Is one inspection enough to estimate durability in buildings? a simulation study

Abstract

Decisions about intervention in existing buildings are generally based on information gathered from inspections, as a systematic tool for the identification of some injury in buildings. In this sense, in order to carry out an efficient preventive task and maintenance, knowledge of the evolution of injuries and their distribution are essential. However, this information, unfortunately, does not exist and there are few studies that describe the lifecycle of constructive elements in play; so we must use durability estimators based on inspections. The main problem of this methodology is the high variability of the resulting estimator. The goal of this research is to present a simulation study that aims to analyze this accuracy and allows the design of an efficient inspection plan.