Evaluation and Repair of Reinforced Concrete Bridges

摘要

According to the 2017 United States Infrastructure Report Card, the U.S. has 614,387 bridges, with almost four in 10 being 50 years or older. Due to the high cost of planning, design, and construction, replacement of bridges is often not an economical solution. As a result, many cities and states dedicate their resources to the repair and rehabilitation of their concrete bridges. Figure 1 shows a bridge that was originally constructed in 1931 that underwent a repair and rehabilitation effort. This article describes common types of distress, evaluation methods, and approaches for repairing reinforced concrete bridges. Repairs to reinforced concrete bridges can range from simple to extremely complex. Several factors should be considered when proceeding with a bridge repair program, including existing structural condition, concrete failure mechanisms, service life, and load rating. In addition, owners should understand the costs and planning that are required to perform an initial assessment, repair design, repairs, and independent third party testing.