J. Santos
University of Aveiro, Portugal
C. Nunes
University of Aveiro, Portugal
C. Fernandes
University of Aveiro, Portugal
H. Varum
University of Aveiro, Portugal
ABSTRACT
One of the main tasks in bridge engineering is to maintain the existing bridge
stock according to current and predicted traffic and safety requirements.
Bridges deterioration commonly occurs due to a wide variety of pathological
factors, with origin in, for example: unexpected traffic loads, vehicle impacts,
environmental factors, earth movements, chloride attack, carbonation effect,
lack of maintenance, de-icing salts, degradation of the drainage systems,
pavement quality. Considering this, a statistical analysis of the most common
pathologies in bridge structures, their origin and consequences, was carried
out. This analysis was performed considering the pathologies for the overall
structure, and for each bridge component. A total of 85 reinforced concrete
bridges, representative of the bridge stock in Portugal, were analyzed.
Additionally, a comparison of the obtained results with a similar study for
Germany was developed. The main differences between the results obtained for
each country within this study are pointed out.