This paper presents an alternative approach to the problem, based on ‘‘testing’’ the real structure rather than trying to model it. Experiments on reinforced concrete (RC) beams, representative of bridge beams, are described. The beams were loaded in cycles up to failure whilst recording the acoustic emissions (AE) generated. The analysis of the AE signals was then undertaken based on a propose...

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is a major factor in the deterioration of highway and bridge infrastructure. A survey of the condition of a reinforced concrete structure is the first step towards its rehabilitation. A rapid, cost-effective and non-destructive condition survey offers key information on the evaluation of corrosion, and aids in the quality assurance of concrete repair and rehabil...

Bridge deck inspection is essential task to monitor the health of the bridges. This paper reports the data collection and analysis for bridge decks based on our novel robotic system which can autonomously and accurately navigate on the bridge. The developed robotic system can lessen the cost and time of the bridge deck data collection and risks of human inspections. The advanced software is dev...

To investigate their adequacy as energy dissipating elements during earthquakes, this paper reports on cyclic inelastic tests executed to determine the maximum strength and ductility of four concrete-filled circular steel piers joined to a foundation detail proposed to develop the full composite strength at the base of these columns. Column diameters considered were 324 and 406 mm, with D/t rat...

The Bistrita city bypass crosses obliquely at km 14+162 the Bistrita river and a local road. In the area where the bridge is situated the river has a width of about 50.00m and the local road has 5.00m, being located at 12.00m from the bank of Bistrita. The bridge should provide a roadway that is 7.80m wide and two sidewalks of 1.50m. The challenge is to design a bridge that allows the crossing ...

In an effort to protect the quality of the water system, interest in non-point source pollution is increasing. Recently, studies of non-point sources pollution are continuing in relation to various land-use areas, but such studies have not been fully conducted in railway facility sites. Using monitoring data of railway bridge area with concrete road-bed, the runoff characteristics, pollutant un...

This paper presents a description of a continuous truss footbridge comprising two spans, one of 140 m and the other 50 m. The bridge crosses the Sant Adria Marina, close to Barcelona. The width of the deck is 6 m and the depth of the two trusses, which form the bridge, range between 6 and 10 m. Main innovations are the use of recycled aggregates for concrete in the approach slab deck, the use o...

Link slabs designed for macroscopically crack free concrete bridge decks system were experimentally tested. The property requirements of the link slab material were considered. Special focus was placed on the fatigue and durability performance. Introduction of a ductile Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) material is proposed for its ability to control crack width and to exhibit high ductil...

The poor durability of concrete bridges throughout the US is an increasingly large concern for highway transportation authorities. With decreasing budget allocations for infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement, the need for greater durability is apparent. A main source of this poor durability is leaking mechanical expansion joints between adjacent simple spans of multi-span ...

Piles used in bridges, structures and marine environments are typically produced using concrete, steel, and timber. High repair and replacement costs of these piles have led North American highway agencies and port authorities to investigate the feasibility of using durable materials such as fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) in pile applications. This paper presents a new generation of composite ...