Date of Award

January 2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Samuel Labi

Second Advisor

Kumares C. Sinha

Committee Member 1

Jon D. Fricker

Committee Member 2

Thomas L. Morin

Abstract

The bridges in the U.S. highway system suffer from deficiencies in both their structural condition and functionality. In an effort to improve the condition of bridges, highway agencies continually seek effective and efficient approaches to maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) treatments for their bridges. However, one drawback to new approaches is that highway agencies have long relied on the subjective judgment of their engineers to determine the time or condition at which to implement the treatments as well as the types of treatments to be applied. The literature shows that previous researchers mainly focused on time-based M&R strategies, but there have been some efforts toward developing condition-based strategies, such as the Indiana Bridge Management System (IBMS). While IBMS and similar systems were laudable efforts, they also were developed on the basis of the judgment and experience of bridge management personnel and were not data-driven.

Share

COinS