ESTIMATING FLEXURAL RELIABILITY OF CARBONATED RC BRIDGE BEAMS USING PARTICLE FILTER

Abstract

Many of our reinforced concrete structures today are ageing at the same time subjected to
carbonation. It occurs when atmospheric carbon dioxide reacts with the components of the hydrated cement.
In this regard, the authors estimated the probability of flexural failure of a deteriorated reinforced concrete
(RC) beams subjected to carbonation. In the reliability analysis, the resistance degrades over time due to a
change in the concrete compressive strength caused by carbonation. The load was modeled as a uniformly
distributed on a simply supported beam. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation of an example bridge
showed a decrease in the compressive strength due to carbonation. To estimate the present state of the RC
beams, particle filter was used in conjunction with observation data from rebound hammer tests on the bridge.