A methodical approach to the accelerated assessment of the load capacity of bridges on highways in a special period

Abstract

The service life of major road bridges can reach 50 years or more without major repairs aimed at improving their operational reliability. As a result, the technical condition of such structures varies significantly, with most of them being in poor condition.
One of the main issues is the discrepancy between the design and actual load-bearing capacity of bridge structures, as well as the lack of operational methods for assessing their load-bearing capacity in the field. This is particularly critical when it comes to allowing vehicles, military equipment, or special vehicles to pass through bridges that have been damaged. These factors necessitate the development of simplified methods for approximately determining the load capacity and conditions for safe passage of vehicles.
This article proposes a methodological approach for the operational assessment of the load capacity of reinforced concrete bridge spans. The essence of the methodology is to determine the load capacity by calculating the maximum bending moments in the beams, taking into account the constant and temporary loads. To simplify the calculations, the authors have developed special graphical dependencies that allow for the assessment of load capacity based on visual inspection data without the use of complex mathematical models.
This methodological approach can be applied by military engineers for an accelerated assessment of the load capacity of bridge spans in the field. It allows for a quick analysis of the technical condition of bridge spans and the decision-making process regarding the possibility of passing vehicles, which is particularly important in emergency situations or military operations.