Pursuing Life-Cycle Sustainability for Bridges Subjected to Multiple Threats

Date
2014-12-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract

Deteriorating bridges, particularly in regions most vulnerable to natural hazards, pose a threat to public safety. With increasing concern regarding sustainability, there is need to consider not only economic, but also environmental and social indicators of performance for bridges under natural hazards. This thesis presents two frameworks: a life-cycle sustainability analysis for quantifying risk-based sustainability indicators of bridge performance and a multi-objective optimization framework for selecting optimal retrofit and repairs based on sustainability objectives. Results highlight impacts retrofits have on reducing expected values of lifetime sustainability indicators and reveal relationships between lifetime environmental, economic, and social sustainability indicators for bridges subject to multiple threats. The frameworks are anticipated to help guide selection of retrofit and repair combinations by providing a set of optimal solutions, which enhance sustainability while ensuring safety and mitigating damage from natural disasters.

Description
Degree
Master of Science
Type
Thesis
Keywords
Sustainability, Life-cycle analysis, Bridge infrastructure, Multi-objective optimization, Seismic, Natural hazard mitigation
Citation

Tapia, Citlali. "Pursuing Life-Cycle Sustainability for Bridges Subjected to Multiple Threats." (2014) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88176.

Has part(s)
Forms part of
Published Version
Rights
Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
Link to license
Citable link to this page