Checking and Strengthening older Prestressed Concrete Bridges

Checking and Strengthening older Prestressed Concrete Bridges In Germany it seems to indicate, that very high investments are necessary to strengthen or replace older road bridges in order to maintain a sustainable and effective traffic infrastructure. First experiences with a new guideline for checking older bridges are, that many older bridges have to be checked and strengthened in a short-term. Weak structures without strengthening have to be closed for the heavy-duty traffic, because these bridges are overloaded. The strengthening with additional external tendons is the best available technology for older prestressed concrete bridges. That is the experience of the last years. In the following paper principles of design, detailing possibilities and construction works are illustrated. Special rules for shear design of older bridges with low thrust reinforcement and additional external tendons are at the development stage.