Corrective measures if the diagnosis reveals problems
In the event of loss of structural integrity, it is essential to conduct corrective actions in order to extend the service life of the bridge or to maintain it in an optimal condition for safety and performance.
Corrective actions are works undertaken to remedy problems that have arisen in a bridge. They are reactive measures, meaning that they are performed in response to a problem that has been identified. Corrective actions should be conducted as quickly as possible to minimise the impact of the problem on the performance of the bridge and reduce the costs of intervention.
However, it is sometimes feasible to wait to act, controlling the damage and intervening when it has reached a point where the complexity and cost of corrective measures would significantly increase if allowed to progress further.
With these corrective actions, the aim is to rehabilitate the bridge which means its modification to a desired useful condition.
The corrective actions can be implemented through one of the mechanisms described in the following table.
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IN DETERIORATED BRIDGES
1. Repair
Repair works on bridges consist of replacing or correcting deteriorated, damaged, or faulty materials, components, or elements of the bridge.
2. Structural strengthening
Structural strengthening is the process of upgrading structures to improve performance under existing loads or to increase the strength of structural members to carry additional loads.
