RELIABILITY-BASED CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND LRFD FOR EXISTING STRUCTURES

Safety and serviceability requirements for limit states design in Nort h America have been developed and implemented in codes of practice dur ing the past 20 years. The load and resistance criteria in limit state s design are based on probabilistic methods. Statistical data on loads and on strengths are integrated by the reliability analysis to yield criteria that are consistent with a prescribed measure of reliability. The focus of code work to date has been on criteria for design of new buildings. However, professional practice frequently involves evaluat ion of existing structures. Research to support the development and im plementation of probability-based condition assessment procedures for existing buildings is in progress. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.