Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Maintenance of Bridge
Maintenance of Bridge
UNIT V
CONTENT
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1. CATEGORIES OF BRIDGE INSPECTION
6. CONCRETE
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7. STEEL
8. FOUNDATION MOVEMENTS
9. WATERWAYS
11. RECORDS
11.1 Function
11.2 Reports
12.1In-Office Review
12.2At-Site Inspection
13. REHABILITATION
13.1Inspections
13.3Remedial Measures
14. REFERENCES
The overall objective of the bridge maintenance management system is to identify the
need for structural maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement. It also provides guidelines
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and methodologies to enable local engineers to reach rational, cost- effective decisions
regarding such maintenance and rehabilitation for bridges, culverts and tunnels.
Maintaining highway bridges and keeping them in a fit condition to provide safe and un-
interrupted traffic flow, is the primary function of a bridge maintenance engineer. Protection
of the investment in the structure facility through well programmed repairs and preventive
maintenance is second only to the safety of traffic and to the structure itself. To achieve the
desired result requires constant alertness and thorough inspection procedures.
These are broad general inspections carried out quickly and frequently by highway
maintenance engineers having reasonable practical knowledge of road structures, though not
necessarily any special knowledge in design details or special construction problems of any
particular bridge or expertise in special problems of bridge inspection. The purpose of this
routine inspection is to report fairly obvious deficiencies which could lead to accidents or
future major repairs/ maintenance problems. Such inspections should be done monthly.
This type of inspection can be of two categories, viz., general and major, defined by
the ‘frequently’ and ‘intensity’ of inspection respectively. General inspection could be made
at yearly intervals, and it should cover all elements of the structures against a prepared
checklist. It would be mainly a visual inspection supplemented by standard instrument aids.
A written report must be made of the conditions of the bridge and its various parts.
The major inspection should be more intensive and would require detailed
examination of all elements, even requiring setting up of special access- facilities where
required. Such inspection, depending upon the importance of the structure, could be spaced
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between 2 and 3 years and even smaller intervals for sensitive designs, or for bridges in
aggressive environments.
It is important that inspections are undertaken in those periods which offer the most
critical evaluation of the performance of the structure. For, example, items such as
foundations, protective works, scour effects, flood levels, etc., should be inspected before,
during and after the floods; bearings and joints, should be inspected during temperature
extremes, etc. The frequency of routine inspections could be determined by the importance of
the structure, environmental conditions and cost. The frequency indicated above may be
considered as a guide. A comprehensive check- list of items related to the form, material,
condition, and situation of the structure, should be drawn- up and followed by the inspecting
team.
Besides being a qualified bridge engineer, the inspection team leader must be familiar
with design and construction features of the bridge to be inspected, so that observations can
be properly and accurately assessed for a meaningful report. His competency to recognize
any structural distress/ deficiency and assess its seriousness with complete recommendations
for appropriate repairs, are important pre- requisites for entrusting this assignment to him.
Some modern testing equipment which could be of use to the specialized inspecting team is:
c. Magnetic detector for measuring thickness of concrete cover and for locating
reinforcement bars
d. Acoustic crack detector and magnetic crack definer or dye penetration, for detection
and location of cracks in steel
e. Mechanical extensometer and transparent templates for reading of crack- widths from
surface contact
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f. Hydraulic devices, pressure transducers or load cells for measurement of forces or
pressures, etc.
These could help in qualitative assessment, giving data which an experienced engineer
can usefully employ and interpret for appraisal of the structure. A wide variety of electronic
equipment is now available in the market in many countries for monitoring and inspection of
bridges.
The major factor in the development of a highway structure maintenance system is the
selection of criteria for use in the determination of sub sequent courses of action.
Traditionally, estimates of bridge maintenance needs are based on structural deficiencies,
functional obsolescence, or the fact that they are closed for various reasons.
There are numerous combinations of such criteria in use worldwide, including those that
go beyond the items mentioned above, to increase the sufficiency of decision- making bases.
