SHRI RAMSWAROOP MEMORIAL GROUP OF
PROFESSIONAL COLLEGES,
LUCKNOW
Affiliated to
G.B. TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW
Seminar presentation
Assessment of Structure & Maintenance
of Bridges
Seminar Guide
Mr. Mukesh Saw
Asstt. Professor
Presented by
Neha Singh
1212200073
CE-73
INTRODUCTION
• Bridges represent a considerable capital asset not only because of the
heavy investment required in constructing or replacing them but also
because of them form part of the historic and cultural heritage of a
Country.
• The fundamental justification for assessment of bridge structure lies in
assurance of safety .
• The adage “prevention is better than cure" and " a stitch at time saves
nine" are eminently true for bridges, where defects can rapidly lead to
serious consequences if action is not taken in time.
• It is essential to prolong the life of structures and rehabilitate them
wherever necessary and possible.
PURPOSE OF INSPECTION
• To provide assurance that the bridge is structurally safe and fit for its designed use.
• To identify actual and potential sources of trouble at the earliest possible stage.
• To record systematically and periodically the state of the structure.
• To provide feed-back of information to designers and custodians of bridges on those features which
are likely to give maintenance problems and to which necessary attention is best given during design
and construction stages
• To provide necessary information on which decision will be made for carrying out maintenance
repairs, strengthening or replacement of the structure.
PLANNING THE INSPECTION
Read completion plans, when available
See pile and well foundation details
Go through earlier Inspection reports
Go through reports regarding repairs/
strengthening carried out in past.
Go through stress sheets for major girder Bridges.
INSPECTION EQUIPMENTS
Pocket Tape Feeler Gauges Magnifying Torch Light Steel Scale
Glass
Chipping Log Line With Crack Meter Screw Driver Inspection
Hammer 20 Kg Lead Ball Hammer
Plumb Bob Elcometer Waterproof Paint Brush Rivet Testing
Pencil Hammer
Straight Edge Wire Brush Centre Punch Gauge –Cum- Schmidt
level Hammer
30 M Steel Tape Mirror Callipers Piano Wire Scaffolding
SAFETYWearPRECAUTION
suitable dress so that loose
end doesn’t get caught; too-tight a
dress may hamper your free
movements.
No shortcut at any cost. If you normally wear glasses for
Vigil over passing trains improving your eye sight, wear
them when climbing up or down
sub-structures & super structures.
Keep clothing & shoe free
from grease and steel stars
Slipping or overturning.
or nail etc which causes
slipping.
Scaffolding and working Scaffolding or platforms
platforms should be should be free from grease
adequate strength and be or other slippery
secured against substances.
ASSESSMENT OF BRIGDE : INSPECTION
FOUNDATION
Disintegration of Heavy localized scour
foundation in the vicinity of piers
/ abutments Uneven settlement
material
ABUTMENT AND PIER
Crushing
Transverse
And Failure Of
Weathering Bulging Cracks In
Cracking Mortar
Piers
Of Masonry
BED BLOCKS
Shaken bed block
Gaps between bed block and base plate of
bearing due to uneven contact area.
Cracks in bed due to improper seating of
bearings.
Cracks in bed block due to cracking and
crushing of masonry under the bed block.
BEARINGS
A bridge bearing is a component of a bridge which typically provides a resting surface between bridge piers and
the bridge deck.
The purpose of a bearing is to allow controlled movement and thereby reduce the stresses involved.
Movement could be thermal expansion or contraction, or movement from other sources such as seismic
activity.
The rockers, debris ,pins, rollers should be free from corrosion
Proper function of plain bearings
Periodical cleaning of phosphor bronze sliding bearings
Tilt of segmental rollers
Excessive longitudinal movements of the superstructures.
ASSESSMENT OF STEEL BRIDGE
Loss of camber
• Heavy overstressing of girder members
• Play between rivet holes and rivet shanks
• Overstressing of joint rivets
Distortion
• Members affected are top chord , tension members, diagonal web, top flanges of plate girders.
• Possible due to longitudinal movement of girders because of temperature variation.
