is applied to a reinforced concrete bridge pier with box cross-section. The results highlight the important role of the environmental exposure and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed measures in comparing the robustness associated to different exposure scenarios.