Rehabilitation of major bridges over the spillways of three of South Africa’s largest dams

At Gariep, flexural crack patterns were observed on the longitudinal beams, particularly the outer two beams on each side of the superstructure. In addition the varying bearing support conditions, i.e. overstressed outer bearings and central bearings lifted clear of the plinths, were observed for the elastomeric bearings. These defects were attributed to transverse hogging induced by eccentrically prestressed transverse beams and insufficient distribution steel throughout the web of the longitudinal beams that exacerbated the cracking in the beams.