A Cost‐Benefit Methodology for Selecting Analytical Reinforced Concrete Corrosion Onset Models

Abstract

This work focuses on predicting corrosion onset induced by concrete carbonation or chloride ingress when using analytical predictive models. The paper proposes a procedure that helps building and infrastructure managers to select an appropriate model depending on the available information and the means granted to auscultation campaigns. The approach proposed combines the costs of input parameters, their relative importance, the benefits brought through obtaining parameters, and the maintenance strategy of the manager. Costs represent the intellectual investment to obtain parameters. This encompasses the time spent to obtain and analyze a result and the required expertise. Relative importance and benefits are obtained from sensitivity analysis. The effect of the maintenance strategy is introduced through a scalar called efficiency of the model. The proposed methodology is illustrated with two case studies where it is supposed that more or less extended information is available. Three concrete qualities are also considered in the case studies. The results highlight that the available data and concrete type have significant impacts on the selection of the most appropriate model.

Degradation Models and Maintenance Strategies for Reinforced Concrete Structures in Coastal Environments under Climate Change: A Review

“…The objective of the degradation prediction over time is to provide crucial information to develop maintenance strategies [115]. Therefore, the next step after the development of degradation models is to establish maintenance schedules that extend the structure's lifespans under cost-effective and efficient restrictions that benefit modern society [14].…”

“…Recently, Rakotovao Ravahatra et al [115] focused on a procedure to help infrastructure managers in the process of selecting appropriate models for predicting corrosion by combining the costs of input parameters, their relative importance, and the benefits brought through obtaining parameters and the maintenance strategy of the manager.…”

fib Bulletin 109. Existing concrete structures life management, testing and structural health monitoring

“…Besides, the number of input parameters generally depends on the model sophistication, where the accuracy of the prediction is largely influenced by the quality of data used. The cost/benefit approach has recently proven to suit for helping the asset manager/engineer in this choice [215] . More precisely, the cost depends on the estimation method of the input parameters (either by expert advice or by in-site auscultation or with lab procedure both with the collection of data).…”