@article{BenekosDiamantidis, author = {Benekos, Ioannis and Diamantidis, Dimitris}, title = {On risk assessment and risk acceptance of dangerous goods transportation through road tunnels in Greece}, series = {Safety Science}, volume = {91}, journal = {Safety Science}, number = {91}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.ssci.2016.07.013}, pages = {1 -- 10}, abstract = {Prescriptive and risk-based methods including qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative approaches exist for the risk assessment of road tunnels. This paper provides an overview and a brief discussion of these methods and uses representative traffic and accident data in Greece in a typical tunnel conforming with the minimum infrastructure requirements of the European Directive 2004/54/EC to compare and discuss the resulting risk for each of these methods. Conclusions regarding the implementation of risk analysis methods and the use of the associated existing national guideline are drawn and recommendations for further developments in standards are provided. An integrated framework for the optimal selection of safety measures based on risk reduction and socio-economic considerations is proposed and its applicability in risk analysis of road tunnels is discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{SykoraDiamantidisHolickyetal., author = {S{\´y}kora, Miroslav and Diamantidis, Dimitris and Holicky, Milan and Jung, Karel}, title = {Target reliability for existing structures considering economic and societal aspects}, series = {Structure and infrastructure engineering}, volume = {13}, journal = {Structure and infrastructure engineering}, number = {1}, publisher = {Taylor\&Francis}, doi = {10.1080/15732479.2016.1198394}, pages = {181 -- 194}, abstract = {Specification of target reliability levels is one of the key issues of the assessment of existing structures. ISO 13822:2010 and ISO 2394:2015 indicate procedures for specification of target reliability levels by optimisation of the total cost related to an assumed remaining working life of a structure. These approaches are critically compared with human safety criteria, with target levels based on a marginal life-saving costs principle, and with recommendations of present standards. Optimal target reliability levels are then derived in the representative case study for an existing structural member. It appears that the requirement to reach the same target reliability levels for existing and new structures is uneconomical. Decisions made in the assessment can result in the acceptance of the actual state or in the upgrade of an existing structure. Two reliability levels are thus needed - the minimum level below which the structure is unreliable and should be upgraded, and the target level indicating an optimum upgrade strategy. It is recommended that these levels be established using economic optimisation and the marginal life-saving costs principle, as both the approaches take into account the costs of safety measures and the failure consequences.}, language = {en} } @article{RetiefDiamantidisBarnardoViljoenetal., author = {Retief, Johan Verster and Diamantidis, Dimitris and Barnardo-Viljoen, Celeste and van der Klashorst, Etienne}, title = {Extreme actions and climate change: experience gained in South Africa and Germany}, series = {Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems}, volume = {31}, journal = {Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems}, number = {2}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {1029-0249}, doi = {10.1080/10286608.2014.912640}, pages = {179 -- 188}, abstract = {The results of a survey of climate change developments in South Africa and Germany from the perspective of its relevance to extreme actions on infrastructure are presented in this paper. It is concluded that the importance of climate change is broad and varied. However incorporation into practice is mostly nominal. Although general trends of climate change are confirmed, proper information on changes in extreme conditions is limited. Coastal engineering seems to be the field which is most active in providing for climate change. It is concluded that risk-based methodologies developed to treat the variability and uncertainties of extreme actions and consequences in present practice provide a sound basis for treating the effects of climate change in a rational and optimal manner. It is also clear that there is strong motivation for extensive research as the best action to be taken presently, anticipating appropriate adjustment of re-optimised design methodologies.}, language = {en} } @incollection{RetiefBarnardoViljoenvanderKlashorstetal., author = {Retief, Johan Verster and Barnardo-Viljoen, Celeste and van der Klashorst, Etienne and Diamantidis, Dimitris}, title = {Extreme actions and climate change}, series = {Safety, Reliability, Risk and Life-Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructures : proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability, New York, USA, 16-20 June 2013}, booktitle = {Safety, Reliability, Risk and Life-Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructures : proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability, New York, USA, 16-20 June 2013}, editor = {Deodatis, George and Ellingwood, Bruce and Frangopol, Dan M.