Loose rivets
• Subjected to heavy vibration prone to get loose
• Critical areas are: Top flange of plate girder ,Gusset at panel
Corrosion
• Reduces structural capacity
• Sleeper seats, top lateral of through girders, are in vicinity of bearings
ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE
BRIDGE
Cracking
• Location of cracks, their nature and width can bed used to diagnose the cause . Minor hair cracks
showing map pattern generally occur because of shrinkage of concrete and hence not of much
significance.
Scaling
• It is the gradual and continuing loss of mortar and aggregate over an area
• Scaling is observed when repetitive freeze and thaw action on concrete takes place.
Spalling
• Tendency to spall can be identified by tapping the area with a small chipping hammer when
hollow sound is heard.
Reinforcement corrosion
• Improper drainage of deck slab
• Leads to cracking and spalling
TRACK ON GIRDER BRIDGES
Departure from line is caused by Incorrect seating of girder , Shifting of girders
laterally or longitudinally, Incorrect seating of bridge timber on girder
Departure from level is caused by errors in level of bed
Condition of timber and fastenings should be checked
At fishplated joints the clear spacing should not exceed 200mm.
Creep should be checked and rails pulled back wherever necessary.
UNDER WATER INSPECTION OF
BRIDGES
• To ensure safe condition of sub-structure during the course of its life.
•To detect any distressed condition of sub-structure out lived or pre-mature
•To prevent any possible mishap due to structure failure by timely action
Anaerobic
Scaling of Spalling of
bacterial
concrete concrete
growth
Disintegratio Deep
n of concrete Cavitation
UNDERWATER INSPECTION
PROCEDURE
Initial inspection requires careful planning
Prior site survey for selection of inspection methods, type and intensity level, equipment required
Review of available records and past history
Availability of tools and plants
Ability/qualification of diving team
Scour investigation
Inspection of sub structure
METHODS OF UNDERWATER
INSPECTION
• Advantages • Advantages
• Most suitable for short duration • Long duration dives/deep water
DIVING
SURFACE SUPPLIED AIR
dives diving (more than 36 m),
• Unlimited air supply,
SCUBA DIVING
• Lower operating cost,
• Low effort dive, • Backup system available,
• Allows increased diver mobility, • Better for low water temperature
and high-effort dives,
• Best in low velocity currents.
• Safe line attachment to surface,
• Better for high velocity currents
• Disadvantages • Disadvantages
• Limited air supply • Large size of operation
DIVING INSPECTION
INTENSITY LEVELS
Level Level Level
1 Visual inspection, a 2 Detail visual
3
feel inspection using Investigation of
large sweeping inspection that
includes cleaning of specific
motions of the hands components using
where visibility is areas for closer
limited. If needed, a inspection and Non Destructive
clear box can be used. obtaining limited Testing (NDT).
This inspection is measurements of The purpose of
supplemented by
damaged or special instruction
water depth is to assess the
soundings. This deteriorated areas
that may be hidden material
inspection is often state/strength.
characterized as a by marine growth.
“swim by” inspection
NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
• Non-destructive testing (NDT) is a wide group of analysis techniques
used in science and industry to evaluate the properties of a material,
component or system without causing damage.
• Estimating the in-situ compressive strength.
• Estimating the uniformity and homogeneity.
• Estimating the quality in relation to standard requirement.
• Identifying areas of lower integrity in comparison to other parts.
• Detection of presence of cracks, voids and other imperfections.
• Monitoring changes in the structure of the concrete identification of
reinforcement profile and measurement of cover, bar diameter, etc.
NDT FOR CONCRETE
Rebound Hammer Rebar Locators
UPVT Covermeter
Half –cell
Pull Off test
potentiometer
Pull Out Test Resistivity test
Acoustic emission
Windsor probe Technique
NDT FOR MASONARY NDT FOR STEEL
BRIDGES
BRIDGES
Liquid Penetrant
Flat Jack Inspection
testing
Magnetic Particle
Impact echo Inspection
testing
Eddy Current Testing
Impulse Radar
Radiographic testing
Infrared
thermography Ultrasonic testing
NUMERICAL RATING
SYSTEM
• The numerical rating system is an aid in objectively reporting of
the results of the inspections and in giving an idea to the
scrutinizing officers as to the type of input required to be given to
the bridge.
