This dossier follows on from the articles on "Pathology and assessment of existing bridges" (
[C 7 402]
,
[C 7 403]
,
[C 7 404]
and
[C 7 405]
). It is therefore aimed at the same readers.
An existing bridge was designed to provide a certain service. However, due to design and/or execution errors, ageing materials, environmental attacks, aggressive traffic, accidental actions, etc., the bridge may be in disrepair and no longer provide the intended service. It is therefore necessary to repair or even replace it.
In some cases, the load-bearing capacity and geometry of an existing bridge are no longer adapted to the new needs arising from increased traffic and loads. In most cases, this means reinforcing the structure.
In the 1
er
part of this theme,
[C 7 803]
, we addressed questions of "methodology".
Here, we focus on repair and protection...