ABSTRACT
Policymakers are increasingly faced with the challenge of managing aging concrete bridges subjected to deterioration. Rebuilding these structures often leads to significant downtime and construction costs. Therefore, repairing and upgrading the existing infrastructure is often preferred instead. Typically, interventions are scheduled after severe signs of deterioration, which might involve significant costs. On the other hand, scheduling preventive interventions during the early stages of chloride-induced corrosion can be highly beneficial as the chloride content at the reinforcement level can be significantly altered. As a result, the structure’s lifespan can be extended in a more cost-effective manner compared to a corrective maintenance strategy. This study investigates the impact of the timing of an intervention to the concrete ingress at the concrete surface (e.g. by applying a coating) on the time-dependent safety level of a real-life prestressed bridge girder, which enables to assess the importance of a preventive maintenance strategy.
