Checking of structural safety-experiences with large-scale structures

Safeguarding the structural integrity of large-scale structures requires advanced assessment and reviewing strategies. These strategies have to integrate the knowledge of structural mechanics, effects of actions, material science, construction stage management and a reasonable estimation of the loading scenarios the structure is exposed to during its time of operation. Depending on specific traditions, these strategies are developed quite differently throughout the worldwide structural engineering community. The proposed paper will discuss the essentials common to all these strategies and will derive, based on three case studies recommendations for independent structural review procedures.