Calibration of the Ontario Bridge Design Code 1983 edition

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 760-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hid N. Grouni ◽  
Andrzej S. Nowak

The paper summarizes the calibration procedure used to calculate load and resistance factors for the Ontario Bridge Design Code 1983 edition. The limit states considered include serviceability and ultimate limit states during service and in construction. The acceptance criterion is closeness to a predetermined target safety level. Safety is measured in terms of a reliability index. The results of calibration are discussed for composite steel–concrete girders, pretensioned concrete girders, post-tensioned concrete decks, and timber decks. The analysis of construction design criteria is demonstrated on segmental bridges. Key words: code calibration, bridges, reliability index, load and resistance factors, limit states.

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej S. Nowak ◽  
Raymond J. Taylor

The new Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code (OHBDC) is based on limit states theory and therefore uses a load and resistance factor format. This paper deals with the development of the basis for the timber bridge design provisions (OHBDC). Three structural systems are considered: sawn timber stringers, laminated nailed decks, and prestressed laminated decks. The latter system has been successfully used in Ontario for the last 7 years.The acceptance criterion in calculation of load and resistance factors is structural reliability. It is required that bridges designed using the new code must have a reliability equal to or greater than a preselected target value. Reliability is measured in terms of the reliability index. The safety analysis is performed for a structural system rather than for individual members. The live load model was developed on the basis of available truck survey data. Material properties are based on extensive in-grade test results. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the presented approach. Key words: bridge deck, design code, prestressed timber, reliability, reliability index, stringers, structural safety, timber bridges.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nafiseh Kiani

Structural reliability analysis is necessary to predict the uncertainties which may endanger the safety of structures during their lifetime. Structural uncertainties are associated with design, construction and operation stages. In design of structures, different limit states or failure functions are suggested to be considered by design specifications. Load and resistance factors are two essential parameters which have significant impact on evaluating the uncertainties. These load and resistance factors are commonly determined using structural reliability methods. The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability index for a typical highway bridge by considering the maximum moment generated by vehicle live loads on the bridge as a random variable. The limit state function was formulated and reliability index was determined using the First Order Reliability Methods (FORM) method.


2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 574-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej S Nowak ◽  
Chan-Hee Park ◽  
Peter Ojala

The reliability-based calibration procedures were applied to develop load and resistance factors for the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code (1979, 1983, and 1991) and recently the Canadian Highway Bridges Design Code (2000). However, the load components for buried structures were not considered. The development of a statistical model for earth pressure requires a special approach. Therefore, this paper deals with the reliability-based calibration of the design code for buried (cut-and-cover) structures. A typical running structure consists of reinforced concrete walls forming a rectangular box section, while an underground station may have a one- to six-cell box. The major load components include earth pressure, water pressure and weight of the concrete. Other load components such as live load are relatively small. Statistical parameters are derived for representative structures and structural systems. The correlation between load components is estimated based on the available field data. Structural performance is measured in terms of the reliability index. Reliability indices are calculated for a representative spectrum of running structures and stations. In general, the reliability indices for existing buried structures are higher than those for bridges or buildings. The target reliability index has been selected on the basis of calculated reliability indices, comparison with other structures, and cost analysis (consequences of failure). The optimum load and resistance factors are calculated and recommended for the design code to achieve a uniform safety level.Key words: buried structure, code calibration, load models, reinforced concrete, reliability analysis, resistance models.


2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 799-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Cheung ◽  
W C Li

The current practice of highway bridge design in Canada is based on limit states design. Ideally, by means of the properly calibrated load and resistance factors specified in the applicable design code, limit states design will yield a consistent and uniform safety level for all designed bridge structures. Some factors neglected in the standard design procedures, however, may have unexpected effects on the reliability of a particular design. In this case, to follow a design code exactly may still lead to a certain degree of underdesign or overdesign. Therefore, the reliability assessment is recommended for each particular design, and a simulation-based approach for this assessment is proposed in this study. Examples are presented to support the afore-mentioned recommendation.Key words: highway bridges, reliability, design code, simulation, finite strip method.


1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 824-832
Author(s):  
R. A. Dorton

The Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code was first issued in 1979 and has since been used for the design and evaluation of most bridges in Ontario. The code is in metric SI units, written in a limit states format, and calibrated to a target safety index value of 3.5. It has produced bridges with a more consistent safety level and capable of carrying design live loads twice those previously prescribed. Feedback from users was obtained and their concerns considered in formulating the provisions of the seeond edition in 1983. New bridge codes can be written in a short time and implemented most readily within a relatively small jurisdiction having control of all highways, bridges, and vehicles. Communications between the writers and potential users are important throughout the preparation and implementation phases. It is essential that a commentary volume be issued with a code to ensure correct understanding and interpretation of new provisions. Computer programs should be available, incorporating the code technology before the use of a new code becomes mandatory. Future code needs and likely areas of new development are outlined in the paper. Key words: calibration, codes, computer systems, highway bridges, loadings, safety, structures.


1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej S. Nowak ◽  
Hid N. Grouni

The paper describes the calculation of load and resistance factors for the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code (OHBDC) 1991 edition. The work involved the development of load and resistance models, the selection of the reliability analysis method, and the calculation of the reliability indices. The statistical models for load and resistance are reviewed. The considered load components include dead load, live load, and dynamic load. Resistance models are developed for girder bridges (steel, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete). A reliability analysis is performed for selected representative structures. Reliability indices are calculated using an iterative procedure. The calculations are performed for bridge girders designed using OHBDC 1983 edition. The resulting reliability indices are between 3 and 4 for steel girders and reinforced concrete T-beams, and between 3.5 and 5 for prestressed concrete girders. Lower values are observed for shorter spans (up to 30–40 m). The acceptance criterion in the selection of load and resistance factors is closeness to the target reliability level. The analysis confirmed the need to increase the design live load for shorter spans. Partial resistance factors are considered for steel and concrete. The criteria for the evaluation of existing bridges are based on the reliability analysis and economic considerations. Key words: bridge code, calibration, load factor, resistance factor, reliability index.


2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-238
Author(s):  
Marcilio S. R. Freitas ◽  
André L. R. Brandão ◽  
Arlene M. S. Freitas

The objective of this paper is to provide a review of the calibration procedure of the resistance factor for a target reliability index. Resistance factors for cold-formed steel columns are calculated with a first order second moment reliability approach. A test database of 323 cold-formed steel columns concentrically loaded with plain and lipped C-section was assembled, and test-to-predicted statistics were obtained for the three design methods available in Brazilian cold-formed steel code: the Effective Width Method (EWM), the Effective Section Method (ESM) and the Direct Strength Method (DSM). For the normal load combination, dead-to-live load ratio of 1/3, and target reliability index <img border=0 width=32 height=32 src="../../../../../img/revistas/rem/v66n2/a15for01.jpg" align=absmiddle > or = 2.5, the calculated resistance factors, g, for the three methods are consistent with current value specified by Brazilian code. For all methods, with target reliability index <img border=0 width=32 height=32 src="../../../../../img/revistas/rem/v66n2/a15for01.jpg" align=absmiddle > or = 3.0, the calculated resistance factors, g, are higher than the current value used in Brazilian code.


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