Abstract
The N.S. da Guia Bridge is a 250 m-long post-tensioned box-girder bridge built in the late 1970s using the balanced cantilever method. During a routine inspection, a systematic cracking pattern that exhibited both longitudinal and transversal symmetry was detected in the webs and bottom slab, which raised concerns about the condition of the embedded post-tensioned cables. The working programme that was devised to perform the condition examination of the bridge is described. Besides a detailed visual inspection campaign and a short-term monitoring programme, non-destructive testing was also employed, most notably gamma-ray imaging of the internal tendons. Special attention is devoted to the numerical studies developed to explain the origin of the observed crack patterns. This information was crucial in order to decide on the best rehabilitation strategies. The crack pattern could be satisfactorily reproduced by taking into account the local stress conditions around the tendon anchorages, and the concerns related to the condition of the prestressed steel could be ruled out. The applied methodology constitutes an example of how detailed analysis techniques can be used in practice to help bridge owners evaluate the condition of special bridges and plan the rehabilitation intervention in a cost-effective way.
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