Optimization of the ultimate capacity of a reinforced concrete slab bridge

The aim of the paper is to show the possible uses of stochastic small-sample pseudo-optimization in the study and evaluation of the behavior of a currently-existing reinforced concrete slab bridge before and after strengthening. It is proposed that the bridge be strengthened by concreting above the bridge deck on both sides of the deck. The objective function is the ultimate capacity function represented by an FEM nonlinear computational model. It should be maximized within cost constraints. The strengthening parameters are optimized using a pseudo-optimization method based on Monte Carlo type simulation - Latin hypercube sampling. A selected alternative method of strengthening the bridge and increasing its ultimate capacity is then assessed fully probabilistically. The ultimate capacity of the bridge is determined by software tools employing nonlinear fracture mechanics.