Optimal inspection planning using polynomial chaos crack propagation models

Author(s)

Gomes, W. J. S. ; Beck, A. T. ; Chen, A ; Frangopol, DM ; Ruan, X

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BRIDGE MAINTENANCE, SAFETY, MANAGEMENT AND LIFE EXTENSION; v. N/A, p. 8-pg., 2014-01-01.

Abstract

Fatigue is regarded as one of the major causes of failure for civil infrastructure worldwide. Continuous operation of such infrastructure over time requires significant expenditure in inspection and maintenance activities. The cost-effective safety management of ageing infrastructure involves finding the appropriate amount of resources to allocate to inspection and maintenance activities, in order to keep expected costs of failure (risk) under control. This article addresses optimal inspection planning for general infrastructure subject to fatigue crack propagation. One of the novelties of the study is the use of accurate polynomial chaos models to capture the random nature of the crack propagation phenomenon. Uncertainties of inspection equipment are also taken into account. The objective function is obtained by adding initial costs, cost of inspections and the expected costs of repair and failure. Expected numbers of failures and repairs are evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation. Optimum inspection intervals and optimum repair crack size are found for an example problem, and the sensitivities of these optima to assumed inspection and failure costs are investigated. It is found that optimum inspection intervals are highly dependent on the assumed costs of inspection and repair. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/17365-6 - Risk optimization under random fatigue and corrosion processes
• Grantee: Wellison José de Santana Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate