Estimation of the Service Life of Approach Slabs of Road Bridges Based on the Statistical Modeling Method

The article discusses the durability and reliability of a separate element – bridge approach slab, which is justified by the need to maintain a satisfactory technical condition of Ukrainian bridges in general and traffic safety on public roads with limited funding during martial law. The scope of the research is forecasting the residual service life of bridge elements (on the example of approach slabs) using probabilistic methods. Approach slabs are designed to smoothly and safely connect the road approach embankment with the bridge to gradually equalize the elastic modulus of the carriageway from a less rigid asphalt pavement on an elastic base to a more rigid one on a reinforced concrete slab. The main defects in the destruction of approach slabs are: changes in the longitudinal profile of the road due to the collapse and subsidence of the soil under the approach slabs; longitudinal and transverse cracks in the asphalt concrete pavement on the bridge approaches; and potholes that lead to an increase in the additional dynamic load on the bridge deck.