Reliability Assessment Approach for Fire Resistance Performance of Prestressed Steel–Concrete Box Girder Bridges

Abstract

This paper employs probability methods to evaluate the fire safety performance of prestressed steel–concrete beam bridges based on simulation experimental research. Firstly, fire simulation experimental sample analysis was conducted on actual small box girder bridges to assess the structural response of prestressed steel–concrete structures to fire, as is in line with engineering practice. Next, we constructed a reliability analysis model to investigate the fire resistance performance of prestressed steel–concrete beam bridges. Combining reliability theory with the finite element method, we established a reliability analysis method for the fire resistance performance of prestressed steel–concrete beam bridges. Subsequently, we proposed a safety factor evaluation model for the fire resistance performance of prestressed steel–concrete beam bridges and then established a safety factor evaluation method for the fire resistance performance of prestressed steel–concrete beam bridges based on reliability back analysis. Finally, based on the analysis of the post-fire structural response in the specific case of a steel–concrete continuous beam bridge project moving from conditions of being simply supported to continuously prestressed, a structural resistance sample of the prestressed steel–concrete beam bridge was generated via the uniform design method, and statistical analysis was conducted. Subsequently, probability methods were used to evaluate the safety of the prestressed steel–concrete beam bridge after a fire. Through analysis, we concluded that the duration of the fire had a significant impact on the structural performance of prestressed steel–concrete beam bridges and that the randomness of parameters had a significant impact on the safety reserve of prestressed steel–concrete beam bridges following the fire. Going forward, it is necessary to pay attention to this factor in specific engineering practices and strengthen the monitoring and statistical analysis of structural random characteristics.