Structural Reliability Analysis for Vessel Impact Bridges

The collapse of the Queen Isabella Causeway in 2001 due to a vessel collision was an alarming message to the state of Texas that vessel impact on bridges is a serious issue and may need to be considered for all bridges that span waterways. The Texas Department of Transportation funded this research project that was aimed at examining in detail the AASHTO LRFD code provisions for vessel impact on bridges. The goals of the present study are to develop a standalone computer program that utilizes information on waterways, vessels, traffic, and bridges in a probabilistic analysis that estimates the annual frequency of collapse.