Papers by Keyword: Condition Index

Abstract: Developed in 2000, the Taiwan Bridge Management System (TBMS) is an internet-based, nation-wide bridge management system used by all of the bridge management agencies in Taiwan. Currently, the TBMS has an inventory of more than 24,300 bridges with 14 years of visual inspection data and maintenance records. The inspection data of each bridge are input into the TBMS at least once per two years. In order to have a fast assessment of bridge condition in resisting natural disasters and traffic loads, five indices are established in this research: (1) Degree of flood resistance (DF), (2) Degree of mudflow resistance (DM), (3) Degree of earthquake resistance (DE), (4) Degree of loads resistance (DL), and (5) Degree of collapse resistance (DC). Calculation of these five indices is based on the inventory and visual inspection data of each bridge without further thorough site investigation. These indices are used for screening or sieving bridges out of the TBMS inventory that are potentially vulnerable to natural disasters or traffic loads, thus maintenance efforts can be put on such bridges to improve the efficiency of bridge management.

Abstract: Levels of ²¹⁰Po in mussel (Perna viridis) collected from green mussel farming area at the Samut Sakhon province during the period of 2012 are presented. Parameters including total tissues wet weight and dry weight, maximum length, and the physiological performance of mussels using Condition Index were measured. The type of fluctuations observed with ²¹⁰Po concentrations are interpreted as a seasonal effect which peaks of high concentrations in wet season and low concentrations in dry season. Analysis of ²¹⁰Po activities in mussel (activity per individual) revealed the lower activities in smaller sized mussels (2.0-2.5 cm) and the higher in the larger sized group (6.5-7.0 cm). In the contrary, ²¹⁰Po concentrations decreased with increasing shell length, or with increasing body size. The ²¹⁰Po body burdens (activity per mussel) varied from 2.413 to 17.183 mBq while the ²¹⁰Po concentrations were ranged from 2.511 to 4.474 Bq.Kg^-1 ww. The results indicated that larger mussels were transfer lower ²¹⁰Po concentrations to consumer on a weight basis. It is concluded that the apparent seasonal fluctuation of radionuclide concentration were mostly caused by mussel body size fluctuation and not by radionuclide body burden fluctuation.

Abstract: Building component maintenance management is one of the most important issues in management of building lifecycle costs. Key to successful maintenance management is the ability to survey present condition and predict future condition for each component and facility present in a building. One of the methods is condition-based. This paper reflects on the condition index progress in repair system and maintenance of building facility by research in similar subjects and looks specifically at the use of condition index (CI) as a development tool. The result of research can be published as a guide to assist the development of programmers in field of economic models for optimization of repair cost of building component.

Abstract: This paper proposes a life-cycle cost (LCC) management methodology that integrates corrosion deterioration and fatigue damage mechanisms. This LCC management methodology has four characterized features: (1) corrosion deterioration and fatigue damage models are used to predict the time when the pre-defined limits are reached; (2) the performance of the steel girder is measured by condition state sets in which deflection, moment and shear capacities and fatigue strength limits are considered altogether; (3) the cost-effectiveness of management strategies are measured by the performance improvement per unit of money spent; and (4) the LCC model includes initial design/construction cost, inspection cost, maintenance cost, repair/rehabilitation cost and failure cost. A steel girder bridge is used as an example to demonstrate the application of the proposed LCC management methodology.