Course Catalogue.

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Confidently apply the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code to various bridge rehabilitation projects.
• Utilize advanced techniques and innovative approaches to repair and strengthen bridge structures.
• Conduct thorough assessments of bridge conditions using both non-destructive and destructive testing methods.
• Develop effective rehabilitation strategies for concrete, steel, and composite bridge superstructures.
• Incorporate Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites and other modern materials into bridge rehabilitation practices.

Description
Understanding the complexities of bridge rehabilitation is essential for maintaining the safety and functionality of transportation infrastructure. Over time, bridges can deteriorate due to environmental effects, design deficiencies, or increased vehicular loads. This course delves into the typical damage patterns in bridge structures and explores the comprehensive assessment techniques necessary for evaluating these issues, including visual inspections and various testing methods.

Participants will gain hands-on knowledge of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code and learn state-of-the-art rehabilitation techniques. The course covers the use of specialized equipment for bridge inspection and condition survey procedures. Key topics include rehabilitating concrete and composite bridge superstructures and applying FRP composites in structural repairs. Attendees will understand how to apply these techniques by exploring real-world examples and case studies.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the skills needed to effectively assess and address structural deficiencies in bridges. Whether dealing with concrete, steel, or composite materials, you will learn how to enhance the durability and safety of bridge structures using modern rehabilitation methods.

Who Should Attend
This course is designed for bridge rehabilitation engineers, structural designers, and inspectors responsible for maintaining and improving bridge structures. Managers and consulting engineers involved in bridge projects will also benefit from the advanced knowledge of assessment and rehabilitation techniques provided.

Superintendents, contractors, fabricators, material suppliers, and material testing personnel will find the practical insights invaluable for their roles. Additionally, regulatory agency staff involved in infrastructure oversight will better understand bridge evaluation and rehabilitation standards. This course is ideal for anyone involved in assessing, repairing, or strengthening bridge infrastructure.

Course Syllabus

Bridge Condition Assessment

• Factors leading to bridge deterioration.
• Visual inspection: steel and concrete.
• Non-destructive testing methods.
• Destructive testing methods.

Typical Damage to Bridge Structures

• Typical damage in steel and composite concrete-steel bridge superstructure.
• Typical damage in the concrete bridge superstructure.
• Typical damage in bridge piers and abutments.

CHBDC Assessment and Evaluation Techniques

• Need for evaluation.
• Live Load capacity method for bridge evaluation.
• Material strengths for as-per-condition inspection.
• Equivalent material strengths from tests of samples or the date of bridge construction.
• Permanent loads and transitory loads for bridge evaluation.
• Mean Load method.
• Bridge testing.
• Case studies.

Rehabilitation of Concrete and Steel Bridges using Fiber-reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites

• FRP Composites for Bridge Infrastructure Rehabilitation: FRP composites, physical and mechanical properties, installation of FRP strengthening systems.
• Strengthening of concrete bridge columns using FRP wrapping.
• Strengthening concrete slabs and girders for flexure and shear using externally-bonded FRP sheets and FRP anchorage.
• Strengthening concrete slabs and girders for flexure using near-surface mounted reinforcement (NSMR).
• Strengthening steel girder using externally-bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets.
• Numerical examples and examples of applications in Canada’s bridges.

Accelerated Bridge Replacement to Limit Traffic Disruption

• Deteriorated bridge barrier and sidewalk repair and replacement.
• Prefabricated bridge elements for substructure replacement (piers, abutment, and retaining walls).
• Superstructure replacement with new bulb-tee, double-tee, and box beams: closure strips using steel bars, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars, and ultra-high-performance concrete for durability and strength.
• Full-depth, full-width deck panels for deteriorated deck slab replacement.
• Bridge rapid replacement with self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT).
• Stainless steel girders for sustainable bridge construction.
• Examples of applications in Canada’s bridges.

Mitigation Strategies Water Leakage at Construction Joints

• Semi-integral abutment and approach slab.
• Link slabs: analysis, design, details, Link slab under barrier walls.

Rehabilitation of Steel and Composite Concrete-Steel Bridge Superstructures

• Classification of repair techniques and materials.
• Repair of deformed structural members: traditional straightening and heat strengthening Techniques.
• Mitigation strategies for fatigue crack propagation in steel girders.
• Strengthening of the superstructure by section enlargement, installation of additional members, external post-tensioning, change of the structural system, and replacement of structural members.
• Examples and case studies.

Rehabilitation of Concrete Bridges

• Standard concrete bridge repair techniques.
• Surface repair.
• Crack repair.
• Basic methods applied to the repair of concrete material losses (slabs, abutments, piers, foundation).
• Strengthening of superstructure: enlargement of cross-sections, redistribution of internal forces, installation of additional members, prestressing, external plating, and change in the structural system.
• Examples and case studies.