Metodología de evaluación del estado de puentes de hormigón en autopistas, El Oro, Año 2020

Abstract

The study is presented due to the knowledge about the effects of the lack of maintenance on concrete bridges and the lack of bridge evaluation methodologies, which could lead to a collapse of the infrastructure, causing negative effects on roads with high vehicular flow. For this, the objective is to evaluate the state of reinforced concrete bridges on highways, which are part of the state road network in Ecuador. The methodology was completed using the following method: To carry out the field information survey, an inventory of the elements of the reinforced concrete bridges is carried out, through an observation guide in order to evaluate the existing elements in the structure and thus obtain the existing characteristics and pathologies, with the description of the damages, each criterion is qualified and the evaluation of the bridge's condition is obtained. As a result, the methodology was applied in the case study of the bridge over the Motuche River in the Buenavista parish located in the province of El Oro, evaluating from observation sheets as shown in Annex 1, where the following observations were obtained: On the platform where criteria such as the rolling surface, slabs, sidewalks, railings, paint, drainage, among others, are evaluated, they obtained a rating of 0.88 out of 1. The superstructure whose criteria are bearing devices, beams, corrosion, cracks in concrete, collision damage and deformation, were rated with a value of 0.87. Finally, the substructure where there are criteria such as footings, abutments, wing walls, soil erosion, settlements and collision damage, a rating of 0.86 was obtained. After the evaluation of each element of the bridge, a general qualification was made where the most important elements in relation to operability were weighted in percentages, thus obtaining a value of 86%, which indicates, based on table 12, that no degree of risk was noted, this as a conclusion that the bridge has been built for 10 years and does not need corrective maintenance.