MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF REINFORCING BAR CORROSION AND RELIABILITY-BASED DURABILITY DESIGN TO ENSURE THE SEISMIC SAFETY OF RC BRIDGE PIERS EXPOSED TO MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

First, seismic analysis method for bridge piers with steel corrosion was established, and the maximum amount of reinforcing bar corrosion to maintain the seismic safety of a corrosion-free RC bridge pier was examined based on the reliability analysis. Then, the probability that the corrosion state of reinforcing bar will reach a particular value within the lifetime of RC bridge pier was calculated by corrosion progress model. The calculations for the cover to ensure that the probability is the same as the target value are presented. As a result, when the limit state of durability design of RC bridge piers is set as corrosion crack initiation, the degradation of seismic safety due to reinforcing bar corrosion during its lifetime can be assumed to be negligible and a rational cover can be determined.