IMPROVING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF BRIDGES: TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING AND MITIGATING CORROSION AND FATIGUE IN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Abstract

Bridges have been the main avenue in developing the transportation and economic infrastructure in the cities, but now they are gradually succumbing to aging, corrosion, and fatigue. Degrading bridges actually pose significant safety threats but also great economic burdens. Recent research has drawn attention to advanced monitoring and maintenance techniques that can be introduced to elongate the service life of bridges. The current article reviews the state-of-the-art approaches for detecting and managing corrosion and fatigue in aging bridges, enriching them with insights gained from structural health monitoring (SHM) systems, vibration-based methods, and life-cycle optimization strategies. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has become the cornerstone of modern infrastructure management to provide continuous, real-time information about structural integrity. Vibration-based monitoring detection method detects changes in structural dynamics, which help to localize damage and predict the need for maintenance. SHM, combined with increasing development in sensor technologies, adopts a proactive approach to bridge management. Furthermore, lifecycle management approaches discussed during international conferences are also deliberating on predictive maintenance in risk analysis and integration of NDE methods. Amongst them, corrosion sensor, robotic inspections, and use of high-performance materials are important in preserving structural integrity. This research article tells the call that requires interdisciplinary approaches, combining engineering, data analytics, and maintenance planning. Improvement of safety and economy investments on public infrastructure may come by addressing corrosion and fatigue on aging infrastructure.