In many engineering applications, probability theory has been employed in a multidisciplinary design optimisation procedure to address uncertainty in a structural system. The paper presents the effect of steel reinforcement on the reliability index of a reinforced concrete bridge deck. Since concrete is weak in tension and good in compression, the aim of the research is to check the extent to which steel reinforcement increases the safety level of bridge decks. In order to achieve this, a Fortran programme was developed to carry out the deterministic design of a typical model of a bridge deck based on the provision of LRFD method. Reliability analysis was conducted by calling FORM from the subroutine into the main program. A relationship was established between the safety index and the steel reinforcement in tension and in compression.
