Given the age structure of concrete bridges on the railway network, the performance of repair work is becoming an increasingly important activity Generally speaking, the damage mechanisms are known. If repair work is carried out in good time, particularly on parts affected by chlorides, the cost of doing it can be kept down. The network operated by Deutsche Bahn includes more than 31500 railway bridges. These can be divided into four roughly equal categories: one quarter steel bridges, one quarter masonry arch bridges, one quarter concrete bridges of all types, and one quarter steel/concrete composite bridges and concreted rolled-girder bridges. That adds up to a total of roughly 44% of all its railway bridges made of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete or rolled girders in combination with concrete. In the time up until 2006, some 800 of these bridges were placed in damage category 4 as defined by Deutsche Bahn's internal rule (RIL) 804.8001, which means they urgently need repairs or even partial renewal.
展开▼