For example, a functionally obsolete bridge may be in excellent condition and have many
years of left- over useful life even if it is narrow, has substandard clearances, or has poor
alignment. In addition, structurally inadequate bridges, by useful definition, are in need of
major repairs, rehabilitation, or sometimes, replacement.
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central system. Every highway department has an abundance of forms for data acquisition,
historical records and decision- making.
Two primary sources of information exist for the evaluation of structures. The first and
the one available at the inception of this effort, is the historical and design data already
accumulated by the various highway departments. Some typical historical records that may
be available are:
♫ Information obtained from original plans, design calculations and other records
The second source of information is from the Physical Inventory and the Condition Survey of
the structures.
d. Safety
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sufficiency rating in the resulting developed methodology, being the highest level or no
action rating, against which current structure capacity can be compared.
The type of structure or intended use category represents the purpose of or the need for
the structure. Typical classifications are:
These capabilities will also become a part of the Sufficiency Rating, in that the purpose for
each structure will be determined as the highest rating, and the structure’s current capability
will be compared to that of the optimum level of performance.
The functional classification of the highway containing the bridge will be considered to
determine another part of the sufficiency rating. Typical classifications might be:
d. Collector roads
Each of these classifications should be established with functional criteria, which include,
at least, average daily traffic (ADT), speed, and roadway width. These objectives will
compromise a portion of the sufficiency rating in the form of the desired functional service
capability, against which current measurements can be compared to arrive at the ratings.
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e. Vertical clearance below the superstructure
g. Curve data
a. Climate
b. Overloads
c. Regional significance
d. Geometry
e. Utilization
f. Age (fatigue)
These conditions should be compiled as ‘exceptions to the rule’, in the form of an ‘exception
report’ or as a ‘flag’ in the course of action selection program.
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Once the data, objectives and conditions have been formulated, analysis or evaluation can
begin. The methodology should be developed based on at least the following component
parts:
c. Condition rating
d. Sufficiency rating
a. Structures containing elements which are in good condition without any signs of
deterioration and requiring no immediate action.
c. Structures containing elements which show signs of deterioration and which, due to
distress under operating conditions, would affect structural integrity of the elements
(cracking, corrosion, deflection, unusual. Vibration, any other deformation).
The elements examined in the condition survey should be categorized and sorted to result in a
Condition Rating, following the above described general guideline, which can be used
numerically from 5 to 0, as enumerated below, to determine the course of action.
5 No action
4 Routine maintenance
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2 Reduced allowable load after special repair
1 Further investigation, but in the interim. Reduce load and speed and use speed
breakers and rumble strips in the approaches to the bridge
0 Replacements
The condition Rating can also be made on a scale of 9 to 0 (Equivalent Rating Conditions of
the US Federal Highway Authority) as depicted in table.
Description Rating
Not applicable N
New condition 9
Good condition- no repairs needed 8
Generally good condition- potential exists for minor maintenance 7
Fair condition- potential exists for major maintenance 6
Generally fair condition- potential exists for minor rehabilitation 5
Marginal condition- potential exists for major rehabilitation 4
Poor condition- repair or rehabilitation required immediately 3
Critical condition- need for repair or rehabilitation is urgent. Facility should 2
be closed until the indicated repair is complete
Critical condition- facility is closed. Study should determine the feasibility 1
for repair
Critical condition- facility is closed and is beyond repair 0
a. Load performance
b. Safety performance
c. Remaining life
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This rating system will use, as its basis, the elements that have already been under
performance objectives and performance conditions.
The criteria for both- priorities and ‘itemizing’ the courses of action- fall into five primary
categories:
a. Financial
b. Environmental
c. Political/ Regional
d. Defence
All five of the optimization criteria, figure in the timings of any maintenance efforts.
They will exist as either justification or constraints, in establishing a work program. Budgets
will allow or prevent elements of work, and the availability of money will determine the
timing of the work. The environment will control the seasonal aspect of the work program.
