Investigation and repair plan for abraded steel bridge piers: case study from Japan. Issue 1 (5th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chun, Pang-jo; Tsukada, Keiji; Kusumoto, Masahiro; Okubo, Kazuaki
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Volume 172:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2019-06-05
• Subjects: bridges -- corrosion -- maintenance & inspection; Forensic engineering -- Periodicals; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Risk management -- Periodicals; 624.171
• DOI: 10.1680/jfoen.18.00019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2043-9903

Abstract

Abstract : This paper reports on a forensic investigation following the collapse of the Iwama Ohashi Bridge over the Shimanto River in Japan. The central section of the bridge failed in 2017 when a steel pier buckled. The investigation included thickness measurements using a new ultrasensitive magnetic non-destructive device. This revealed that the buckled pier and other bridge piers had been significantly abraded by fast-moving gravel. As a result, the steel plate of the downstream faces near the riverbed was considerably thinner than the upstream faces. The measurements indicated that the other piers were also likely to buckle in the near future if left unattended. This paper describes the details of the investigation and discusses a potential repair and reinforcement plan.