The challenge of managing ageing structures relates in essence to decision making under tight budgetary as well as operational constraints taking into account costs for inspections, repair and upgrading, but keeping in mind human safety. Hence, it is evident that efficiency or optimization in the asset management can result in substantial economic savings. Information on the condition of the structure is the necessary basis for deciding on a multitude of actions which can be taken to ensure safe operation of the structure within its projected lifetime or for prolonging its lifetime. Within the frame of this doctoral research project, it will be investigated how the predictive performance of FE models of existing concrete structures can be improved by calibrating these models based on combined monitoring & inspection data, focusing on both local and global vibration-based monitoring data as well as long-term strain measurements.
As a variety of different combined monitoring & inspection strategies exist, this doctoral research project will develop an optimization algorithm based on the concept of Value of Information (VOI), allowing to select the optimal strategy.