Flood vulnerability assessment: an effective tool to evaluate the lifecycle risk analysis of bridges.

From a lifecycle perspective, assessing bridge vulnerability is a key element of implementing effective risk mitigation and management strategies. This study offers an integrated and computationally efficient approach to evaluate bridges' vulnerability to failure due to hydrodynamic and wood debris forces and the concurrent action of local scour. The vulnerability analysis follows a stochastic approach and is developed through a case-study analysis of a bridge that has a high proneness to flood-related hazards. The modelling of the wood debris accumulation is accomplished based both on a Standard approach and on findings drawn from up-to-date research data. It is found that the shape of wood debris accumulation envisioned in the first approach has a particularly adverse effect on the bridge's vulnerability, exposing its limitations. A detailed and comprehensive methodology for assessing the risk related to flood hazards on bridges is also presented. It is perceived that not only will this new tool be valuable in estimating the flood loss assessment on bridges, but it will also be beneficial for facilitating decision-making processes and in finding effective countermeasures for risk mitigation of flood-related hazards.