Failure and damage of a first‐generation precast prestressed bridge in Slovakia

Abstract In the early 1950s, the first‐generation of precast prestressed bridges was built in Europe. The prestressing technology was still relatively new and bridges were sometimes executed questionably. The consequences of poor detailing and inadequate maintenance are shown as a practical example of a 59‐years old road precast bridge in Slovakia that recently reached a near collapse state. The behavior of the damaged prestressed precast structure was verified by the full‐scale load test. In the case of advanced corrosion of the tendons, it is often very difficult to accurately determine the actual resistance of a structure. The test results published in the paper may help to find a practical method for the assessment of similar aged existing prestressed bridges.