Malahide Viaduct, Malahide, Co. Dublin.
Summary
Roughan & O’Donovan Innovative Solutions (ROD-IS) carried out a probabilistic assessment of the Malahide railway viaduct following the scour induced failure of one of its supporting piers in 2009.
Highlight
Our solution provided the basis for a maintenance strategy that maintained the required safety level while maximising performance with respect to economic cost.
Solution
We calculated the level of safety in terms of the reliability index (β-index) of the structure, when compared to the minimum value required by the Eurocode.
Our assessment was informed by an extensive suite of both non-destructive and destructive testing, including:
- Full scale load testing of individual beams
- Sampling and laboratory testing of material properties
- Electro-chemical techniques to assess the condition of the structure
Challenge
In undertaking the probabilistic modelling, we used both stochastic and deterministic variables to consider the load and resistance of the structure.
We modelled the following parameters:
- Deterioration (tendon corrosion as the main factor)
- Damage mechanisms
- Loading, material and prestress uncertainties
Services provided:
- Risk-based asset management
- Structural health monitoring
- Traffic load modelling