ABSTRACT
The reliability of structures in the serviceability limit states is analysed. The Eurocode EN 1990 for basis of structural design provides general recommendations which should be further supplemented including classification of irreversible serviceability limit states with respect to assumed consequences of construction works. Further harmonisation of National Annexes to Eurocodes and other prescriptive documents is needed. The standards recommend almost identical serviceability criteria for similar environment which are further compared with differently calculated characteristic values of stresses, deflections or crack widths based on different analytical models and combinations of actions. An example of verification of the serviceability limit states of crack width for a reinforced concrete member indicates that the resulting crack width might be found in a rather broad range. The probabilistic methods are applied for the verification of the reliability of the structural member and also of crack width model. It is shown that the reliability level of the structural member designed according to Eurocodes fulfils the recommended target reliability level given in EN 1990.
