Raquel Martins

in

Reabilitação e Reforço de Pontes Metálicas Centenárias Rodoviárias em Portugal

Steel bridges started to be built in the mid nineteenth century in Portugal. Numerous bridges of different types and different materials (depending on the time of its construction) were built. The willing of having constantly larger spans changed the structural type of bridges. The evolution of materials made this willing possible.

Although steel bridges were built more than a century ago, some of these bridges are still in daily use. Rehabilitation and structural reinforcement performed since its construction guarantee that these steel bridges satisfy today’s security requirements. Other steel bridges were eventually replaced or demolished because adaptation to current requirements was not economically worthwhile compared to its replacement by a new bridge, possibly reinforced concrete.

The degree of conservation and suitability to current function, determines the solution to be implemented. Rehabilitation and reinforcement processes must be considered in each case.
The objective of this dissertation is to describe a methodology and solutions to rehabilitate and reinforce centenarians steel bridges undertaken in Portugal by EP – Estradas de Portugal, SA.
To describe the methodology and solutions some real examples of EP – Estradas de Portugal, SA., will be used. Examples will detail the solutions and techniques suited for each intervention in centenarian steel bridges to rehabilitate and reinforce them in order to satisfy current security requirements.

Examples are enhanced by an extensive photographic record, providing a clear and easier understanding as possible. In addition to the methodology and solutions described, this dissertation also identifies available literature, offering different methodologies and work done that reveal new solutions to this subject.