640 publications from this institution
The 45 year old Sorell Causeway Bridge was demolished in 2002 due to concerns regarding the corrosion of prestressed tendons. Three beams of varying condition were salvaged from the demolition process and were relocated to the Structural Laboratory at the University of Newcastle. The beams were examined for load capacity and load deflection behaviour, as well as being subject to very detailed investigations. This paper provides the first set of findings from initial investigations carried out in November-December 2005, in particular providing comment on the load characteristics of the beams and instances of corrosion observed. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214936.
The reliability analysis of multi-membered structural systems such as steel tubular offshore platforms has proved to be a challenging task, and one on which increasing interest is being focussed. The modelling of applied wave loading for such structures is reviewed herein, together with appropriate statistical models. For the structural analysis in reliability theory work, a single wave load system only has been most commonly considered. Real wave trains, however reach the various structural components at different times and this may have an effect on the sequence of most likely member failure. This can, in turn, affect the calculated probability of failure for the structure as a whole, as is demonstrated in the paper for a reasonably realistic but idealized offshore structure.