Frangopol The main objective of this research is to develop a framework for balancing bridge system reliability and expected life-cycle cost of bridge maintenance programs. This framework will provide the methodology for optimum bridge maintenance based on system reliability in a cycle perspective. The challenge in using the proposed framework is quantifying the uncertainties in the input variables. The information from bridge performance data, maintenance data, cost data, and engineering judgement can be combined, used, systematically updated and related directly to the optimum solution. The proposed approach will permit the process of optimum lifetime planning of bridge maintenance programs to evolve rationally and to be cost-effective.
