ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE TO CONCRETE GIRDER-SLAB BRIDGES IN SAUDI ARABIA

This is a case study of a girder-slab bridge in Saudi Arabia. The investigative approach is described, as well as the diagnostic techniques that were successfully utilized for the diagnosis of the bridge deck. The investigation helps define the causal factors and the mechanisms leading to the deck's failure. The severely cracked state of the bridge deck slab is diagnosed as caused by the extremely high flexural stresses imposed by grossly overweight vehiclular loading. The localized failure phenomenon, leading to the formation of potholes in the deck slab, could not be solely attributed to the excessive flexural stresess because the reserved punching shear capacity of the deck, on the basis of ACI punching shear formula, far exceeded wheel loadings imposed by heavy vehicles. These and other findings are discussed.