Existing Steel Railway Bridges Evaluation

• Published in: Civil and environmental engineering (Berlin) Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 103 - 110
• Main Authors: Vičan, Josef, Gocál, Jozef, Odrobiňák, Jaroslav, Koteš, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter Open 01-12-2016; Sciendo
• Subjects: Bridge load-carrying capacity; Evaluation; Existing railway bridge; Partial safety factors for loads and resistances; Passage of service load
• ISSN: 1336-5835; 2199-6512
• DOI: 10.1515/cee-2016-0014

The article describes general principles and basis of evaluation of existing railway bridges based on the concept of load-carrying capacity determination. Compared to the design of a new bridge, the modified reliability level for existing bridges evaluation should be considered due to implementation of the additional data related to bridge condition and behaviour obtained from regular inspections. Based on those data respecting the bridge remaining lifetime, a modification of partial safety factors for actions and materials could be respected in the bridge evaluation process. A great attention is also paid to the specific problems of determination of load-caring capacity of steel railway bridges in service. Recommendation for global analysis and methodology for existing steel bridge superstructure load-carrying capacity determination are described too.