The robustness of reinforced concrete tied arch bridges: A case study

The robustness of a structural systems is understood as their ability to prevent or reduce the consequences of a local (exceptional and/or extreme) event. The current work aims to address the issues related to the evaluation of robustness of structures with incorporated damage. The case study of an existing reinforced concrete arch bridge is investigated in terms of robustness considering the variation of both the cracking state from concrete spalling and the corrosion of reinforcement bars. The damage variation related to these different matters is assessed both in terms of intensity and occurrence in the various structural elements of the bridge. Finally, the structural robustness index is estimated through push-down analysis to make an overall assessment of the bridge behavior.