ABSTRACT
There are many short-span bridges in road networks of each country in which their abutments are built with masonry (stone blocks) or plain/mass concrete. A large amount of money is spent annually for maintenance and repair of such bridges. These bridges are usually ignored in routine inspection, and implementation of health monitoring systems for them has no justification. Therefore, such bridges are the most deteriorating structures in road networks. This paper summarizes what every bridge designer or inspector should know about undertaking and interpreting crack surveys in typical plain concrete or masonry abutments in short span bridges. A methodology is introduced that may be used to increase the validity and reliability of all decisions concerning the crack significance and associated remedial works. It is important that crack inspection and monitoring are conducted before any recommendation can be made concerning the remedial work for repair or rehabilitation. The paper highlighted the key parameters influencing the decision of the bridge engineer to make a decision with more reliability.
