Long-Term Monitoring of Bridge Deformation

Some concrete bridges continue to deform even after the life normally attributed to creep. The causes and consequences of this are discussed and a possible method of calculation is proposed. The effect of the level of prestressing on the development of cracks and deflections is also mentioned. In an effort to measure these deformations and to create a possible early warning system, a hydrostatic levelling system was developed. Details of this system and actual results obtained from an excessively deformed and now repaired bridge are presented.