Time-dependent reliability analysis of service-proven quay walls subject to corrosion-induced degradation

The assessment of service-proven quay walls subject to corrosion-induced degradation is inherently a time-dependent reliability problem. Two major challenges are the modelling of corrosion and taking into account the decrease of epistemic uncertainty throughout the quay wall’s service life. The main objective of this study is to examine the...

Risk-based target reliability indices for quay walls

Design codes and standards rely on generalised target reliability indices. It is unclear, however, whether these indices are applicable to the specific risk-profile of marine structures. In this study, target reliability indices for quay walls were derived from various risk acceptance criteria, such as economic optimisation, individual risk (IR)...

Updating piping reliability with field performance observations

Flood defenses are crucial elements in flood risk mitigation in developed countries, especially in deltaic areas. In the Netherlands, the VNK2 project is currently analyzing the reliability of all primary flood defenses as part of a nationwide flood risk analysis. In this project, as in most other reliability analyses of flood defenses, prior...

Reliability updating and decision analysis for head monitoring of levees

Flood defence levees are crucial for flood protection, especially in riverine and deltaic areas. One of the most critical failure modes of levees is backwards internal erosion or piping. Piping reliability is largely influenced by uncertainties in ground conditions, especially by geohydrological properties such as the hydraulic conductivity of...

River system behaviour effects on flood risk

A risk-based safety approach is indispensable to support decision-making on flood protection strategies and measures. Hitherto the effects of river system behaviour on flood risk have usually been neglected. River system behaviour refers to the fact that the flood risk (or safety) of a particular area may depend on the safety of other adjoining...

Reliability of sheet pile walls and the influence of corrosion. Structural reliability analysis with finite elements

The Finite Element Method is well accepted in design practice nowadays. It can be used for modeling complex structures and systems. The constitutive models are improving, which enables us to make more accurate predictions ofthe real world behavior. On the other hand, especially in the field ofgeotechnical engineering, the uncertainties in the...

Structural reliability analysis of deep excavations

Structural reliability of sheet pile walls using finite element analysis