The remaining three criteria will, at times, over- ride the first two according to the urgency of
political or defence needs, and the necessity to restore services where structures have been
closed by catastrophic situations.
Each bridge should be classified, inspected and evaluated in relation to the various
parameters which affect the structural integrity and performance characteristics of the
structure. The primary goal in developing a methodology for the inspection of bridges and
structures is to provide a uniform system of interactive parameters which provide a common,
yet sound base from which structures can be analyzed on the basis of life cycles and
performance capabilities.
The initial task which must be considered is the development of an inventory system
which establishes a unique identity for each structure. This can be done by establishing a
code number, which relates the structure location with respect to the highway, district and / or
province, highway route number and the number of kilometers from an established base point
of the highway on which the structure is located.
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Codes can be easily utilized for adaption to computer analysis, while translation to
written text for the purpose of structural evaluation reports, is likewise a simple task when
computer programs are utilized.
Structure identification need not be limited to the previously stated format. Subject to
the specific desires and needs of the authorities, it may be desirable to include identification
codes related, for instance to defence considerations, highway importance, or latitude and
longitude, instead of or in addition to, the physical location of the structure.
The type of bridge- crossing should be noted and coded as a supplementary identification
because the type of crossing may assist in ‘prioritizing’ of certain structures. Crossing can be
identified as follows:
b. Over highway
When identifying the type of crossing (watercourse, highway, railway line, or land feature,
that is spanned), the structure should be identified by name.
Once the preliminary identification of the structure and crossing- type has been
established, the identification of the type of structure should be made. With the utilization of
computer analysis in mind, coupled with an awareness of the many possible combinations of
structure types, a coding system for identification of the structure- type is advisable. The
three digit code for identification of ‘type of structure’ which is used by FHWA, US DOT, is
recommended.
An example of the utilization of the three digit code for identification of ‘type of
structure’ is given in table.
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1 Concrete 01 Slab
7 Timber 07 Frame
13 Suspension
14 Stayed girder
18 Tunnel
19 Culverts
20 Other
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A condition sub- model is an integral part of the bridge maintenance management
system. It contains, in an interactive mode, the inspection results on bridges, culverts, and
structures. The inspection which is performed visually and, when warranted, by mechanical
or ultra sound methods, identifies and records, signs of distress and/ or deterioration which
may be cause for corrective action. Specific bridge or structure components are identified and
rated in relation to structural condition and functionality. Bridge components and sub-
components which must be given attention are itemized as follows.
1. Deck components
a. Deck slab
b. Kerbs/ Walkways
c. Bridge railing
e. Drainage devices
4. Truss components
a. Floor beams
b. Connections
c. End posts
d. Top chord
e. Lower chord
f. Lateral bracing
g. Sway bracing
h. Portals
i. Lacing
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5. Bearing devices
6. Arch components
a. Arch
b. Arch columns
c. Supports
a. Spandrel walls
b. Suspension system
c. Hangers
d. Suspenders
e. Anchorage
f. Towers
8. Paint/ snowsem
9. Connections
a. Welds
b. Rivets
c. Bolts
d. Hinges/ Articulations
1. Abutments
a. General condition
f. Settlement
g. Scour
2. Piers
a. General condition
e. Scour
f. settlement
a. General condition
b. Alignment
c. Adequacy
d. Debris accumulation
a. Alignment
c. Waterway adequacy
d. Scour
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e. Deflection of water- course and the resulting ponding and oblique attack on some
foundations
Approaches to Bridge
a. Alignment
b. Grade
c. Approach slabs
d. Guard rail
e. Embankment condition
f. Relief joints
General Components
a. Warning signs
b. Navigational lights
Based on the evaluation procedures developed from structural data compiled, bridge-
type inspection ratings made on each individual structure, the known or estimated age of the
structure and historical or empirical data related to structure- performance under projected
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environmental conditions, a life cycle evaluation can be performed for each structure. Such
an evaluation will be of great value in projecting maintenance, repair and replacement needs
for the future and become a basis of refinement for future comparison in evaluating
transportation needs.
