Steel Bridge Strengthening. A Study Of Assessment And Strengthening Experience And Identification Of Solutions

The Highways Agency has been engaged in assessing and strengthening steel and steel/concrete composite bridges for 40 tonne lorries. This report disseminates the knowledge gained, and the ingenuity used during this work and covers measures beyond the initial assessment to avoid or limit strengthening. It identifies strengthening solutions which may have application elsewhere, whether modified or not, and illustrates these by means of 39 case studies. The report also includes the upgrading of bridge parapets and remedial works following bridge bashing and discusses areas such as fatigue, the identification of research requirements, steelwork inspection prior to works, contractual experience and lessons learned for the future. It also includes an extensive list of references to published papers.