Damage Identification and Adaptation of Maintenance Techniques for Prestressed Concrete Bridges
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Date
2016-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study indicates that, bridges reacts to the forces imposed by passing traffic with damage to,
or loosening of fastenings, crack on the deck, crack on the abutment, crack on the girder, crack
on the pier, rebar exposure, scour, bulging, wearing of rail, ballast fouling on the deck, rail
failure on the bridge, sleeper displacement, missing of fastener, rail joint failure, expansion joint
failure, bearing failure, hand rail missing, hand rail bulging, embankment failure, erosion of the
underside of the sleepers, fouling of ballast etc. All these defects should be properly identified
and propose the viable maintenance solution to keep the bridges services as required.
All bridge defects, which are defined in the above, must need proper inspection and appropriate
maintenance techniques. Since ERC is re-established as a new firm and has not yet settled
maintenance techniques, this study could serve as a draft guide. In this research maintenance
technique for damaged prestressed concrete bridge was adapted from other countries experience,
Ethiopian experienced company’s like ERA, manuals books and other available sources.
In developed countries it has been common practice closely follow up of their structures and
treat according to its damage. The use of damage identification and maintenance is to control
infrastructures health condition and to keep their service life safe.
The clear advantage of damage identification and maintenance technique is discussed in this
study.
Bridge monitoring and inspection is the best techniques that internationally practiced for
identifying of bridge damages. For varied damages/defects, each is having its own maintenance
strategy and procedures which practiced in different countries. The most common defect
maintenance technique has been indicated in this study.
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Keywords
Maintenance Techniques, prestressed Concrete bridges, Damage, Bridge monitoring, rail joint failure