Methodology for reliability assessment of existing buildings: Summary of the doctoral thesis

The aim of the Thesis is to develop a methodology for determining the overall reliability of existing buildings based on a quantitative assessment of the overall reliability level of the building, assessing the technical condition of the building load-bearing elements and their connections, their individual role in ensuring the mechanical strength and stability of the overall building structure. In order to achieve the aim of the work, the following tasks have been set: 1. To develop the theoretical basis of the methodology: (a) to analyse current studies on methods and models for assessing the reliability of existing building structures; (b) to carry out an analysis of reliability assessment practices for existing building structures in European Member States; c) to perform a qualitative assessment of the technical condition of the structures of public buildings in operation and a synthesis of the factors influencing it on the basis of the data available in Latvia; (d) to develop a method for determining the theoretical reliability levels for the various structural elements, including those designed outside the framework of the Eurocodes methodology and to develop examples of practical application of the methodology. 2. To develop a methodology for determining the overall reliability of existing buildings based on a quantitative assessment of the overall reliability level of the building, assessing the technical condition of load-bearing elements and their connections, their individual role in ensuring the mechanical strength and stability of the overall building structure and consequences of collapse. 3. To validate the developed methodology: (a) to analyse the methodology for determining the overall level of reliability of the building, assessing the results at changes in the relevant parameters and limit states; (b) to compare the results obtained with other alternative methods; (c) to develop practical examples for the quantitative reliability assessment of existing buildings using the developed methodology. 4. To provide recommendations for the practical implementation of the methodology.