Bridge inspection: damage assessment and its evolution.

Whatever the management system of a bridge, all require inspections that allow evaluating, at different levels of scope, the possible existing damages and their evolution. The consequence of these inspections is the determination of maintenance or conservation operations when they are convenient, or a condition or state mark of the structure is assigned, or rehabilitation measures or other extraordinary actions are adopted.

Basic or routine inspection:

This is the first step in the inspections, carried out by the personnel in charge of the routine maintenance of the road (not necessarily specialized in the structural field, but adequately instructed through basic notions in this regard) in which it is found. the structure, being of a visual nature, trying to detect urgent problems of an early nature, without having to wait for higher levels of inspection, which could lead to a worsening of the problem over time. This level of inspection enables early deterioration to be detected, thereby preventing it from progressing to serious, as well as locating damage that needs urgent repair. They are materialized by means of basic sheets, together with those of integral conservation of the managed network.

Main inspection:

It is a comprehensive visual inspection, which does not need a priority for the use of extraordinary means. They are carried out in systematic campaigns that depend on the human and technical resources available. It is carried out by specialized personnel led by an engineer with solid structural knowledge in pathologies and geological-geotechnical areas. A first main inspection is recommended, called "Zero Inspection", which is carried out before putting the bridge into service and which serves as a reference to determine the evolution of the deterioration. The aforementioned Spanish guide goes one step further and defines the term of Detailed Inspection as a particular case of the Main Inspection, which includes a set of structures that, due to their characteristics, require auxiliary means to carry out extraordinary inspections. such as platforms, inspection walkways, crane trucks, boats, etc. The result is reflected in a file, which in addition to reporting the state of the structure during the inspection, provides an assessment of its condition with respect to the rest of the bridges. on the managed network. The periodicity of the main inspections depends on the means available, although they can be carried out as a consequence of basic reports that warn of deteriorations that compromise safety.

Special inspection:

Special inspections are not systematic, but are the consequence of significant deteriorations detected in a main inspection or due to some special situation, such as the impact of a vehicle or a flood. They are usually the previous step to the rehabilitation, repair or reinforcement of the structure. They require a multidisciplinary technical team, qualified and highly specialized in structural, geotechnical and material deterioration analysis. Here it is no longer a question of performing a visual inspection, but full quantitative data is required for the evaluation of the bridge inspection companies. Destructive or semi-destructive tests and trials are common when performing tastings, cores, and other tests related to durability. With the results obtained, a damage characterization and evaluation report or a repair project is prepared. Work management requires a chief engineer with extensive experience in planning field work and who has sufficient structural and managerial knowledge to combine the efforts of the team of people led. This type of inspection can be so varied in nature that it is difficult to define and detail within a management system. However, the results of repair operations are entered into the system, forming part of the inventory and the library of damage and repair costs. and that he has sufficient structural and managerial knowledge to combine the efforts of the team of people led. This type of inspection can be so varied in nature that it is difficult to define and detail within a management system. However, the results of repair operations are entered into the system, forming part of the inventory and the library of damage and repair costs. and that he has sufficient structural and managerial knowledge to combine the efforts of the team of people led. This type of inspection can be so varied in nature that it is difficult to define and detail within a management system.