The knowledge process for the structural assessment of existing concrete bridges with post-tensioned cables: Application to a case study

A structured project of knowledge is fundamental to comprehend the structural behavior of existing structures. The deeper and accurate is the level of analysis performed within, the lower is the approximation of evaluations and the higher the reliability of the outcomes. In the case of bridges with post-tensioned cables, this process gets trickier due to the hidden defects of the cables, indeed the level of approximation is also affected by the difficulty of not knowing a-priori their position and the impossibility of investigating all the cables. In this framework, this paper presents a methodology around the process of knowledge of these bridges, and its application to a case study. The aim of the method is reaching a deep level of knowledge for the proper characterization of the relevant variables, hence allowing to calibrate the values of the safety coefficients on the actual level reached, for a more accurate structural assessment.