Common Defects of Bridge

BRIDGE ENGINEERING
COMMON DEFECTS OF BRIDGES
MOST COMMON DEFECTS IN CONCRETE BRIDGE

1. CORROSION
-The corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete is complex, but basically it is an
electrochemical reaction similar to that of a simple battery. The composition of mild steel
varies along its length and potential anodic (more negatively charged) and cathodic
(positively charged) sites can be set up at various points.
2. CARBONATION
-is a process by which carbon dioxide from the air penetrates into concrete through
pores and reacts with calcium hydroxide to form calcium carbonates. It has seen that the
conversion of Ca(OH)2 into CaCO3 by the action of CO2 results in a small shrinkage.
3. ALKALI-SILICA REACTION
- more commonly known as "concrete cancer", is a swelling reaction that occurs over
time in concrete between the highly alkaline cement paste and the reactive non-crystalline
(amorphous) silica found in many common aggregates, given sufficient moisture.
4. CREEP AND SHRINKAGE

-Creep and shrinkage are theoretically independent phenomena. Shrinkage most
generally is related with concrete hardening – two mechanisms can be distinguished in this
case – chemical process of cement hydration (autogenous shrinkage) and physical process of
water migration (drying shrinkage). Creep phenomenon is related to the stress level, but it
also has a relationship with moisture migration in the porous structure of concrete. Drying
strain (shrinkage) produces internal stresses causing creep and that is why creep during
drying is inseparable from shrinkage.
CREEP
SHRINKAGE
5. WATER PENETRATION
-the entering of water in a place it should not otherwise be by piercing or diffusing
through something.
6. FREEZE AND THAW

Freeze/thaw damage occurs in concrete when the
water molecules in concrete freeze and expand
beyond the volume constraints of the concrete.
MOST COMMON DEFECTS IN STEEL BRIDGE STRUCTURES
1. CORROSION
-The primary cause of corrosion of
steel bridges is the exposure of the steel to
atmospheric conditions. This corrosion is
greatly enhanced due to marine (salt spray)
exposures and industrial environments. The
only corrosion prevention method for these
structures is to provide a barrier coating
(paint).
2. FATIGUE
-Fatigue failure occurs when unavoidable small crack-like discontinuities grow under
repeated application of stress until fracture occurs, usually due to tensile forces on a reduced
net cross-section. fatigue can be defined as the weakening of steel materials or accumulation
of damage at a localized region caused by cyclic loading or repeatedly applied loads.
3. PERMANENT DEFORMATION
-Permanent deformation (rutting) is a
phenomenon that results from non-recoverable
deformation of the pavement.
4. DELAMINATION
-when a steel-reinforced structure is going through a corrosion process, this can lead
to delamination. Deck delamination occurs when corrosive reinforced steel begins to expand
and crack horizontally. One major concern with deck delamination is that this process is not
visible on the surface level of the concrete and can slowly impact the structural integrity of a
bridge.
COMMON DEFECTS ON TIMBER BRIDGES
1. FUNGI
-are simple, plantlike organisms that
break down and utilize wood material as a
food source. They move through the wood a network of microscopic, threadlike hyphae that
grows through the pits or directly penetrates the wood cell wall.
2. INSECTS
Termites (Isoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), and
bees, wasps, and ants (Hymenoptera) are the
primary causes of most insect-related
deterioration. Insects tunnel in and hollow out
the insides of timber members for food and
shelter.
3. DELAMINATIONS
occur in glued-laminated members when the
layers separate due to failure within the
adhesive or at the bond between the adhesive
and the laminate.
4. CORROSION
-wood degradation from metal corrosion
is frequently overlooked as a cause of bridge
deterioration. Corrosion begins when moisture in
the wood reacts with iron in a fastener to release
ferric ions that in turn deteriorate the wood cell
wall. In addition to the deterioration caused by
corrosion, the high moisture conditions
associated with this damage can initially favor
the development of fungal decay.
5. LOOSE CONNECTIONS
-may be due to shrinkage of the wood,
crushing of the wood around the fastener, or from
repetitive impact loading (working) of the
connection. Loose connections can reduce the
bridge’s load-carrying
capacity.
6. FIRE
-large timbers build a protective coating of
carbon after the first 30 minutes of exposure.
Small size timbers do not have enough volume to
do this before they are, for all practical purposes,
consumed by fire. Preservative treatments are
available to retard fire damage.
7. WEATHERING
-is the effect of sunlight, water, and heat.
Weathering can change the resulting in changes in
the strength and dimensions of the wood.
Uneven reduction in moisture content causes
localized shrinkage, which can lead to warping,
checking, splitting, or loosening of connectors.

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BRIDGE ENGINEERING

COMMON DEFECTS OF BRIDGES

MOST COMMON DEFECTS IN CONCRETE BRIDGE

4. CREEP AND SHRINKAGE

6. FREEZE AND THAW

MOST COMMON DEFECTS IN STEEL BRIDGE STRUCTURES

COMMON DEFECTS ON TIMBER BRIDGES

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