Development of a Risk-Based Inspection Methodology for Bridges supported by Digital Technologies

• Grant number: 23/15206-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date until: March 25, 2024
• End date until: March 24, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Tulio Nogueira Bittencourt
• Grantee: Ruan Richelly Santos
• Supervisor: Xavier das Neves Romao
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade do Porto (UP), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/02350-2 - Development of a risk-based inspection methodology for bridges supported by digital technologies, BP.DR

Abstract

Bridges are a vital transportation infrastructure component, forming essential links that significantly contribute to the economy and social well-being. These structures are susceptible to damage over time, primarily due to material deterioration processes and external loading effects. In this context, scheduled inspections of these systems are crucial to ensure safety and proper service conditions. Generally, inspection routines are carried out at predefined intervals without considering the structure actual condition. Therefore, implementing an inspection methodology that considers the asset characteristics and deterioration ensures increased safety, reliability, and optimization of inspection resources. Adopting a risk-based method considers the probability and consequences of failure of a system or element in terms of safety and service. Hence, the research project aims to develop and validate a risk-based inspection methodology for railway bridges using new digital technologies. The project aims to establish a risk-based framework that can be applied for evaluating a collection of railway assets, providing comprehensive support to bridge management systems, as well as for individual assets, offering localized and quantitative support. The resulting framework integrated into the bridge management cycle will enable ongoing risk assessment and inspection activity planning, allowing for better resource allocation and ensuring the bridge structural integrity.