Safety risk assessment of Jiangshun Suspension Bridge in design stage

This paper presents a safety risk assessment approach with a case study, where a combined analytic hierarchy process (AHP)–fuzzy clustering–Delphi (AFD) method is used for the risk assessment of the Jiangshun Suspension Bridge. Based on the engineering background and experience of the experts, the risk factors are defined. The weights of risks are analysed by the AHP method. In order to ensure the accuracy of expert assessment, the fuzzy clustering method is used to analyse the results from the experts mentioned above. Then, combined with the results of the risk weight from AHP, the risk rank of risk factors, risk hierarchies and the whole bridge scheme are worked out. This study shows that the risk rank of the Jiangshun Suspension Bridge is II, which is medium risk, and can be accepted conditionally. The AFD combined method can be used to analyse the safety risk assessment of suspension bridges, as illustrated in this study.