Bridge Rehabilitation: An Alternate Approach

The presentation of rehabilitation plans for bridge structures requires engineering analyses of various strengthening schemes. The use of scale models as an alternate approach to conceiving and evaluating these rehabilitation schemes is examined. These schemes would be applied to the bridge in a manner that would affect the entire structure, not simply localize repairs. Schemes conceived make use of steel rods, or cables, or both. Data is presented for the experimental, and theoretical, performance of a one-seventh scale unreinforced model, in addition to the experimental results of two preliminary reinforcing schemes. Also presented are questions that arise from rehabilitation work of this type that only model analysis, supported by theoretical analysis, can answer. Emphasis is placed upon the design of the model since accurate modeling is required for accurate results.