Bridge system reliability assessment method

In order to assess the working condition of the bridge structure system(BSS),based on the study results of the BSS components,a new method was proposed to assess the BSS reliability.The Markov process steady-state probabilities were used as the indexes for assessment of the BSS reliability,the relations between Markov process steady-state probilities and BSS components reliability indexes were established and a relational matrix R of the BSS reliability was deduced.For the real BSS,the system state transfer matrix may be established.Given the reliability index of every conponent of the BSS,the relational matrix R of the BSS reliability can be obtained.The steady-state probability of every state,i.e.the reliability assessment index,of the BSS can be derived by the Markov process steady-state probability calculation equation.An example showed that the proposed method is feasible and effective,providing a theoretical basis and practical method to BSS reliability assessment in the design and operation processes.