The bridge inspector should be familiar with the terminology and elements of bridge
construction. He should be familiar with the tools, devices and specialized equipment used
during the bridge inspections. He should also be aware of the safety precautions that must be
taken in the course of his inspection. The bridge inspector should have an understanding of
the planning, organization and preparation that is necessary to undertake and complete a
meaningful bridge inspection.
The type of materials used in the construction of the bridge will establish initially, the
particular ‘kinds of deterioration’ the inspector will be looking for during his inspection. For
example rust is the great enemy of steel; concrete deteriorates because of scaling, spalling
and cracking; while timber is subject to weathering, decay and fungus and insect attacks.
A common cause of bridge failure is the physical failure of a member due to overload
or collision, assuming design and construction were satisfactory. Substructure and
superstructure elements should be closely inspected for the types of distress.
6. CONCRETE
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highly stressed strands or bars of high strength steel. This compressive stress is sufficient to
offset the subsequent tensile stress caused by the applied loads. Pre-stressing has greatly
increased the maximum span length of concrete bridges.
While concrete possesses several other properties such as thermal conductivity, capacity for
volume change and energy absorption, these are not directly related to the problems of bridge
maintenance.
i. Strength: Compressive strength is high, but shear and tensile strengths are much
lower, being about 12% and 10%, respectively of the compressive strength.
ii. Porosity: Concrete is inherently porous and permeable since the cement paste never
completely fills the spaces between the aggregate particles. This permits absorption of
water by capillary action and the passage of water under pressure.
iv. Fire resistance: High quality concrete has a reasonable high resistance to the effects
of fire. However, intense heat will damage concrete. It is more dangerous in case high
grade steel (reinforcement or pre-stressing cables) is used, as it loses its high grade
properties under heat.
v. Elasticity: Concrete under ordinary loads is elastic, i.e. stress is proportional to strain
within a certain range. Under sustained loads the elasticity of concrete is significantly
lowered due to creep. This causes increase in deflection with time.
vi. Durability: The durability of concrete is affected by its porosity, lack of strength and
climate and exposure. In general, as the water cement ratio is increased, the durability
will decrease correspondingly. Properly proportioned, mixed and placed concrete is
very durable, provided it is very dense and of very low porosity.
vii. Anisotropy: Concrete itself is generally isotropic, but once reinforced with steel bars
or pre-stressed with steel wires, it becomes anisotropic, i.e. its strength varies
depending on the direction in which it is loaded.
Salt action
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Differential thermal strains
Unsound aggregates
Leaching
Chemical attack
Wear or Abrasion
Foundation Movements
7. STEEL
Steel, a highly reliable and versatile construction material, is available in many forms-
wire, cable, plate and shaped bars or beams.
i. Strength: Steel possesses high compressive and tensile strengths, and is highly
resistant to shear forces. Thin steel sections, however, are vulnerable to compressive
buckling.
ii. Ductility: both the low- carbon and low- alloy steels, normally used in bridge
construction, are quite ductile. Brittleness may occur because of heat treatment,
welding, metal fatigue, or through freezing under stress.
iv. Fire Resistance: Steel is subject to a loss of strength when exposed to high
temperatures such as those resulting from fire and random welding. Special electrodes
are needed for welding high yield strength deformed bars. No welding, whatsoever,
can be permitted of pre-stressing steel.
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vi. Weld ability: Although steel is weldable, it is necessary to determine the chemistry of
the steel and to select a suitable welding procedure and appropriate electrodes before
starting welding operations on a bridge.
Industrial Fumes
Fire
Collisions
Animal Wastes
Welds
Galvanic Action
8. FOUNDATION MOVEMENTS
Most foundation movements are caused by movement of the supporting strata. For
this reason, it is desirable to give a brief description of these movements. Soil deformations
are caused by volume changes and settlement or subsidence in the soil or by a shear failure.
