Damaging deflections and serviceability reliability of RC structures

Serviceability reliability is defined herein as the probability of an actual deflection exceeding a damaging deflection. Damaging deflections are highly subjective and depend on human perception to the effects caused by these damaging deflections to the actual structural components of buildings. Accordingly, it will be more appropriate if probabilistic definitions of damaging deflections are used in serviceability reliability analysis. Probabilistic damaging deflection models of serviceability damage, which have been established from field measured data have been used in the current study. Probabilistic models have also been used to estimate immediate, creep and shrinkage deflections. Monte-Carlo simulation is used; to estimate deflections and associated probabilities of serviceability failure. This improved approach is expected to be used to establish more realistic serviceability design criteria.