Extending the lifetime of steel truss bridges by cost-efficient strengthening interventions

The large number of existing bridges and viaducts all around the country has become a major problem for bridge owners. In the specific case of steel truss bridges, a reasonable method to extend the lifetime of existing structures is represented by the introduction of new deck systems combined with diffused strengthening interventions. In this study, a stepwise approach considering different loading conditions is presented (historical and Eurocode loads). The structural analysis has been performed on a case study bridge with a finite element model (FEM) calibrated on load tests. It was found that the predicted deformation agreed reasonably with the experimental results. Different strengthening alternatives were analysed and discussed: the introduction of orthotropic deck; the construction of composite deck with differentiating thickness and ordinary concrete strength; the construction of composite deck with differentiating thickness and high concrete strength; in some cases, also steel-to-steel interventions on the bridge are provided. It has been found that the best structural strengthening alternative lies in the construction of a composite concrete or of an ultra high-performance concrete (UHPC) or an ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) deck with a reduced thickness (compared with traditional interventions) resting on the existing steel structure combined with steel-to-steel interventions.