ABSTRACT
At the first meeting of the RILEM Technical Committee LTO-45 in 1979 in Paris, it was agreed in principle that the committee would study the experimental methods as well as the results of the long-term observation of various concrete structures. The observation of bridges during construction and long term under traffic conditions is carried out frequently in many countries. This work is connected with the analysis of the structural reliability of concrete bridges, their serviceability as well as the theory of predicting service life and behaviour of similar structures. Recommendations for long-term observation of bridges are elaborated on the basis of the results of work of the technical committee RILEM LTO-45 “Long-term observations of concrete structures”, the proceedings of the RILEM Symposium of the RILEM Technical Committee TBS-20 “Testing of concrete structures in situ” held in Hungary in the year 1977 and the results of work of experts participating in the research project OSShD VC4-4/78 termed “Unification of tests and measurements of bridges ”.
