Change of load-carrying capacity of real bridge structure due to modified reliability levels and planned remaining lifetime

Abstract

<p>The paper is focused on diagnostic and calculation of load-carrying capacity of bridge object in village Vitanova, Slovakia. The bridge is on the road II/520 connecting town Trstenná and village Suchá Hora near border with Poland and bypass the river Oravica. The bridge object was built in 1957, so, it was 60 years old bridge in time of calculation in 2017. It is reinforced concrete slab bridge of two single spans. In 2016, the Department of Structures and Bridges, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina, was asked to carry out the construction and technical survey and diagnostic of above mentioned bridge. The visual inspection, diagnostic, verifying real dimensions and material characteristics were requested. In 2017, the calculation of load-carrying capacity was done. For determining the load-carrying capacity, the standard approach given in Eurocodes was used. As an alternative, the modified (lower) reliability levels and their adequate partial safety factors according to Eurocodes were used.</p>