MAINTENANCE OF BRIDGES

BY
YOGANANDA.K.N
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
 INTRODUCTION
For safe & uninterrupted traffic flow, it is necessary to
have the maintenance of bridges periodically. This
maintenance is essentially consists of structural
maintenance, rehabilitation & replacement. It provides
the guidelines for the engineers to adopt cost effective
decisions regarding maintenance work for bridges,
canals, tunnels etc & it can be achieved by the optimal
use of public funds. To achieve the desired result
requires constant alertness & thorough inspection
procedures.
WHY WE NEED TO MAINTAIN BRIDGES.

It is necessary for the following factors,

 COST.

 LIFE TIME.

 VERY IMPORTANT STRUCTURE.

 PURPOSE. etc
 QUALIFICATIONS OF INSPECTION
PERSONNEL:
The individual incharge of the bridge should have the following
qualifications & should carry out the following
responsibilities.

 He should be a qualified Engineer having 10 years

experience in bridge constriction & inspection
 He shall be responsible for thorough field inspections &
recommendations for correction of defects, posting of
restricted load or traffic etc.
 He must be very familiar with design & construction features
of the bridge & he must be capable of analyzing the
structural deficiency, taking serious actions to over come it.
 CATEGORIES OF BRIDGE
INSPECTIONS:

The following are the categories of the bridge

inspections.

 Routine inspection.

 Detailed inspection.

 Special inspection.
ACCESS FOR INSPECTION:

The accessibility can be successfully achieved by

Snooper-crawlers, which are movable vehicle-mounted crane
arms, tailored to the needs of horizontal & vertical
accessibility all along the span, substructure & bearings. For
very long span, wide bridges with large navigational
clearances, like the cable stayed suspension system or steel
girder type, permanently installed traveling gantries and lifts
are a must for inspection. For piers & pier frame of large
height & bearings must be provided from the deck.
EQUIPMENTS NEEDED FOR THE
INSPECTION PURPOSES:

 Snooper-Crawler & adjustable ladders.

 Rebound hammer for in situ assessment of the strength of
concrete.
 Magnetic detector for measuring thickness of concrete
cover, & for locating reinforcement bars.
 Acoustic crack detector & magnetic crack definer for
detection & location of cracks in steel.
 Mechanical extensometer & transparent templates for
reading off crack widths from surface contact.
 Hydraulic devices, pressure transducers or load cells for
measurement of forces or pressures etc.
 Equipment for measuring vibrations.
 Electrical resistance meter.
CONDITION RATING SYSTEM:

 Structures containing elements which are in good condition

without any signs of deterioration & requiring no immediate
action.

 Structures containing elements which show signs of distress but

which, under the operating conditions of the total structure may
not having a serious defect & it can be rectified easily.

 Structures containing elements which show signs of

deterioration & which, due to distress under operating
conditions, would affect structural integrity of the elements.

 Structures containing elements which show signs of progressive

failure due to excessive loading, possibly resulting in use
limitations or replacement.

 Structures containing elements which have been under designed

or poorly constructed or are overloaded & show cracks or
deterioration.
Sl. Descriptions Rating
No.
01 Not applicable N
02 New condition 9
03 Good condition (No repairs needed) 8
04 Generally good condition (Potential exists for minor 7
maintenance)
05 Fair condition (Potential exists for major Maintenance) 6
06 Generally fair condition (Potential exists for minor 5
rehabilitation)
07 Marginal condition (Potential exists for major 4
rehabilitation)
08 Poor condition (Repair or rehabilitation required 3
immediately)
09 Critical condition (Need for repair or rehabilitation is 2
urgent. Facility should be closed until the indicated
repair is complete
10 Critical condition (Facility is closed. Study should 1
determine the feasibility for repair
11 Critical condition (Facility is closed & is beyond repair 0
SUFFICIENCY RATING SYSTEM:

 In the area of performance, a numerical representation

can be developed. This system is used in the following
areas.
• Load performance.
• Safety performance.
• Remaining life.
CONDITION SURVEY:

 Each bridge should be classified, inspected, &

evaluated in relation to the various parameters which
affect the structural integrity & performance
characteristics of the structure. The primary goal is to
achieve uniform interactive parameters to inspect
bridges.
STRUCTURE IDENTIFICATION:

 This is done to establish a uniform code number for each

structure, which relates the structure location with respect to
highway, district, highway route number & the number of
kilometers from an established base point of the highway on
which the structure is located.

