"Inspectionability" of bridges

Jorge de Brito, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal
Sonia Santos, BRISA, Portugal
Fernando A. Branco, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal

Guidelines that relate to the design of concrete road and railway bridges are presented in this paper in order to guarantee the durability of bridges through easier inspection procedures -- the concept of inspectionability. The main characteristics that must be conferred on these structures, in order to facilitate access to all of their elements which are most prone to inspection/maintenance, are defined. In this context, access to the bridge elements and the equipment installed (bearings and joints) is paramount. The inspection auxiliary means are classified by traditional methods, by specific design detailing and by specific inspection equipment. Each of these groups is described and examples of their use are presented.