Introduction. The State Roads Agency of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) is implementing the Analytical Expert Bridge Management System (AESUM) which accumulates information about bridges on public roads in Ukraine. Analytical information from the database of the AESUM software package is used at all levels of the road industry; the works on filling of AESUM with the information from inspections, passportization are regularly carried out, taking into account all changes in classification of roads, bridges, etc. The information obtained from AESUM makes it possible to summarize data on the technical state of different types of span structures and bridge supports, to identify the most common defects of these structures, to estimate the amount of repair costs, to classify both the structures of road bridges and the loads they are affected by.
Problem statement. The majority of bridges in Ukraine are of more than 50-60 years old. The wear of such structures is inevitable. The situation is complicated by the growing load on bridges, this process has accelerated significantly in recent decades. With the help of AESUM it is possible to generalize the information and choose the right strategy of bridges repair and maintenance.
The analysis of publications [1], [4], [6] testifies that the systems created and implemented in different countries have much in common: there is a database on bridges; planning of works is carried out; ranking of facilities for appointment of priority performance of works is carried out. Detailed collection of information from investigations of bridge crossings allows using AESUM for scientific purposes, requires constant development and improvement of the program complex by the research staff of «DerzhdorNDI» SE.
Purpose. Development of scientifically justified guidelines for the bridge crossings maintenance and ensuring their reliable and accident-free operation.
Materials and methods. AESUM database contains about 150 parameters of each bridge. Detailed information on individual bridge elements such as spans, supports, foundations as well as photographs and drawings are also stored here. The register of defects includes the defects revealed by the inspection results with a detailed description, scope of distribution and assessment of their impact on the element's state. The operational state of the structure is calculated automatically. For each element of the bridge, it is possible to determine the residual life with the construction of a degradation curve, which makes it possible to forecast the state of the structure’s elements for a certain period of time in the future. Bridges are ranked according to the need for repairs by two factors - operational state and road category. AESUM has developed a module for strategic management of bridges repairs and maintenance.
Results. Currently, the functionality of the AESUM software system is commensurate with the main foreign bridge management systems. The AESUM software package implements the model of degradation of road bridge elements for bridge life cycle management, which is a system scientific basis for the development of bridge repair strategy in Ukraine and is implemented in the regulatory document on road bridge operation [10]. The quantitative criterion for bridges in the fifth (inoperable) state has been established, which allows to quickly determine the feasibility of bridge overhaul or reconstruction instead of its closure and replacement with a new one, on the basis of AESUM accounting data.
Conclusions. The use of AESUM, continuous improvement of the software complex through the development of new modules allows making scientifically sound conclusions based on an in-depth analytical material, carrying out scientific research, performing an intellectual analysis of data, identifying the regularities and certain problems in the operation of bridges. At the same time, the main requirement for the database remains its 100% filling which requires that all the road bridges are inspected and that repeated inspections carried out in a timely manner, the terms of which are appointed in accordance with the requirements of the standards for bridge inspection depending on the state of the bridge and that are specified in the bridge passport.
