ABSTRACT
With the assessment and evaluation of a structure it is possible to choose the appropriate maintenance to avoid or repair the problems that may compromise its lifetime. Therefore, taking into consideration the remarkable indifference with the Brazilian bridges, related to lack of registers and care, it was decided to monitor Marcos Konder bridge, trying to diagnose your condition by the evaluation of symptoms, estimate the lifetime which it was designated, propose actions that seek to extend this lifetime and eventually apply them.
The bridge was produced in reinforced concrete and was inaugurated on August 10, 1930 at the city of Itajaí – SC. Initially, it was constructed with the intent of being used by cars, but now is currently used only by pedestrians and cyclists, turning into a pedestrian bridge. Later on, by its side a new bridge was built for traffic.
The evaluation of the pedestrian bridge conservation status began with the planning and scheduling, adapted from LAPA (2008), of the visual inspections that would be made. At first, an inspection sequence was set up, followed by the observation of the pathological manifestations of the structure and the register of data through the description of the problems found, schematic sketches and photos.
To perform the defined schedule, visits were made to the pedestrian bridge and three inspections records were created to help in the description of the structure and the evaluation of each structural element individually, analyzing their structural and functional problems with the adoption of specific classifications for them.
The first inspection record called “general data” consisted in describing the parts that compose the pedestrian bridge and its general features, such as name, designer, year of construction, etc. In this way, Marcos Konder pedestrian bridge was split lengthwise into three parts, the central part called pedestrian bridge and two access viaducts that join it through two abutments.
To analyze just the problems that wouldn’t directly affect the structure, it was used the functional inspection record. The criterion used to evaluate it was “compliant” and “non-compliant”. However, to classify the structural problems, it was decided to use a scoring system that would be applied according to the intensity and the quantity of the pathological manifestations that would eventually be found in the structure. So, using these inspection records, the pathological manifestations were investigated and properly diagnosed.
Therefore, through all procedures performed, some graphics were made to show the pathological manifestations most commonly found in this current structure. In this case, were most found efflorescence, reinforcement corrosion, disgregation and disintegration of the concrete and biological attacks.
In the end it was finally possible to understand the symptoms, causes and sources of the problems encountered and relate these with the concepts of performance, durability, lifetime and maintenance of the structure. The analysis of those problems were necessary to search the correctness of them and guarantee the safety of the user and the structure. Thus, some alternatives repairs were given to correct the affected regions of the structure by the pathological manifestations, to make the rehabilitation of the pedestrian bridge possible.
