Bridge life-cycle prediction through visual inspection data updating

The paper describes an integrated procedure for the evaluation of the life-cycle curve of existing bridges, calibrated with data derived from visual inspections and aimed to assess the deterioration state of their structural/non-structural elements. Visual inspections lead to evaluate a total sufficiency rating ( TSR) for the bridges and collect data to be used in the Bayesian updating process of the element deterioration curves. The outcomes have been used with the information provided by the simulation of potential bridge deterioration scenarios with the aim to quantify the mean trend and the related uncertainties of the remaining servicelife curve of a bridge structure. The proposed procedure has been applied to two different bridge stocks and results have then been critically discussed. The methodology could allow public authorities/private managing companies to optimize economical resources allocated for the definition of the long/medium term maintenance intervention plans to be performed on the most critical structures.