 The type of bridge crossing should be noted & coded as a

supplementary identification. Some of the crossings are identified
as follows.
• Over water course.
• Over highway.
• Over railway line.
• Over land feature.

For identifying the type of crossing, the structure should be

identified by name. Once the preliminary identification of the
structure & crossing type has been established, the identification
of the type of structure should be made.
 Three digit code for the identification of Type of Structure.

Sl.No 1st Digit 2nd & 3rd Digits

.
01 Reinforced concrete, determinate Slab
02 Reinforced concrete, continuous Stringer/Multi-beam or
girder steel
03 Steel, determinate Girder & floor beam
system
04 Steel, continuous Tee beam
05 Prestressed concrete, determinate Box beam or Girder –
multi
06 Prestressed concrete, continous Box beam or girder –
single
07 Timber Frame
08 Stone or masonry Orhtotropic
09 Aluminium Truss – deck type
• APPROACH TO THE BRIDGES:

 Alignment.
 Grade.
 Approach slabs.
 Guard rail.
 Embankment condition.
 Relief joints.
• INSPECTION GUIDANCE:

 The bridge engineer & inspector should

be familiar with terminologies included in bridges
& should be well versed in the tools & devices
used in bridges. He must have a thorough
knowledge of safety precautions & should be
properly organize, prepare the necessary
documents for the inspection purposes. He shall
have good knowledge in judging the construction
materials which have used in the construction of
bridges such as concrete, steel, timber etc. In
addition to it he shall have knowledge in
foundations on which the bridge piers will rest.
• DETERIORATION IN CONCRETE:
 Freezing & Thawing:
Porous concrete absorbs water & creates high expansive
pressures which results in
cracking, scaling & spalling of concrete.
 Salt Action:
The use of salt contribute to weathering through
recrystallization & it also
increases the chemical attack on concrete & steel.
 Unsound Aggregates:
These are structurally weak & readily cleavable.
 Leaching:
Water seeping through cracks & voids in the hardened
concrete leaches or
dissolves the Ca(OH)2. It results in efflorescence
encrustation at the surface of the
cracks with evidence of CaCO3.
 Chemical Attack:
A number of chemicals attack concrete.
 Wear or Abrasion:
Traffic abrasion & impact cause wearing of bridge
decks & kerbs, parapets, piers
gets damaged by the scraping action of vehicles.
 Foundation Movements:
These movements can cause serious cracking in
structures.
 Shrinkage & Flexure forces:
Shrinkage & flexure forces set up tensile stresses
causing serious cracks.
 Rusted reinforcing steel:
Corrosion of steel causes increase in its volume &
exherts radial expansive
pressure on concrete, leading to cracking & for
further rusting.
Cracks in the column and beam.
DETERIORATION IN STEEL:
 Air & Moisture:
This will cause corrosion of steel, especially in a marine
environment.
 Industrial Fumes:
This fumes mainly cause deterioration of steel.
 De-icing Agents:
Under damp conditions, it will attack steel causing
corrosion.
 Sea-water & Mud:
Unprotected steel piles if immersed in sea water &
embedded in mud results in serious deterioration.
 Thermal strains or Overloads:
Where movement is restrained, the steel may
yield, buckles.
 Fire:
Extreme heat will cause serious deformation of
steel members & loss of strength.
 Collisions:
The vehicles may strike the steel beams,
columns causing damage to the bridge.
 Animal Wastes:
This will results in rusting of steel items.
 Galvonic action:
FOUNDATION MOVEMENTS:
 These movements are caused by the
movement of the supporting strata. In this case the
soil deformations are caused by volume changes &
settlement or subsidence in the soil or by a shear
failure. The movements can be classified into four
types. They are
 Lateral Movements:
Earth retaining structures such as abutments,
retaining wall,piers will undergo this type of
movement.
Vertical Movements:
Any type of structure which was not founded on a
solid rock may undergo this type of movement.