}, publisher = {CRC Press}, address = {London}, isbn = {9780429227950}, pages = {1543 -- 1550}, language = {en} } @article{SykoraHolickyDiamantidis, author = {S{\´y}kora, Miroslav and Holick{\´y}, Milan and Diamantidis, Dimitris}, title = {Probabilistic updating in the reliability assessment of industrial heritage structures}, series = {Heron}, volume = {59}, journal = {Heron}, number = {2/3}, publisher = {Stevin-Laboratorium, TU Delft}, address = {Delft}, issn = {0046-7316}, abstract = {Assessment of existing structures should be based on the actual as-built conditions concerning geometry, material properties, loading and environmental conditions. A crucial step of the assessment consists in updating of prior information by newly obtained measurements which may be conducted by Bayesian approach. Updating of probabilistic distributions of basic variables or direct updating of failure probability can be effectively used. Application of theoretical principles is illustrated by a case study of a historic factory built in 1900s. The paper is a tribute to Ton Vrouwenvelder for his essential contributions to developments of theory and promotion of practical applications of probabilistic assessment of existing structures.}, language = {en} } @article{SteenbergenSykoraDiamantidisetal., author = {Steenbergen, R.D.J.M. and S{\´y}kora, Miroslav and Diamantidis, Dimitris and Holick{\´y}, Milan and Vrouwenvelder, A.C.W.M.}, title = {Economic and human safety reliability levels for existing structures}, series = {Structural Concrete. JOurnal of the fib}, volume = {16}, journal = {Structural Concrete. JOurnal of the fib}, publisher = {Wiley}, doi = {10.1002/suco.201500022}, pages = {323 -- 332}, abstract = {Specifying the target reliability levels is one of the key issues in the assessment of existing structures. For a majority of existing buildings and infrastructures, the design life has been reached or will be reached in the near future. These structures need to be reassessed in order to verify their safety. Eurocodes provide a general basis primarily intended for the design of new structures, but the basic principles can be used for assessing existing buildings, too. Reliability levels are generally based on both economic optimization and criteria for human safety. In this study, both methods are elaborated for existing structures. It appears that the requirement for the same target reliability for existing and new structures is uneconomical. Further, cost optimization seems to yield rather low reliability levels and human safety criteria often become the critical factor. The study concludes with practical guidelines for establishing reliability indices for existing structures linked to Eurocode principles.}, language = {en} } @book{TannerdeDiegoLaraSaracheetal., author = {Tanner, Peter and de Diego, Ana and Lara Sarache, Carlos and Prieto, Miguel and Hingorani, Ram{\´o}n and Holick{\´y}, Milan and S{\´y}kora, Miroslav and Diamantidis, Dimitris and Men{\´e}ndez Ondina, Antonio and Croce, Pietro and Bartelletti, Raffaello and Beconcini, Maria Luisa and Formichi, Paolo and Marsili, Francesca and Muzzi, Martina and Rosso, Elisa and Toprak, Selcuk and Inel, Mehmet and Koc, Cem and Nacaroglu, Engin and Senel, Sevket Murat}, title = {Operational methods for the assessment and management of aging infrastructure}, publisher = {Tipograf{\´i}a editrice Pisana}, address = {Pisa, Italia}, isbn = {9788882501471}, pages = {186}, abstract = {The Leonardo da Vinci Project, "Innovation Transfer in Risk Assessment and Management of Aging Infrastructures", CZ/13/LLP-LdV/TOI/134014, addresses the urgent need to train students, young engineers and professionals in the assessment of existing infrastructures. The future of the construction industry lies in moving from new constructions towards the maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of existing structures, particularly of aging infrastructures. Risk management consisting of risk assessment and risk control of existing structure therefore plays thereby an important role. The assessment of existing infrastructures is an imperative issue of great economic significance in most countries around the world, as more than 50 \% of all construction activities concerns existing buildings, bridges and other civil engineering works. At present, the Eurocodes which will be used in all CEN Member countries are primarily focused on the design of new structures. Additional operational rules for existing structures are still missing. The international standard ISO 13822 provides only general principles for the assessment of existing structures which should be further developed for their effective operational use in practice. The overall procedure of risk management of aging