Risk analysis on bridge scour failure

Congpu Yao, Jean Louis Briaud, Paolo Gardoni

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Bridge scour is the soil erosion caused by water flowing around bridge supports. Research has shown that scour has been the number one cause of bridge failure in the United States with an average annual rate of 22 bridges collapsing or being closed due to severe deformation. In this paper, the authors aimed to quantify the bridge scour risk in order to help people understand how risky the bridge scour is. The widely accepted definition of risk was adopted in the paper, the probability of failure times the value of the consequence. First, the NYSDOT Bridge Failure database and FDOT Unknown Foundation Bridges Database were used to quantify the bridge scour risk. Second, several other societal risks, including cancer, car accidents, and plane crashes, were analyzed to be comparable to bridge scour risk. Finally, the authors proposed the acceptable risk level, medium risk level, and unacceptable risk level in the United States based on the analyses in the paper. The outcome of this paper will aid people or authorities in understanding the risk of bridge failure as well as other society risks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationIFCEE 2015 - Proceedings of the International Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo 2015
EditorsJ. Brian Anderson, Magued Iskander, Muhannad T. Suleiman, Debra F. Laefer
PublisherAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
Pages1936-1945
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9780784479087
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventInternational Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo 2015, IFCEE 2015 - San Antonio, United States
Duration: Mar 17 2015Mar 21 2015

Publication series

NameGeotechnical Special Publication
VolumeGSP 256
ISSN (Print)0895-0563

Other

OtherInternational Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo 2015, IFCEE 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Antonio
Period3/17/153/21/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Building and Construction
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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