Fatigue lifetime of a RC bridge along the Carajás railroad

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present and discuss the results obtained with a methodology used to characterize the concrete and to evaluate the structural safety against fatigue of the reinforced concrete bridge number 50A located in the Carajás railroad. An "in situ" inspection was carried out in order to assess the evolution of damage in structural elements, with reference to information available in existing projects, calculation memory and reporting of previous inspections. Extractions of concrete testimonies, alkalinity tests, sclerometry, pacometry and laboratory tests were also performed to characterize the materials mechanically and estimate the structural behavior of the bridge under higher future loads.