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A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Demolition of Refinery Interchange Bridge B4247: Condition of a 58-Year Old Prestressed Concrete Bridge After Demolition
The reconstruction and upgrading of Trunk Road 11/1 (TR11/1, better known as the National Route N7) in Cape Town in the Western Cape necessitated the demolition of the Refinery Overpass Bridge B4247. This bridge had both insufficient vertical and horizontal clearance for the proposed widening of the N7. Furthermore, the existing precast beam-and-slab deck suffered from continuous vehicular impact damage over the years, resulting in continued costly repairs. This paper describes the condition of this bridge after a 58-year service life. The primary objective is to report and comment on the condition of this bridge in order for other engineers who have to rehabilitate, raise or widen similar bridges built during the same time, to have an indication of the quality of materials, workmanship, condition and behaviour. During and after the demolition operation, a visual inspection of the rubble was undertaken to evaluate the condition of this bridge which was constructed in 1965. Concrete cores taken before the demolition revealed higher concrete strengths of 50% and more, except for the precast beams concrete strengths which were well below the expected design strength after 58 years. Carbonation and durability tests done on concrete fragments indicated a robust and durable structure which would easily reach its intended 100-year design life.
Demolition of Refinery Interchange Bridge B4247: Condition of a 58-Year Old Prestressed Concrete Bridge After Demolition
The reconstruction and upgrading of Trunk Road 11/1 (TR11/1, better known as the National Route N7) in Cape Town in the Western Cape necessitated the demolition of the Refinery Overpass Bridge B4247. This bridge had both insufficient vertical and horizontal clearance for the proposed widening of the N7. Furthermore, the existing precast beam-and-slab deck suffered from continuous vehicular impact damage over the years, resulting in continued costly repairs. This paper describes the condition of this bridge after a 58-year service life. The primary objective is to report and comment on the condition of this bridge in order for other engineers who have to rehabilitate, raise or widen similar bridges built during the same time, to have an indication of the quality of materials, workmanship, condition and behaviour. During and after the demolition operation, a visual inspection of the rubble was undertaken to evaluate the condition of this bridge which was constructed in 1965. Concrete cores taken before the demolition revealed higher concrete strengths of 50% and more, except for the precast beams concrete strengths which were well below the expected design strength after 58 years. Carbonation and durability tests done on concrete fragments indicated a robust and durable structure which would easily reach its intended 100-year design life.
Demolition of Refinery Interchange Bridge B4247: Condition of a 58-Year Old Prestressed Concrete Bridge After Demolition
RILEM Bookseries
Beushausen, Hans (editor) / Ndawula, Joanitta (editor) / Alexander, Mark (editor) / Dehn, Frank (editor) / Moyo, Pilate (editor) / van Breda, Kinte (author) / Olivier, Wandie (author) / Faure, Anton (author)
International Conference on Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting ; 2024 ; Cape Town, South Africa
2024-11-01
12 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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