infrastructures is therefore an urgent issue of great economic significance in most countries around the world. This is primarily caused due to the fact that many infrastructures are affected by action effects, fatigue and environmental influences, and inevitably deteriorate. Moreover, available resources for the maintenance, repair or possible replacement of infrastructures are always limited. Typical questions and problems which must be solved in this context can be summarized as follows: • What is the current state of a particular infrastructure? • What is an acceptable level of the relevant risk? • Which aspects are critical to sustainable performance? • What is the optimum life-cycle cost? • What is the best long-term funding strategy? The proposed project highlights the above problems and focusses also on vocational training in risk management and assessment of aging infrastructure in the partner countries (CZ, DE, ES, IT and TR). The current project addresses the urgent need for practical implementation of principles of the management and risk assessment of existing infrastructures in all the partner countries. The project is supported by the Czech Chamber of Chartered Engineers (ČKAIT). The project consortium, under the leadership of the Klokner Institute of the Czech Technical University in Prague (KI CTU), consists of five other partners, including research institutions and universities from three EU Member States (DE, ES, IT) as well as one associated country (TR), and also the Secondary Technical School of Civil Engineering in Ceske Budejovice (CZ). All researchers within the partnership are involved in research projects dealing with reliability assessment of existing structures. They participate in the national and international standardization activities within the international organizations CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) and ISO (International Standardization Organisation). The project outcomes consist of vocational training materials based on international research and relevant standard committee's activities, and on the significant experience gained from case studies, and on selected results obtained from the previous projects of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. In particular, the experience gained by the partners of the present consortium from the completed project on vocational training related to assessment of existing structures is utilized. Available innovations are transferred to undergraduate and graduate students, practising engineers and local government representatives. The developed training materials are of practical use in offering illustrative examples and several case studies. All the project outcomes are based on documents of the international research organization, Joint Committee on Structural Safety JCSS and international research projects, selected outcomes of the previous project of the Leonardo da Vinci programme (developed by five partners of the present consortium in 2013-2015) and also on background documents to the new European and international standards. Particular outcomes of the proposed project include practical handbooks, software tools, web-sites, e-learning, courses and seminars organized in the partners´ home countries. The project outcomes will also be offered to other European countries through code committees work, lectures and the project web-sites. It is foreseen that the outcomes being used by engineers, designers, technicians, and representatives of public authorities involved in planning and management will have an impact on the risk-based management of infrastructures. One of the important project outcomes is the present Handbook 2 "Operational Methods for the Assessment and Management of Aging Infrastructure", which is focussed on operational techniques for the assessment of aging infrastructures supplemented by illustrative case studies developed according to ISO 13822 and Eurocodes for different structures and materials. From the mentioned project also result Handbook 1, where general procedures of risk-management and assessment of aging infrastructures are presented, and Handbook 3, where operational techniques for the assessment of aging infrastructures supplemented by illustrative case studies are presented with a more basic approach. Handbook 2 consists of eleven chapters. