Bridges: Analysis, Design, Structural Health Monitoring, and Rehabilitation

Baidar Bakht

Preference :

Although not generally appreciated by laypeople, it is not possible to design and construct a structure that will remain safe against failure under all conditions and at all times. The several reasons for a structure being prone to failures include: (a) the strength of the various components of the structure cannot be assessed with full certainty; (b) the loads that a structure will be called upon to sustain also cannot be predicted with certainty; and (c) the condition of a structure may deteriorate with time due to the effects of the environment, causing it to lose strength. Because of these factors, there exists a probability that the strength of a structure will at some time be exceeded by the loads that it has to sustain, resulting in the failure of the structure.