• The present system of recording condition of bridges in bridge
inspection register being qualitative in nature, it is not possible to
readily identify the relative seriousness of the detects/ distress
conditions in the bridge, required for rebuilding rehabilitation/
major repairs etc.
RELEVANCE TO INDIAN RAILWAYS
The numerical Rating System for Bridge inspection CRN DESCRIPTION
envisages assigning numerical rating to the physical
condition of bridge as whole, as also to its components. A condition which warrants rebuilding/ rehabilitation
1
The following table gives the Condition Rating number immediately.
(CRN) and brief description of the corresponding
condition. -------------------------------------------------------- 2 A condition which requires rebuilding/rehabilitation on
programmed basis.
At present this system has been widely used all over
Indian railways. A condition which requires major/special repairs.
3
Bridges are inspected assistant engineer once a year after
the monsoon season as per the provision in the Indian 4 A condition which requires routine maintenance.
railways way and works manual.
It is, therefore, difficult to have an overall picture of the 5 Sound condition.
condition of bridges, as the registers are returned to the
6 Not applicable
AEN’s after they are scrutinized by territorial HOD.
The number of bridges on the railways is very large. 0 Not inspected
ORN - URN
OVERALL RATING NUMBER
In addition to CRN for different bridge components, an overall
rating number (ORN) for the bridge as a whole is also to be
given which in general, will be the lowest rating number,
except 0 , given to any of the bridge components.
UNIQUE RATING NUMBER (URN)
The physical condition of each major bridge is to be
represented by a Unique Rating Number (URN)consisting of 8
digits. The first digit will represent the ORN and each of the
subsequent digits will represent the CRN of the different
bridge components in the following sequence.
URN 20362544
DIGIT NO. VALUE INDICATION
1 2 Whole bridge or one or more of its components require
(ORN) rebuilding /rehabilitation on programmed basis.
2 0 Foundation and flooring were not inspected.
3 3 Substructure requires major/ special repairs.
4 6 Not applicable i.e. the bridge doesn’t have any training or
protection works.
5 2 Bed blocks are cracked and shaking
6 5 Bearings and expansions arrangements are in sound
condition.
7 4 Superstructure require routine maintenance.
8 4 Track requires routine maintenance.
MAINTENANCE AND
REPAIRS
CEMENT PRESSURE GROUTING
OF MASONARY STRUCTURES
• Unmodified Portland cement Mortar or Grout
• Latex Modified Portland cement Mortar or Concrete
• Quick Setting Non-shrink mortar.
• Polymer Concrete
• Epoxy Mortar or Concrete
• Methyl Methacrylate Concrete
REPAIRS OF CRACKS IN REINFORCED
CONCRETE AND PRESTRESSED
CONCRETE GIRDERS AND SLABS
• Cracks wider than .3 to .4 mm should be filled and sealed with
injection.
• Materials used:
– Epoxy resin
– Polyurethane resin
– Acrylic resin
– Unsaturated polyester resin
• Guniting
– Process of depositing a dense layer of sand cement mixture can be used
profitably for repairing spalled concrete structures or weathered stone or
brick masonry.
• Jacketing
– To strengthen the substructure , the cross sectional area may require to
be increased. For this purpose jacketing of existing structures is resorted
to.
• Painting
– Girder painting is essentially an application of surface coating to the
steel work so as to inhibit corrosion.
REPLACING LOOSE RIVETS
• During technical inspection it is essential to check critical location and record
the status of the rivets properly.
• This is particularly true for open web girder for which a special proforma is
used.
• Rivets which are driven at site and rivets which are subjected to heavy
vibrations are prone to get loose corrosion around rivets also cause loosening.
• To test whether a rivet is loose, left hand index finger is placed on one side of
the rivet head in such a manner so that your finger touches both the plate and
the rivet head.
