Developing a life-cycle management system for reinforced concrete buildings based on fully-probabilistic deterioration models

In a current research project we are developing a software tool for the predictive life-cycle management of reinforced concrete structures. There are two main novelties in our approach: On the one hand we integrate non-destructive inspection techniques in combination with full-probabilistic deterioration models, thus allowing for an early detection of possible future damages and economic planning of preventive remedial actions. On the other hand we base our system on a 3D geometry model of the building. All non-geometric information concerning the building, e.g. material properties, environmental loads or inspection data, can be attached to this model. In this way an easy localization of such data is achieved, facilitating both the data collection and the estimation of the building condition for engineers involved in inspection planning, inspection or the scheduling of repair actions. The prevalent environmental loads and material resistances vary over the whole structure and can deviate over single elements of a structure as well. A subdivision of the structure into surface areas of comparable load and resistance is necessary to gain reliable results of deterioration modelling. Therefore a hierarchic "level of detail" approach is being employed from network level down to individual hot spots on a sub-element level. All data, geometric and non-geometric, is stored in a central relational database. This database is coupled with Java applications that serve as user interface for storing new data in the database or gaining information from it. Using the Java 3D-library, the building geometry can be presented three-dimensionally in the user interface.