Restoration Curves for Infrastructure: Preliminary Case Study on a Bridge in Quebec

Abstract

As part of critical infrastructures, bridges play an important role in the resilience and functionality of the transportation system. Typically, in the aftermath of an earthquake, the restoration process of the impacted region begins. Thus, it is vital for bridges to maintain their functionality and serviceability during this period in order to expedite the restoration process. In this regard, restoration functions are used to assess the functionality of the bridges in a quantitative manner before an extreme event. To this end, the present study presents probabilistic resilience curve for the Chemin des Dalles Bridge in Quebec, Canada, by incorporating fragility and restoration profiles available in literature. The bridge is designed according to older design codes, and they may lack seismic detailing; therefore, they might be susceptible to future earthquakes. The obtained resilience curves are then used to quantify the resilience of the examined bridge. The results indicate that the bridge has a resilient performance in code-level earthquake. However, in order to improve resiliency in stronger events, the retrofit of vulnerable components should be considered.