ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The AASHTO-LRFD (2004) was initially calibrated by trial design to provide a high and uniform level of safety in new bridges. The safety level is expressed by a reliability index (β). AASHTO-LRFD provides a uniform reliability index (β) of 3.5 for different type and configurations of bridges. This reliability index (β= 3.5) ensures that only 2 out of 10,000 design elements or components will have the sum of the factored loads greater than the factored resistance during the design life time of the bridge.
