Risk assessment of bridges due to flood and overloading events in Manitoba
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The challenges posed by Canada's aging infrastructure and limited economic resources have underscored the need for proactive measures to address the vulnerabilities inherent in its bridge systems. This study seeks to develop a comprehensive framework tailored to the evaluation of risk factors associated with flooding and overweight traffic on typical highway bridges in Manitoba. The primary objective of this research is to establish a robust methodology for assessing risk values arising from the combined effects of flooding and overweight traffic on bridge structures. To this end, the study engages in a thorough analysis of historical flood data to pinpoint flood-prone zones. Concurrently, historical data pertaining to Average Annual Daily Traffic Volume (AADTT) and Overweight (OW) percentages are examined to ascertain the frequency of overloading risk for bridges due to overweight traffic. The investigation extends to the determination of overtopping levels for individual bridges, complemented by the establishment of vertical clearance thresholds spanning a range from 3 to 12.6 meters. Additionally, the research investigates the interplay between OW (%) and AADTT, revealing a direct relationship wherein heightened truck traffic contributes to an elevated percentage of excessive loading on bridges. Consequently, this heightened loading exacerbates the risk of bridge failures. The results of the analysis show for five different levels of flooding, a probability of failure ranging between 0.0155 and 0.0081. Bridges close to the Red River are at higher risk due to more water flow. The probability of failure due to overloading ranges from 3.74e-09 to 1.29e-08. The most vulnerable area in Manitoba is along the Trans-Canada highway and the north-south corridors near Winnipeg. This highlights the importance of considering specific locations when designing and maintaining bridges to ensure their safety.