Auscultation of three road bridges

Abstract

Three prestressed conccrete structures were studied for determining the causes of their patology: extensive deck cracking without evidence of tensional origin. Theoretical and experimental analysis were performed. The experimental work consisted in dynamic auscultation, vibrating tendon tests and core samples testing with chemical and mineralogy analysis. Deterioration by several mechanical causes were discarded and finally expansive mineral formations were located and described as origin of damage.