 Pile Settlements:

 Rotational Movements:
CHECKED DURING INSPECTION:

 Checking the alignment:

Any abrupt change in the alignment of the bridge indicates a movement of the pier
or bearings.
 Sight along railings:
A sudden dip in the rail line is indicating the result of displacement of a pier or
abutment.
 Run profile levels:
This inspection will not only help us to establish the existence of any settlement,
but will also identity any differential settlements across the roadway.
 Check piers, pile bents, abutment faces:
This inspection is employed to check the plumbness. An out of plumb pier in
either direction usually signifies foundation movement & it also indicates a
superstructure displacement.
 Observing expansion joints:
This should be checked for the signs of opening or rotating. It will indicate the
movement of subsurface soils which results in abnormally small or large openings,
differential elevation etc.
 Observe slabs, walls & members:
The cracks, buckling, & other deteriorations should be noted.
 Checking back walls & Beam ends:
Back walls should be checked for cracking developed by the abutment rotation,
sliding or pavement thrust. This is a sign of horizontal movement of the abutment.
 Unbalanced post-construction embankment or fill:
Embankments should be checked for balance & positioning. Unbalanced embankments may cause a
variety of soil movements which may impair the structural integrity
• UNDER WATER INVESTIGATIONS:

 This investigation has to be performed by the

personnel experienced in these types of inspections.
However, the bridge inspector is responsible for the
bridge inspection & for the evaluation of the underwater
portions of the bridge. Relatively new structures have
collapsed due to the corrosion of the steel piles below
the concrete protection. PSC piles will not fail below
water level, while timber piles are known to be
vulnerable. This type of investigations is very important
in the case of constructions to be done in the sea.
During inspection the following points may be checked.

 Pile bents.
1.Steel piles.
2.Timber piles
3.Concrete piles.
 Dolphins & fenders.
 Pier & Abutment Conditions.
 Scour.
Approaches:

 Approach pavement is to be checked for the

unevenness, settlement or roughness. Existence
of defects may cause vehicles coming onto the
bridge to induce undesirable impact stresses in
the structure. Cracking in slab indicates a void
under the slab from fill settlement. The joints
between approach pavement & the abutment
backwall is to be examined to determine if there
is adequate clearance. The condition of the
shoulders, slopes, drainage & approach guard rail
should also be checked.
WORK PROTECTION:

 During flood season, careful patrolling & watching is

necessary that too in first flood to detect any weaken
in construction & take the necessary action.
 The engineer should have the records of previous
protective work & the behavior of the river. This will
help in the solving the practical problems.
 A reserve quantity of stone can be used in the
emergency situations. 2% of the total quantity of
boulders used in apron & slope pitching may be kept
as a reserve in stock for the emergency use.
 Any small rain cuts or displacement by waves along
the guide bund or approach bank must be repaired
immediately otherwise there will be chances of major
disaster.
 Settlement in the bank or bridge or slip in the slope
should be repaired immediately.
 Soundings should be taken near the guide bund when
the river is in flood.
• INVESTIGATIONS OF STRUCTURAL
COMPONENTS:

 Note down any structural cracks more than 0.3mm in

width & any signs of deterioration & distress. In a
structure this will range from usual surface cracks to
serious structural cracks & manifestation of distress
zones.

 If the observed manifestations of distress in the

structure are so serious, then it will require the detailed
structural investigation in order to enable to decide
between repair & part or complete demolition &
replacement. A detailed explanation supporting reasons
& the details of the likely causes that obviously lead to
such distress is given.
• CHECK LISTS:

 General
 Original bridge reports
 Bridge number
 Name
 Date of investigations
 Location
 Description
 Skew
 Spans
 Total length
 Roadway width
 Surfacing
 Sidewalks
 Railing
 Alignment
 Traffic lanes
 Design live loading
 Warerway
 Other features crossed
 Clearances
 Date built
 Plans & dimensions
 Condition of structures
 Restrictions
 Miscellaneous
 Stress analysis
 Recommendations
 Signature
 Channel profile
 Encroachments
 Environmental conditions
 Average daily traffic
 Revised original bridge report
 Supplementary bridge report
Bridge number
Date
Bridge name & location
Work done
Revised dimensions
Condition of structure
Restrictions
Revised stress analysis
Recommendations
Signature
• CONCLUSIONS:

A bridge serves its purpose only it is maintained

properly. For this purpose, the bridges should be
checked once in a month. In the inspection if small
cracks or any other defects are found then, it should
be rectified without negligence & if some major
defects are found then necessary steps are taken to
demolish the bridge & rebuilding of the bridge or
replacing the bridge component. It is important to
maintain the records of the bridges with various
photographs of the bridges, plans, design of the
bridge components detailed drawings etc & it can
become useful in emergency situations.
• REFERENCES:

 S.Ponnuswamy “Bridge Engineering”, Second

edition, published by Tata Mc Graw Hill
publishing, 1986.

 V.K.Raina “Concrete BridgePractice”, First

edition, published by Tata Mc Graw Hill
publishing, 1988.

 V.K.Raina “Concrete Bridges”,Indian edition, by

Tata McGraw-Hill publishing, 1994.