Slope slides and bearing- failures are good examples of shear failures. Where loads are not
large enough to cause shear failure, settlements may still occur as a result of volume change.
The length of time and magnitude of the settlements depend upon the composition of the soil.
Granular soils such as sand will usually undergo a relatively small volume change in a short
period of time. However, cohesive soils, such as clay, can undergo large deformations, or
volume changes, which may continue for years. This latter process, called consolidation, is
usually confined to clays and clayey silts. Sub-structures that are supported directly by a
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cohesive soil may continue to settle for a long period of time. Consolidation usually produces
vertical settlement.
For convenience, foundation movements may also be classified, somewhat arbitrarily into the
following:
ii. Vertical Movements (Settlements): Any type of sub-structure not founded on solid
rock may be subject to settlement. (Fig:1)
iii. Pile Settlements: Pile settlement could be listed under lateral or vertical movements.
Some of the causes of failure are peculiar to piled foundations.
The following causes of foundation movements, except as specifically noted, can procedure
lateral and/ or vertical movements depending on the characteristics of the loads or sub-
structures.
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i. Slope Failure (Embankment Slides): These are the shear failures manifested as
lateral movements of hillsides, cut slopes or embankments. Footing or embankment
loads imposing shear stresses greater than the soil shear strength are common causes
of slides. (Fig:2)
ii. Bearing Failure: Bearing failures are settlements or rotations of footings due to a
shear failure in the soil beneath. When bearing failures, or slope failures take place on
an older structure, it usually indicated a change in the subsurface conditions. This may
endanger the security of nearby structures and foundations.
iii. Consolidation: Serious settlement can result from consolidation action in cohesive
soils. Settlement of bridge foundations may be caused by changes in the ground water
conditions, placement of additional embankments near the structure, or increase in the
heights of existing embankments.
iv. Seepage: The flow of water from a point of higher head (elevation or pressure)
through the soil through which the water is passing. Seepage results in lateral
movement of the retaining walls by:
v. Water Table Variations: Large cyclic variations in the elevation of the water table in
loose granular soils may lead to a compaction of the upper strata. The effects of non-
cyclic changes in the water table such as consolidations, slides and seepage have been
described. Changes in the water table may also change the characteristics of the soil
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which supports the foundation. Changes in soil characteristics may, in turn, result in
the lateral movement or the settlement of the foundation.
vi. Frost Action: Frost- heave in soil is caused by the growth of ice lenses between the
soil particles. Footings located above the frost line may suffer from the effects of frost
heave and a loss in the bearing capacity due to the subsequent softening of the soil.
The vertical lifting by frost and ice actions is not unheard of.
vii. Expansive Soils: Some clay, when wet, absorbs water and expands, placing large
horizontal pressures on any wall retaining such soil. Structures founded on expansive
clay may also experience vertical soil movements (reverse settlement).
viii. Ice: Ice can cause lateral movement in two ways. Where fine- grained backfill is used
in the retaining structures and the water table is above the frost line, the expansion due
to freezing of water will exert a very large force against a wall. The piers of river
bridges are also subject to tremendous lateral loads when an ice jam occurs at the
bridge.
xi. Deterioration, Insect Attack and Construction Defects: Piles may develop weakness
leading to foundation settlements from one or more of these causes:
a) Timber, steel and concrete piles are subject to loss of section because of
decay, rusting and deterioration.
c) Construction defects include over- driven piles, under- driven piles, failure to
fill pile shells completely with concrete or imperfect castings of a cast in situ
pile. Any of these defects will produce a weaker pile.
Settlement will probably be gradual in improperly driven piles or in piles with weak
or voided concrete. Piles suffering severe loss of section due to rust, spalling,
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chemical action, or insect infestation, may fail suddenly under an unusually heavy
load.
xii. Scour (Erosion): Scour can cause extensive settlement which may also be uneven.
Since water will carry off particles of soil in suspension, a considerable hole can be
formed around piers or other similar structural objects. This condition results in a
greater turbulence of the water and an increased amount of soil particles that can be
displaced.
