System reliability assessment of hanger structure considering corrosion-fatigue coupling effect

The bridge hanger is exposed to cyclic loads, such as wind and vehicle loads, which can induce fatigue failure, significantly reducing its operational lifespan. Additionally, the hanger is prone to corrosion throughout transportation, construction, and operation. Although corrosion fatigue curves are typically derived from individual steel wire experiments, the bridge hanger comprises multiple parallel steel wires. Consequently, a corrosion fatigue curve based on a single wire may not accurately portray the hanger's longevity, and data solely at the component level may not encompass the overall system-level condition. To tackle this challenge, this paper introduces a series system-level reliability assessment framework based on dynamic Bayesian Networks, accounting for the interdependence between variables. Specifically, the framework encompasses a time-varying reliability model featuring three random parameters (corroded number, equivalent structural stress, and the total cycles number of wires) and leverages seven numerical simulation studies to investigate the impacts of these random parameters on system reliability.