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction. Chapter 2 summarizes current applicable standards and codes for existing structures. Chapter 3 reviews survey methods. The remaining chapters are devoted to the illustration of relevant case studies, referring to the assessment of different existing infrastructures. In particular, chapter 4 refers to a commercial building, chapter 5 to a r.c. building damaged by corrosion, chapter 6 to silos, chapter 7 to pipelines and water supply systems, chapter 8 to tanks, chapter 9 to historical aqueducts, chapter 10 to bridges and chapter 11 to dams and flood protection systems. In each case studies the entire procedure of the assessment is illustrated step by step emphasizing references to relevant Codes and in particular to ISO 13822. It is believed that the material of this handbook is presented in an understandable way, referring to several case studies. A number of references mentioned in each chapter provide additional background materials, further guidance and information useful to widen the significance and the field of application of the assessment methods illustrated for each case study. Pisa and Prague, 2015}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BarnardoViljoenvanderKlashorstRetiefetal., author = {Barnardo-Viljoen, Celeste and van der Klashorst, Etienne and Retief, Johan Verster and Diamantidis, Dimitris}, title = {Extreme actions and climate change: Experience gained in South Africa and Germany}, series = {Robust engineering solutions with environmental loading. The 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability (ICOSSAR 2013), New York, USA}, booktitle = {Robust engineering solutions with environmental loading. The 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability (ICOSSAR 2013), New York, USA}, publisher = {Inderscience Enterprises Ltd}, abstract = {Since resistance against extreme environmental actions explicitly forms part of the basis of structural design, the implications of climate change emphatically needs to be considered. This paper presents the results of a survey of climate change developments in South Africa and Germany from the perspective of its rele-vance to extreme actions on infrastructure. It is concluded that the importance of climate change is broad and varied. However incorporation into practice is mostly nominal. Although general trends of climate change are confirmed, proper information on changes in extreme conditions is limited. Coastal engineering seems to be the field which is most active in providing for climate change. It is concluded that risk based methodologies developed to treat the variability and uncertainties of extreme actions and consequences in present practice provide a sound basis for treating the effects of climate change in a rational and optimal manner. It is also clear that there is strong motivation for extensive research as the best action to be taken presently, anticipating appropriate adjustment of reoptimized design methodologies.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DiamantidisHolicky, author = {Diamantidis, Dimitris and Holick{\´y}, Milan}, title = {Reliability Differentiation in the Eurocodes}, series = {Advances and trends in structural engineering, mechanics and computation (SEMC 2010) : proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 6 - 8 September 2010, Cape Town, South Africa}, booktitle = {Advances and trends in structural engineering, mechanics and computation (SEMC 2010) : proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 6 - 8 September 2010, Cape Town, South Africa}, editor = {Zingoni, Alphose}, publisher = {CRC Press/Balkema}, isbn = {978-0-415-58472-2}, abstract = {Structural Eurocodes offer the opportunity of harmonized design standards for the European construction markets and the rest of the world. Eurocodes aim at delivering structures with an appropriate degree of reliability and in an economic way. The reliability requirements of the Eurocodes and the associated background philosophy are discussed in this contribution. The definition and the measure of reliability in standards and especially in the Eurocodes are reviewed. The procedures for selecting target and acceptable re-liability levels are summarized and the reliability differentiation in the Eurocodes is highlighted. Global failure aspects including robustness are briefly discussed. Finally examples from case studies are provided demonstrating the applicability and the benefits from the reliability differentiation approach.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DiamantidisCanisius, author = {Diamantidis, Dimitris and Canisius, Gerard}, title = {Risk based criteria for the verification of global structural performance}, series = {1st International Conference on Performance Based and Life-Cycle Structural Engineering (PLSE 2012), 5 - 7 December 2012 in Hong Kong, China}, booktitle = {1st International Conference on Performance Based and Life-Cycle Structural Engineering (PLSE 2012), 5 - 7 December 2012 in Hong Kong, China}, publisher = {HKISC}, address = {Hong Kong}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RetiefDiamantidisBarnardoViljoenetal., author = {Retief, Johan Verster and Diamantidis, Dimitris and Barnardo-Viljoen, Celeste and van der Klashorst, Etienne}, title = {Application of Risk Based Infrastructure Design Concepts to provision for climate change}, series = {American Meteorological Society (AMS), 94th AMS annual meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, USA}, booktitle = {American Meteorological Society (AMS), 94th AMS annual meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, USA}, publisher = {American Meteorological Society}, language = {en} }