Magnitude of Movements
Types of settlements
a. Uniform settlement
b. Differential settlement
Types of structure
9. WATERWAYS
Scour
It is defined as the removal and transportation of material from the bed and
banks of rivers and streams as a result of the erosive action of running water. Some
general scouring takes place in all stream beds, particularly at the flood stage. The
characteristics of the channel influence the amount and nature of scour. Accelerated
local scouring occurs where there is an interference with the stream flow, e.g.
approach embankments extended into the river or piers and abutments constructed in
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the river flow. The amount of scour in such cases depend on the degree to which
stream flow is distributed and obstructed by the bridge and on the susceptibility of the
river bottom to scour- action. Scour depth may range from zero in hard rock to about
10m or much more in very unstable river bottoms. In determining the depth of local
scour, it is necessary to differentiate between true scour and apparent scour. As the
water level subsides after flooding, the scour holes that were produced tend to refill
with sediment. Elevations taken of the stream bed at this time will not usually reveal
true scour depth.
Waterway adequacy
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Scour and stream bed degradation are theoretically the result of inadequate waterway
under the bridge. The geometry of the channel, the amount of debris carried during
high water periods and the adequacy of freeboard should be considered in determining
waterway adequacy. Where large quantities of debris are expected, sufficient
freeboard is of the greatest importance.
The inspection should include (but not be necessary limited to) the following items:
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Approaches Curbs
Deck Aesthetics
11. RECORDS
11.1 Function
11.2 Reports
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5. Description 19. Date built
12. REHABILITATION
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mention of any special anti- corrosive treatments adopted at the stage of
design and construction.
12.1 Inspections
All bridges shall be inspect at least twice a year to ascertain if there are
any signs of distress such as appearance of rust stains, cracks, spalling,
etc., and action taken to remedy such defects. Such bridges shall be kept
under constant observation by resorting to frequent inspections and
further remedial measures undertaken as considered necessary.
The reports shall be compared with previous reports to get an idea of the
rate of deterioration. If the rate of deterioration is alarming, further
detailed investigations to ascertain causes of deterioration, etc., shall be
undertaken. Thereafter, the desired adequate remedial measure should be
suggested.
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c. Atmospheric zone: is the part of the structure above the splash
zone which is exposed to the atmosphere.
Repairs to Cracks: where corrosion has just set in and rust cracks
have begun to appear, and spalling has not yet started, it may be
adequate in some such cases to just seal the narrow cracks against
ingress of moisture, etc. For this purpose, where the cracks are of
the dormant type, rigid type sealant is required, and it may be
sufficient to cement grout or gunite the cracks or inject into the
cracks a suitable epoxy formation with adequate bonding and
tensile strength. For live cracks, flexible sealants are used, and a
chase should be cut along the line of crack and then sealed with a
thermoplastic material, poly- sulphide rubber, or by the insertion
of a prepared neoprene or rubber- bitumen sealing- strip. Even
after such a treatment, it will be necessary to keep a constant
watch on its performance, so as to undertake further steps as and
when required.
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Repairs to damaged/ spalled concrete: For repairs to damaged/
spalled concrete, where extensive damage has already occurred
due to corrosion, the defective concrete should be cut out to the
full depth but not less than 50 mm beyond the loose concrete layer
and all loose materials removed. The exposed reinforcement
should be thoroughly cleaned up to the root of the rust with
brushes, sand blasting, chemical solution, etc.
In-Office review
At-site inspection,
Study project drawings, as- built drawings and all the special and
general specifications pertinent to the structure.
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Although it is not possible to prescribe in advance the time
required for all the inspections, but based on the above, at least a
rough time estimate should be prepared for general guidance. To
cut this down, arrangement should be made in advance, for
various facilities and equipment to be readily available at the site.
13.2At-Site Inspection
Workmanship
Concrete Strengths
Correctitude of dimensions
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Adequacy of slope protection works and of their toe- walls, size
of stone used, thickness etc.
14. REFERENCES
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